Should pool cover be tight?

How Tight Should a Safety Cover Be? Safety covers should be drum-tight, with only a slight deflection in the middle. When covers are too loose, leaves can blow under easily, and a high water level in springtime quickly traps leaves and turns your cover into a giant tea bag.

Should a pool cover touch the water?

The cover is designed to touch the surface of the water. So your pool should always be filled when covered, and the water level should never go below 18 inches from the top of the pool. Check the water level of the pool and fill it up if it goes below 18 inches.

How tight should mesh pool cover be?

If yours is a mesh cover, it should be almost “taut as a drum”, as the water will drain through it evenly. If yours is a solid cover, either with an automatic cover pump or a porous drain strip, it should be kept slightly less tight in the area of the pump or drain strip.

How much water should be in the top of a pool cover?

Ideally, 2 inches of water is acceptable on top of your cover simply because it aids in keeping the cover on the pool when it gets windy however, having excess water on top of the cover can cause severe damage to your pool structure as well as to the water quality underneath the cover.

Should I leave water on top of my pool cover?

It is vital to remove excess water from solid tarp style winter covers, commonly used on above-ground and some in-ground pools, to avoid damage to the cover and the pool. This can easily be done with a submersible pump on your pool cover whenever temperatures are above freezing, and liquid water is present.

How Tight Should A Winter Pool Cover Be?

How do I keep my pool cover from sagging?

Should a pool cover touch the water for winter?

Your pool water level should not be too low, as the water must support the cover in situations where you receive a heavy snowfall. At the same time, ideally you don't want the water to touch the underside of the cover under general conditions as that contact will create a wet spot where debris will accumulate.

Can you run pump with pool cover on?

Absolutely! A cover does nothing to interfere with the water circulating through your system. It doesn't touch your pump or any other piece of equipment you have. When your pool is covered during these winter months, you can run it less, thus protecting the pump from premature aging.

How do I stop my pool cover from blowing in the wind?

In-Ground Pool Covers

To secure the cover, place several sandbags or coffee cans filled with sand around the edges of the pool to help with holding cover in place. Make sure you have enough sandbags or coffee cans filled with sand to cover the entire perimeter of the pool's cover.

Why is my pool cover shrinking?

Finally, if covers are left exposed to direct sunlight when off the pool, high temperatures can build up in the material. These temperatures can reach levels where permanent deformation will occur in the material, which will lead to further shrinkage usually seen as wrinkled strips across the pool cover.

What can I use instead of a pool pillow?

You may have heard pool owners recommend alternatives to pool air pillows, such as tire tubes, yoga balls, or regular innertubes.

How inflated Should a pool pillow be?

Using Your Air Pillow

You should inflate the air pillow to about 60% of its capacity to allow for compression. You should also place two strips of duct tape over the air valve to ensure the pillow doesn't deflate over the winter. The air pillow will be more effective if it remains in the center of the pool.

How do I keep my pillow in the middle of my pool?

Tie strong string or thin rope to both ends of the pillow; it should have grommets on the edges for this purpose. Place the pillow in the center of the pool. Secure the other ends of the strings to the edge of the pool to keep the pillow in place.

Why does my pool cover sag?

Check the Water Level Regularly

One of the main reasons for a pool cover to sag is a low water level. Make it a habit to check the water level in your pool at least once a week. If you notice that the water level has dropped, add more water to the pool.

Should you cover pool when raining?

When preparing your pool for a storm, leave it uncovered. Installing any kind of cover across the pool will not do much to protect against dust and contaminants, because storms often bring strong winds and heavy rain that can cause the cover to lift off your pool.

Should I keep the pool cover on during the day?

In dry and/or windy conditions, the evaporation rate of the pool increases. Therefore, it is generally beneficial to have a transparent or bubble cover on during daylight hours. In warm, humid conditions the evaporation rate decreases. In this case, it may be more beneficial to leave the cover off during the daytime.

Do new pool covers shrink?

Pool covers can shrink up to 1% of their length with how they are made however they simply can't shrink in their width naturally. If the pool cover has shrunk in the width, it is typically the first sign of it being stored on the roller without the over cover in place.

How many years should a pool cover last?

Most automatic safety pool covers on average last 4 to 6 years if you maintain them properly. We recommend that you buy a pool cover that comes with a pro-rated warranty. That way, you can always ask for a replacement if you notice issues within a few weeks of purchase.

How long do pool covers last?

For example, a vinyl pool cover with maximum sun exposure may only last a year while an automatic pool cover may stay viable for 3 to 7 years.

Should you cover your pool at night?

Yes, you should cover your pool every night for several reasons. First off, a pool cover saves energy and conserves water by decreasing the amount of make-up water and evaporation. Also, it reduces the consumption of chemicals, and finally, it saves a lot of cleaning time since it keeps the debris out of the pool.