Pool covers are essential in keeping the pool clean and reducing maintenance during the off-season. However, when water collects on the cover, removing this water as quickly as possible is essential. Water standing on your pool cover can cause everything from damaging your cover to becoming an algae nursery and an insect capital. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to get water off pool cover and how to do it quickly, with or without a pump.
Table of Contents
- Why You Should Remove Water from a Pool Cover Quickly
- How to Remove Water from a Pool Cover
- How to Remove Water from a Pool Cover Without Pumps
- How to Prevent Water Accumulation on Pool Covers
- Common Mistakes to Avoid When Clearing Water
- Keep Your Pool Cover Dry and Your Pool Ready for Use
Why You Should Remove Water from a Pool Cover Quickly
You may think it’s better to have as much time as possible to remove water from a pool cover. But the fact is, letting water sit on your pool cover for too long does more harm than good. Here are a few reasons why you should take action quickly:
► Prevent Damage to the Pool Cover
Durable pool covers are manufactured, but heavy water accumulation can overstress the material. The additional weight over time can eventually create rips or tears, mainly at the seams.
► Try Not to Overpull the Cover and Straps with Weight
The additional pressure put on the cover and its holding straps by the water that collects could result in sagging or breaking the straps. With the straps broken, it becomes hard to take off the cover when you want to use the pool.
► Reduce the Possibility of Algae Development and Insect Breeding
Stagnant water can quickly become a perfect breeding ground for algae and insects like mosquitoes. Removing the water decreases the possibility of unwanted visitors camping out on your pool cover.
How to Remove Water from a Pool Cover
How to siphon water off pool cover is subject to several methods, and the easiest way to remove it is by using a pump. Here’s how to do it:
Use a pool cover pump
Probably the best technique for water removal is a cover pump, either manual or automatic. These pumps are specially made to clear standing water that may collect on pool covers. Simply place one of these pumps in the deepest area where standing water is present in the pool cover, and turning it on will do the rest. Many automated pumps also automatically shut off once the water level is low enough. It is a hassle-free way of ensuring your cover remains clean and undamaged.
How to Remove Water from a Pool Cover Without Pumps
If you don’t have a pump, you don’t have to worry. There are multiple ways of manually removing water from your pool cover.
Use a Garden Hose Siphon
A simple garden hose can be a practical siphon to remove water from your pool cover. Dampen one end of a hose under the water on the cover. The other end should then be located at a point below the pool area. When the water starts running through the hose, gravity should keep the flow. That method is really affordable and does not consume electricity, but based on the volume of water, it takes quite a while before water starts flowing.
Sweep water off with a leaf blower or broom
For low quantities of water, a blower can be incredible in pushing the water off toward the pool’s edge. If there is too much water than the blower can handle, sweep gently with a soft-bristled broom the water toward one corner of the cover. From there, you can finish doing the job using a bucket or a hose siphon; caution should be taken while sweeping so as not to puncture or damage the cover.
How to Prevent Water Accumulation on Pool Covers
You do not have to uninstall your pool cover time and again. Mentioned here are a few tips to ensure that the cover doesn’t collect water:
- Regular maintenance schedule: Check your pool cover at all times. The more chances there are for heavy rain or snow to fall, the more often you should check to remove the collected water. Saving a little time now will stop many such big problems later.
- Installing proper cover drainage systems: Consider having a pool cover fitted with built-in drainage systems. Such covers would allow the free flow of water but prevent debris from entering, thereby preventing large standing pools of water on the surface.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Clearing Water
Here are some things you might think about to avoid damaging your pool cover or doing unnecessary work for yourself:
- Never use sharp weapons that will cause tears or punctures on the cover. Always use soft-bristled brooms and leaf blowers to move the water.
- Never delay removing heavy water accumulation—it may require a lot of effort, but too much water can make it uncomfortable to remove the cover, which can lead to accidents.
- Never drag the water-saturated cover away since this can strain the cover and make it ineffective after some time.
- Keep your pool cover dry and the pool ready for use.
Keep Your Pool Cover Dry and Your Pool Ready for Use
Removing the water from your pool cover is the most crucial step in properly caring for your swimming pool. Although there are several methods of how to remove water from pool cover, namely using a pump on the pool cover, siphoning via the garden hose, or even a broom, the most important thing is to do it fast and regularly so as not to damage the item, maintain cleanliness, and prevent costly repairs. Water out of your pool cover means your pool is always ready and available for you to jump in.
Check out more tips in How To Clean Your Pool Cover.