What happens to a pool cover when it rains?

Author: Arlene Satterfield MD  |  Last update: Saturday, June 18, 2022

Many areas have wet or rainy seasons. During these times, you can leave your pool cover pump on your swimming pool cover and let the pump work for you. Every time it rains, the cover pump will automatically activate and evacuate the water when a certain amount collects by the pump and then shut itself off.

Is it OK for pool cover to touch water?

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 leave a pool cover on all the time?

The longer you leave your pool cover on, the more likely it is to tear and rip. The elements put stress on your pool cover which can then lead to damage. Additionally, debris and animals can cause rips and tears too. Be sure to take good care of your pool cover to keep your water clean and clear.

How do I keep my pool cover from sinking in the rain?

If you have a leaf pool cover, there are some tools like pool pillows and DIY solutions like floating plastic rain barrels you can place underneath the cover that can help, but the best practice for pool safety covers to avoid sagging is to use an automatic or mesh cover.

Does water seep through pool cover?

Water displacement in above ground pools is quite common. Over the winter, the weight of the snow and ice push down on the cover, which can cause the cover to displace some of the pool water. The displaced water spills out harmlessly onto the deck, unbeknownst to the pool owners.

How To Remove Rain Water From Your Pool Cover (With Only Water Hose!)

Why do pool covers have holes in them?

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 do I know if my pool cover is leaking?

Common Signs Of A Leaking Pool
  1. Water Level Changes. Dropping water level is the clearest sign a pool is leaking, but it's important to determine if the water loss is due to evaporation or a leak. ...
  2. Cracks or Falling Tile. ...
  3. Wet Spots in Yard. ...
  4. High Water Bills. ...
  5. Water Under Equipment. ...
  6. Air or Dirt Blown Into Pool. ...
  7. Algae Growth.

How do I get my pool cover to stay on?

  1. 5.1 Keep The Middle Section Of Your Pool Cover Higher Than The Sides.
  2. 5.2 Use Heavy Objects To Keep The Edges In Place.
  3. 5.3 Fix It As Soon As You See It.
  4. 5.4 Opt For A Portable Pool Cover.
  5. 5.5 Build A Support Structure.
  6. 5.6 Use Pool Pillows.
  7. 5.7 Use H2O Bags.
  8. 5.8 Use A Pool Safety Cover.

Should I cover my above ground pool when it rains?

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 my pool safety cover sag?

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.

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.

Should I keep my pool covered in the summer?

We recommend it, yes. A pool cover does much more than just cover your pool in the winter. It can keep heat in your pool, keep leaves out of the pool, and save your chemicals and water from evaporating.

Does covering pool cause algae?

Cover Your Pool

Not only is a pool cover a barrier to algae entering the pool, it's also a barrier to leaves, bugs, bacteria, and dirt from entering the pool, decomposing, and providing the nourishment that helps algae to thrive.

Can you run pump with pool cover on?

Is It Safe To Run The pool Pump With The Pool Cover On? It is safe to run the pool pump and filter with a swimming pool cover on. The pool cover doesn't in any way stop or hinder the pool pump from circulating the water or carrying out its function.

When should I use my pool cover?

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.

How tight should a pool cover be?

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.

How do I protect my above ground pool from rain?

Just follow the simple steps below to protect your pool against possible damage caused by high winds and heavy rainfall.
  1. Don't Drain the Pool Water.
  2. Turn Off Power and Tie Down or Remove Equipment.
  3. Remove Pool Cover and Balance Your Chemicals.

Should I shock my pool while it's raining?

Shocking your pool isn't necessary, although, it's not a bad idea either. If you get an extremely heavy rain fall, you could shock your pool for good measure. This will help fight off any contaminants that the rain may have brought to your pool.

Should I treat my pool before it rains?

Give your pool a good shock treatment 1 to 2 days before the storm hits. You can bring the chlorine level up pretty high to prolong the pool being depleted of chlorine. Run the pool for about 24hrs after the shock treatment to allow the treatment to make its way throughout the entire pool.

Why does my pool cover keeps blowing off?

Heavy winds and rain can blow the pool cover around and even completely off of the swimming pool. When this happens the cover could tear or rip into pieces if it is windy enough. You can protect this from happening by taking a few easy steps.

How much water should a covered pool lose?

Quick answer: You can expect to lose between 2 mm to 2 inches of water in your pool per week due to evaporation, depending on the various factors we'll get into in this article.

Where do most pool leaks occur?

Most pool leaks are not in the underground plumbing, although it's every pool owner's worst fear, a large backhoe coming in and ripping up the pool deck. It does happen occasionally, that a leak occurs at a pipe connector under the pool deck, or beneath the skimmer, but repair rarely involves a backhoe.

Where does water go when pool leaks?

The pressurized plumbing system pumps water back to the pool after it has passed through the filter. The filtered water returns to the pool through the jet (or return) inlets. The plumbing that returns the water from the filter to the pool is often referred to as return plumbing.

Do winter pool covers have holes?

If you're buying an above ground winter pool cover for the first time, make sure you buy a good heavy-duty cover with grommets. 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.

Should I leave the pool cover on in winter?

If installing a pool cover over winter, wait until the chlorine level has reduced to between 2-3ppm. Reduce the Chlorine Production Output (CPO on your chlorinator). The pool cover will maintain 90% of the chlorine (produced by your chlorinator) in the pool, as opposed to loosing 70% of chlorine in an uncovered pool.

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