YAY! Your pool is open, running, and starting to clear up! The first major milestone of the pool season has been reached, BUT… there is still work to do. A common question from new pool owners is: What do we do with our cover?
It’s often bulky and heavy, it needs to go somewhere, and we want to make sure it lasts for as many years as possible. We’ve put together a quick guide on how to ensure your cover is in tip top shape and ready for when it’s time to close your pool for winter. At PoolZenia, we clean and fold the cover when opening the pool, so all you have to do is store it where it's convenient.
First, we’ll break it down into 2 categories: 1. Safety Covers and 2. Tarp and Lock-in Covers.
Safety Covers
Most safety covers are permeable, meaning they allow water to flow through, keeping all large items and dirt out. If you have an impermeable safety cover (one you need to pump off), scroll to the next section as we will treat it like a tarp.
Safety covers are usually very easy to clean because they allow the water through them and all the debris (leaves, branches, grass, etc.) stays on top and usually dries out. Often, all we need to do is sweep or use a leaf blower to clean off the cover. After it's pulled off of the pool, we fold it up, place it in the bag, and once it's totally dry, it can be put away.
If there is anything on the cover, we lay it out, on the lawn or the driveway and hose it down, while brushing it with a broom. After letting it air dry for 30-45 minutes, it can be folded and put away.
PRO TIP: When storing, hang your safety cover in its bag. Mice seem to love the material and can make a nest and create holes. We often find mice when unfolding the cover in the fall and have to repair covers or replace them if they are bad enough.
Tarp Covers/Lock-in covers
These covers can be made from different materials. The most common are woven polyethylene or vinyl. They get draped over the pool and will often be held down by water bags. This type of cover is impermeable and will have to be pumped off in the spring, leaving all debris on top of the cover. The debris is wet and often decomposing, making it a lot more difficult to remove and open the pool.
Once the cover is off, it must be cleaned to avoid mould growth and the smell that often accompanies it. There are a couple ways to clean the cover, and both are acceptable as long as it's done right.
Dry Storage: Stretch the cover out, use a hose, brush and a cover cleaner (available at any pool store). First, hose off any large debris. While the cover is wet, pour the cover cleaner on and brush around. Once it's covered, hose off the cover cleaner and let the cover dry completely. When it’s dry, fold it up, use a rope or bungee cord to keep it folded and store wherever convenient. This way is the most time consuming because you will have to wait until one side is dry, flip it over and dry the other side.
Wet Storage: Stretch the cover out, use a hose, brush and a cover cleaner (available at any pool store). First, hose of any large debris. Scrub the cover with a brush and completely clean and rinse it off. Then you will apply the cover cleaner on the clean cover, brush it around and fold the cover up while WET. A good cover cleaner will prevent mould and mildew, while also making the cover smell pleasant w
When pulled out of storage. The cover can now be folded and stored. We recommend putting it in a container so it doesn't drip all over the storage area.
Regardless of the type of winter pool cover you have, it can be quite labour intensive to get it ready and stored. If you are having a service company open the pool, make sure that they take these steps to avoid having to replace the cover before its usable life is up.
As always, if you have any questions, reach out to our Client Care Team or check us out on our social media for updates, info and more!
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