Do I need a winter cover for my pool?

Author: Ms. Shaina Weissnat  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Must You Use a Winter Pool Cover? No, but winter covers protect your pool from stains, algae growth and poor water balance that could damage pool surfaces. Pool covers block both debris and sunlight, to conserve your winter chemicals and protect soft and shiny surfaces.

What happens if you don't cover pool in winter?

Pool Closing Mistake 1: Skipping the Pool Cover

For one thing, an uncovered pool will become a catch-all for leaves and debris. Those leaves will spend all winter stewing away in the bottom of your pool. In the spring, you'll be welcomed with a nasty, sludgy mess.

What is the purpose of a winter pool cover?

A winter cover is essentially a large tarp that goes over your pool in the wintertime to help keep out debris. They can protect against damage to the pool as a whole, which will help things run more smoothly during come Springtime. Winter covers: HELP KEEP THE DEBRIS OUT OF THE POOL.

Does an above-ground pool need to be covered in the winter?

Your pool should be relatively protected from ice and the elements. To ensure your winter cover keeps doing its job throughout the winter and that no other issues arise over the course of the season, it is important to look out for the following potential causes for winter above ground pool damage.

What happens if you don't cover your above-ground pool in the winter?

If you don't cover your above-ground pool, it's going to get dirt, leaves, and other debris in it. Even if you don't have any trees nearby, the wind will still blow debris into the water.

Do I Need To Cover My Pool For The Winter?

Does your pool freeze in the winter?

Mild climate pools often freeze across the surface overnight. However, if the ice sheet becomes thicker than ¼” to ½”, it will put pressure on your pool tile and skimmers as the ice expands. Most pool tile is frost-free, but you should keep the water under the perimeter pool tile band to be safe.

Should you cover your pool every night?

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. 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.

Can you leave your Intex pool up all winter?

In warmer climates, Intex advises to keep your pool up, if you prefer. However, you must winterize the pool when keeping it full throughout the winter. If your area maintains tropical climates all year long, you may not need to winterize your pool at all, especially if you use your pool on a regular basis.

How do I protect my above-ground pool from snow?

Preventing Ice & Snow Damage
  1. Always use an Air Pillow under winter pool covers.
  2. If the pool leaks during winter, release the pool cover.
  3. Remove snow buildup on top of the pool – carefully.
  4. Use skimmer closures like Skimmer Plug, to protect your skimmer, and wall.
  5. Use a good Pool Cover Pump to keep the ice sheet thin.

Do I really need a pool cover?

A pool cover reduces the amount of UV light coming into contact with the water. This is an important advantage as the pool chemical chlorine is degraded when exposed to UV light. This means you won't be required to add as much chlorine, which can save you time to refill and money purchasing the chemicals.

When should I replace my winter pool cover?

The best time to consider replacing your cover is either when you first open the pool or before it is time to close the pool. The cover's age and the amount of visible wear and tear will help determine whether to replace it now or wait.

What kind of winter pool cover do I need?

Solid pool covers are designed to be heavy-duty enough to withstand rain, snow, and wind, and they'll also keep leaves and debris out of the pool. You'll want to choose a pool cover with a suitable scrim (aka tight weave). A higher scrim number indicates a higher-quality or more heavy-duty pool cover.

Does a winter pool cover have holes in it?

Secure the Cover

These are holes around the edge of the cover with metal rings. If you just use a plastic tarp, it may not have grommets, and it'll be more difficult to secure. If you buy a winter cover designed for above ground pools, it should come with a cable and a winch to ratchet down the cover.

Does my pool pump need to be covered?

First of all, you do not have to enclose your pool equipment (pump, filter, heater). A lot of people camouflage it with landscaping or a small fence, so that is not visible. Pool equipment is designed to be outdoors. As long it is taken care of and properly winterized at time of pool closing, it need not be covered.

Can I let my above-ground pool freeze?

No! All pool types (in-ground, above ground, on-ground) need to keep water in the pool during winter, do not drain your pool to avoid the ice! In ground pools can pop out of the ground, and above ground pools can collapse inward, and the liner will shrink and discolor.

How do I store my Intex pool for the winter?

How to Dismantle and Store Your Intex Pool for Winter
  1. Check Water Chemistry. Test your pool chemistry levels to make sure you are not draining water that may contain very low pH or very high chlorine levels. ...
  2. Drain the Pool. ...
  3. Dry the Pool. ...
  4. Fold Your Intex Pool for Storage. ...
  5. Store Your Pool at Room Temperature.

How do you close an Intex pool for the winter?

How To Winterize An Intex Pool
  1. Gather your winterizing materials. ...
  2. Remove your pool equipment. ...
  3. Remove old filter cartridge. ...
  4. Clean your pool and its equipment. ...
  5. Balance your pool water. ...
  6. Add winter chemical kit. ...
  7. Install the pool air pillow. ...
  8. Cover your Intex pool.

Should I drain my Intex pool for winter?

This is why the Intex pools manufacturer strongly recommends draining and disassembling your pool if the temperatures in your area drop to or below 41°F (5°C). And so do we. We don't want your cozy winter by the fire to be ruined by a messy pool collapse.

Does leaving a pool cover on cause algae?

So while a solar cover won't actually 'turn your pool green', it will warm your water by up to 8 degrees, so if the other conditions are right, adding a solar cover can easily accelerate algae growth, very rapidly. You need to get the water balance in your pool right before putting the cover back on.

Is it bad to cover your pool?

Conserves Water

A covered pool conserves water by losing less due to evaporation. This means you won't be filling up your pool as often as you did when you were cover-less. If you live in a drought area, using less water is the smart way to go.

Should you leave a pool cover on during the day?

In short, pool covers do not need to be kept on pools during the day. By covering the pool at night and uncovering it during the day, you can save time heating your pool's water. Because dry, windy weather may increase evaporation, it is recommended to remove the cover only on humid, sunny days.

Can salt water pools freeze?

Will My Saltwater Pool Freeze? Yes, they will! Saltwater pools only have a fraction of the salinity of ocean water, so they will freeze in Ottawa's cold winter temperatures. This is why it's important to drain the water to below the skimmer and blow out any lines when closing the pool for the winter.

How big should my winter pool cover be?

When choosing a cover, you look for them by your pool's ACTUAL SIZE. The cover that you get will be bigger than your pool by 3 or 4 feet (depending on which cover you order and varies by manufacturer). For example if your pool is 24ft round you would choose that size and choose one of the covers listed on that page.

Why are there holes in pool covers?

For safety reasons; if someone should end up under the pool cover, air will come in through the holes. These small holes prevent a large pool of water from getting on the pool cover.

How long will a winter pool cover last?

A standard (tarp) winter cover costs $75–$225. It needs a pump on top, keeps out sunlight and light debris, and lasts 1–3 seasons. A mesh security cover costs $1,200–$3,000. It doesn't need a pump on top, keeps out debris but not water, and lasts 10–15 years.

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