The pool pillow should be fairly centered within the pool to allow for even distribution of ice. If the pillow is off to the side, there will still be an area to compensate for the encroaching ice, but this often puts a strain and tugs on the pool cover due to the uneven distribution of ice and snow.
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.
Do I Need A Pool Pillow? While they're not 100% necessary, winter pool pillows are incredibly helpful. They help protect your pool from expanding ice and promote even weight distribution, which is why we highly encourage them for pool owners.
When rain, snow and ice accumulate, they will put pressure on the cover and cause the ice to push inwards towards the pillow. In many cases this can cause the pillow to deflate or pop which means it is doing its job.
We suggest using the 4 x 4 Air Pillow on pools up to 24' round. Use the 4 x 8 Air Pillow on pools 28' round and up and on small oval pools. Use the 4 x 15 Air Pillow on Large (15 x 30 and larger) Oval aboveground pools.
You may have heard pool owners recommend alternatives to pool air pillows, such as tire tubes, yoga balls, or regular innertubes.
The Pool Pillow Pal acts an an anchor for the cover and helps to secure it in place and protect it during windy conditions before rain and snow accumulate on the cover.
When you close your above ground pool for the winter, you should place an air pillow in the center of the pool before you put on your winter cover. When water freezes it expands outward and this expansion can cause damage to your pool wall, cover or liner.
The air pillow prevents water from pooling in the center of the cover. Instead, the weight of the water is evenly distributed around air pillow. This weight distribution can prevent the cover from sinking or tearing. It also makes it easier to pump out sitting water.
If for some reason you plan to use a tubular pool pillow, which are usually about 4 feet by 8 feet or 4 feet by 15 feet, we would recommend using two Pool Pillow Pal's spaced. Follow the directions and center one, then put another one about 2 or 3 feet on one of the sides to prevent twisting.
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.
A small bit (1/4″-1/2″) of rain water is OK, but more than that could stress the cover, and 6-12″ of water will push pool water over the edges, lowering pool water (see above). Pump regularly with a pool cover pump like our manual or automatic 350 GPH pump or the non-electric Cover Saver siphon pump (shown).
Safety cover sagging is okay, well in most cases. It is not the safety-cover that supports the snow and ice. It is the water underneath your cover that helps it and keeps it from sagging too much. Whoever sold you the cover should have warned you or directed you to read the directions.
CCS polypropylene mesh tarps are the best tarp for pool covers. They do an exceptional job blocking sunlight, which is essential for preventing algae growth when chemicals are not being added regularly. Polypropylene tarps are strong, too, so they can withstand the weight of ice and snow that builds up over the winter.
Sand Bags.
Use sand bags as weights to hold the pool cover in place so that nothing floats into the pool. Plus, the smooth nature of sand bags offer a safe alternative to abrasive bricks or rocks that can damage your pool cover.
Sometimes it can be hard to keep pool covers in place. High winds, heavy rain, and even snow can cause them to fall into the pool. One thing you don't want to do is place anything on top of the cover in an attempt to keep it in place. If you do, you can risk causing it to slip into the pool as well.
Check cover periodically over the first few seasons of use, and retighten the straps as necessary. Water Level — the water level in your pool should be kept at or just below the skimmer when the cover is in use. However, the water level should not be lower than 18” from the top of the pool.
The best way to keep your winter cover on your pool is simply to maintain 2 inches of water on top of it and keep it free of leaves and other debris and monitor the water level inside the pool regularly.
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.