Covering your pool in the off-season is always a good idea. It will keep animals out of your pool when it isn’t being used, help prevent unnecessary evaporation and make pool cleanup a lot easier when you open it up again.
A problem that a lot of pool owners face in the winter months when it comes time to close down their pool for the season is keeping the cover on. Strong winds can blow the cover out of place. Rain can weigh it down so that it begins to sag and sink. Ill-fitting covers can shift around too much and let too much debris in.
Keeping a pool cover on can be a lot trickier than it seems. So in the following guide we will be offering some tips for keeping a cover on both above ground and in-ground pools.
Table of Contents
How to Keep a Cover on an Above-Ground Pool
There are a handful of ways you can secure your above ground pool in the winter months but for this guide, we have selected two of the most effective methods:
Use Cover Clips
This is perhaps one of the simplest and most affordable ways to prevent a pool cover from flying off in high winds or succumbing to excess weight from rain water. Cover clips are pretty much exactly what they sound like: specialized tension clips that are made for above ground pool covers.
You can pick these up at your local pool supply store or buy them online. They come in different sized packs depending on how large your above ground pool is. Essentially, all you have to do is secure the clips to the top rail of your pool with the cover pinched in between.
The tension will hold the cover firmly in place so that it won’t blow off or out of place in high winds. Ideally, you are going to want to place a clip every 16 to 18 inches around your pool. You can also use your pool’s uprights as a guide. Simply attach 2 clips per upright.
Use a Cover Seal
This is also a convenient and effective way to secure your cover. A cover seal is a bit like plastic wrap for your above ground pool. It is a thin poly blend that adheres to the top rail of your pool via a special resin and stretches across it, creating a protective layer for your cover.
The seal basically encapsulates your pool cover so that there is a layer between it and winds, debris and animals. Most cover seals are also made with UV blockers which means they won’t degrade after extended UV exposure.
How to Keep a Cover on an In-Ground Pool
If you have an in-ground pool and want to know how to keep pool cover on in wind conditions there are a few things to keep in mind. The most important thing is to buy a cover that fits the dimensions of your pool as closely as possible.
An ill-fitting cover will be tough to work with in any conditions – let alone windy conditions. Also, try to get a cover made from vinyl or polypropylene. These are the most stable materials and offer the best protection. Here are some more tips:
Install Cover Tracks
This is the best way to protect your in-ground pool. You can pick up tracks at any pool supply store. Just know what kind of cover you have. The edges of the cover will slide into the tracks, locking them in place. Still, this method does require a bit of maintenance but it’s well worth the time. Take a look at how best to maintain your tracked cover:
Step 1
Installing a leaf net over the tracked cover will make it a lot easier to open your pool back up in the spring or summer. A leaf net will also prevent excess weight from building up on the cover due to leaves that have gotten wet in the rain.
Step 2
Clean your leaf net regularly. You can do this by simply removing the net and shaking it out.
Step 3
Rain water may gather on the surface of your cover. Using a standard pool vacuum, be sure to vacuum away any excess water.
Bonus Tip for Blow Up Pools
We didn’t forget about blow up pools. They do make pool cover for blow up pool use but if you don’t want to spend the money or have an odd shaped pool, simply use a tarp and tuck it under the pool. You can also secure the tarp to the ground by using bricks or other heavy objects.
Parting Words
No matter what type of pool you have, it’s important to protect it in the off-season. Use the methods outlined in the above guide and happy swimming!
