What is the best way to lower water with solid cover on?

[bjxds]

Can I leave a Little Giant Cover Pump in the pool, and when the skimmer gets half full, turn it on and lower the water below the skimmer?
I’m sure the pump is sealed, but not sure if I can leave it submerged in salt pool for over 6 months?

When the pool was closed, the water level was lowered below the skimmer. When checked during the winter, the water level in the skimmer was above the gizmo.

I have a solid cover, but rain water is getting in the pool, where the cover meets the water feature. Nothing I can do about that.



I tried a small pump in the skimmer but it takes forever.

 

[Newdude]

Don't discount patio runoff. It can be considerable for some pools.

Just pop a corner and drop a submersible in. I drain 2 or 3 times over the winter with a mesh cover and might spend an hour total on it. I pick days I'm going to be home and spend most of the time doing whatever else but that, while it drains. Setup and breakdown takes 5 mins each.




People do leave quality pumps in there all year but I wouldn't. If you do, use one thats oil free in case it poops the bed.

 

[bjxds]

What’s the deal with the pump in the bucket on the rope?

 

[Newdude]

I experimented and learned to drain the all rain water up top to save the good stuff at the bottom. The bucket makes it drain from the height of the top of the bucket VS the foot or so down bottom of the pump.

With this method I have increased my spring openings from about 1/3 how i left it to about 2/3. It's a chunk of change with 34k gallons to rebalance.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Another low tech method is to siphon the water excess with a hose. It would require watching it for prob no more than 30" OR so?