During the winter months, you’ll need to cover your pool to protect it against the elements. However, after a rainstorm or heavy snowfall, that cover may accumulate a lot of water – and if it’s not drained properly, it can become damaged.
So knowing how to drain water off pool cover can help you avoid costly repairs in the long run. Let’s take a closer look at how to do this.
Can You Drain Water Off the Pool Cover?
Pool covers come in handy for preventing the need to regularly clean dirt and debris out of your pool, making maintenance quite simple. But if you’ve left standing water on top of the cover, such as during a heavy rainstorm, what can be done to get rid of it?
Fortunately, there are ways to drain water from a pool cover. You can use a manual or electric pump specifically designed for draining water off covers or remove the water yourself using a squeegee and bucket.
The important thing is to ensure the pool cover is completely dry before removing it, as leaving any puddles behind will lead to wasted effort and potential damage. Taking proper care when it comes to draining water off your pool cover will ensure that your cover remains in good condition and lasts longer over time.
Why Should You Drain Water Off Pool Cover?
Properly draining the water off a pool cover is essential to winterizing a pool. Over time, water accumulating on the cover can cause it to sag and even create small tears in the material.
Additionally, too much water or snow buildup can tax your pool’s filtration system and its heating capabilities, as both will be required to process the additional volumes of water.
Finally, stagnant standing water on a pool cover can form algae, moss, and mildew, which are unsightly, an eyesore, and hazardous for swimmers. To avoid any of these issues that may arise, it’s important to ensure that you drain your pool cover and keep it free from debris throughout the fall or winter season.
7 Steps to Follow on How to Drain Water Off Pool Cover
Step 1: Safety First!
Before you begin draining water from your pool cover, it’s important to consider safety first. Even if the water on your pool cover doesn’t seem deep enough for someone to drown in, don’t forget that there is always the risk of slipping and falling on the wet surface.
Ensure that all children and pets are kept away from your pool area while draining the water off your cover.
Step 2: Get Ready to Drain
Once everyone is safe and sound, you can remove water from your pool cover using either a hose or a submersible pump. A hose is often better for smaller amounts of standing water since it won’t be as powerful as a submersible pump.
However, if you have more than an inch or two of standing water on your pool cover, then a submersible pump will be ideal since it can quickly remove large amounts of liquid in one go.
Just make sure that whatever type of pump you use is made specifically for swimming pools – otherwise, it could damage your pool’s lining and other materials.
Step 3: Removing Debris
After you have removed most of the standing liquid from the surface of your pool cover, use a leaf skimmer or vacuum cleaner to remove any debris, such as leaves and twigs, that may have accumulated during this time period. This will ensure that no organic matter gets into the filtration system once you reopen your pool for use again later in the year.
Step 4: Testing the Drainage System
Before you can finish draining water off your pool cover, it’s important to ensure your drainage system is working effectively. Start by running a hose directly into the drain hole and check for any blockages or clogs that may be preventing the water from flowing freely away from the pool cover. If you find any, clear them away before continuing with drainage.
Step 5: Releasing the Pressure
Once you have ensured that your drainage system is running smoothly, it’s time to release the pressure inside your pool cover. This is done by opening up the air vents located at each corner of the cover. Once open, these vents will allow any built-up air pressure to escape and make it easier to drain water off your pool cover.
Step 6: Use a Shop Vac
If you find that there’s still some standing liquid after all the pressure has been released, then it’s time to break out the shop vac. This will allow you to suck up any remaining water and ensure no water is left on the pool cover.
Step 7: Cover Up
Once you have finished draining water off your pool cover, it’s important to put a fresh new cover back over the pool before anyone uses it. This will help keep out any dirt, debris, or animals that may be looking for a place to rest during the summer months. With a new pool cover on, you can rest assured that your pool is clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.
That’s it! You’ve now learned the basics of how to drain water off pool cover. Just make sure to follow all the safety precautions and always use the right equipment when draining your pool, and you’ll be ready for a summer of fun in no time.
Things You Need to Know Before Draining Water Off Pool Cover
Draining your pool’s cover can be a complicated procedure, so it is important to ensure you are prepared with the necessary tools and knowledge before starting. First, check the water level in the pool; it should be below the cover surface before any draining occurs.
Next, ensure that there is an adequate surface area around the pool to accommodate a large amount of water being removed. It’s also essential to inspect your pump and filter. Disconnecting them at this time can reduce their chances of damage from debris that may come uncomfortable during the draining process.
Finally, be sure to have a hose on hand, as you will likely need one for optimal drainage. With these helpful tips, you’ll be ready to begin your pool cover draining safely and efficiently!
Benefits of Draining Water Off Pool Cover
The benefits of draining water off a pool cover are bountiful. While it might be easy to forget about, draining the excess water helps to reduce the amount of weight on top of your cover, which can cause tears and holes to form, as well as to limit some algal growth.
It also gives you an idea of how much water you’re losing through evaporation to ensure you’re adding the right amount when filling it up again.
Additionally, since heavier debris sinks to the bottom faster while lighter debris remains suspended in the water longer, any residue that is left behind can be quickly and easily skimmed away before entering the pool if there is no water sitting on top.
Draining your pool also gives you an opportunity to check for any damage that may have been caused due to weather or other conditions while preventing any unnecessary blockage in the drain. The many benefits of draining your pool cover make it a breeze to keep your pool safe and healthy.
4 Common Mistakes People Make When Trying to Drain Water Off Pool Cover
1. Not Draining the Water Slowly
One of the most common mistakes people make when trying to drain water off their pool cover is draining it too quickly. If you drain the water too quickly, it can cause the cover to collapse, damaging the cover and even injuring nearby people. It’s important to drain the water slowly and carefully in order to avoid any accidents.
2. Not Draining the Water Completely
Another mistake people make is not draining all of the water off the pool cover. Even if you think you’ve drained most of the water, a small amount may still be left behind. This small amount of water can freeze and expand, damaging the pool cover. Ensure to completely drain all the water before removing the pool cover.
3. Not Removing Debris First
Before you start draining the water off your pool cover, you should remove any debris that may be on top of it. This includes leaves, twigs, and any other materials that may have blown onto the cover. If you don’t remove this debris first, it can clog up the drainage system and make it more difficult to drain all of the water off the cover.
4. Not Securing the Cover Properly
Once you’ve drained all the water off your pool cover, you need to ensure it’s properly secured. This includes ensuring all straps are tightened and no gaps around the edge of the cover. If there are any gaps or lose straps, it could allow water to seep underneath the cover and cause damage.
Conclusion
Draining water off a pool cover isn’t difficult – but if done incorrectly, it could lead to expensive repairs down the line. That’s why understanding how to drain water from your pool cover properly is so important!
By taking safety precautions before starting any work near or on top of a swimming pool, using either a hose or submersible pump depending on how much liquid needs removing, and cleaning out any debris afterward with tools like leaf skimmers and vacuums.
You’ll be able to safely drain any excess moisture from your pool’s covering without causing damage! Thanks for reading our post about how to drain water off pool cover.