STEP 2: How to Open Your Pool - Before You Remove the Winter Cover

The winter pool cover should be free of all water and debris.

You just don't want to risk ANYTHING from on top of the cover getting into the pool. That "stuff" on top of the cover is the nutrient rich food for algae and bacteria. Take the extra time to siphon off as much of the water off the top of the cover as you possibly can. What looks like just "a few gallons of water", will turn out to be 100 lbs or more of water. Just too heavy for one or two people to heave over the side of the pool.

Here's PoolCo's recommendation:

The night before  Start siphoning the top of the winter cover the night before what is predicted to be a sunny and slightly windy day. (*See Below)

Early the next morning  Early the next morning, attach the leaf net skimmer to vacuum pole. Extend the pole and use the leaf net to spread any remaining water ( that can't be siphoned ) across the surface of the pool. Now would be a good time to begin setting up your pump and filter system. Or you can busy yourself with other outdoor projects for several hours.

Later that afternoon  Most of the time when you return later in the afternoon and the cover will be completely dry. Now you can loosen the plastic coated wire to free the cover. If you have a few (3-5) large plastic clamps, attach these to one end of the pool. Now when you start dragging the cover off from the other side, you should be able to keep anything from going into the water.

Clean your winter cover
with BioGuard Stow-Away

                                        



* Do not mistakenly pump water from the pool.   

Older and lighter weight winter covers can allow a minimal exchange of water between the pool cover surface and the pool itself.  Also, a minor hole in the cover can allow a much greater exchange of water.  When pumping water from the cover, we strongly recommend that the water level on top of the cover be monitored closely to avoid pumping a large amount of water from underneath the cover.  Resecuring the cover to make it more taut  when the water on top of the cover is reduced can help eliminate erroneous removal of  pool water. Try placing a "frisbee" - top side down - under your siphon or pump. This should direct water from on top of the pool cover to the frisbee.

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