Every pool is different. Get a free step-by-step plan for yours.
Get My Free PlanWe share some no-nonsense DIY strategies to fix your sagging pool cover, keep it snug, and ensure it doesn’t get destroyed over the winter months. In this article, we’ll cover:
The fastest way is to use an electric pump. For an inground pool with a safety cover, you can use an automatic submersible pump (sump pump). Here’s our favorite inground winter cover pump. 👇
This powerful pump moves water quickly and can lift it very high. It has a special switch that drains water super low without letting it flow back. The quiet, waterproof design won't rust and keeps junk out while being easy to carry and store. Great for emptying pools, tubs, and fixing flooded areas.
An automatic cover pump is a significant time-saver, ensuring your pool cover remains clear of water even when unattended. However, these units aren’t cheap. For pool owners where the cost is prohibitive, a manual pump offers a budget-conscious solution.
If you have a tarp cover, you want to invest in a specialized pool cover pump. These lightweight pumps are designed for tarp pool covers. Here’s our favorite winter cover pump. 👇
This lightweight pool cover pump removes standing water from above ground pool covers. Includes a removable intake screen for easy cleaning and maintenance, 3/4-inch garden hose connection, and a 550-gallon per hour flow rate.
Finally, you could use a siphon. This is the cheapest option and works best if you have an above ground pool because of the gravity you need to keep the siphon flowing. You can use a short garden hose or PVC pipe and create the siphon yourself. But we recommend investing in a cheap pool cover siphon that lays in the middle of the cover.
This eco-friendly, energy-saving siphon pump offers a practical and cost-effective solution for removing water from pool covers. Its easy operation requires no electricity, simply activating with a squeeze to clear away water.
The best way is to use a leaf blower. This will only work if you already removed all the water from the cover and the debris is dry. My favorite leaf blower is the one below. 👇
This powerful and easy-to-use leaf blower will not only perform well on your lawn, but is great around your pool and hot tub.
If the cover is still wet, and the leaf blower option won’t work for you, you can use a soft broom or skimmer net. Be very careful, as even a soft broom can damage the cover. Also, make sure you don’t walk on the cover to perform this step.
If you want to keep leaves and debris off the top of the pool cover, you can invest in a leaf net. This net goes over your pool cover and collects the leaves. After a huge fall, you can simply remove the leaf cover, shake the leaves off, and replace the leaf net on top of the cover for when it happens again.
This leaf net pool cover is crafted from durable woven polyethylene in a black mesh fabric. It conveniently prevents debris and decaying leaves from creating a mess, featuring a 4-foot overlap to accommodate most pool copings.
There are two types of inground covers: pool safety covers and winter tarps. For safety covers, the best you can do is make sure there’s no water on the cover and that the straps are all tight.
For a tarp cover, you want to make sure you have enough filled water bags/tubes around the pool to keep the cover in place. If some of the water bags don’t have enough water, you need to fill them up.
The tarp should be resting on the pool surface. There’s no way to get your tarp cover as tight as an installed safety cover. So sagging might be because of the low water level in your pool. If you lose some water, put a hose under the cover to fill it back up and raise the cover.
If your cover still feels too saggy, you can add a pool air pillow under the cover. This will help spread out the debris and rain/snow water so it doesn’t all collect in the middle and drag down your cover.
NOTE: If your cover is too old, it might be time to invest in a new safety cover. We put together a list of the best winter pool covers here. It includes inground safety covers and tarp covers.
Stop wasting time and money on confusing water chemistry and maintenance. Our effortless system guarantees to keep your pool balanced, sanitized, and crystal clear all year. Works for all pools, including saltwater.
You don’t want to buy a new cover every year. It’ll last longer if you take proper care of it.
If you’re buying an above ground winter pool cover for the first time, make sure you buy a good heavy-duty cover with grommets. These are holes around the edge of the cover with metal rings. If you just use a plastic tarp, it may not have grommets, and it’ll be more difficult to secure.
If you buy a winter cover designed for above ground swimming pools, it should come with a cable and a winch to ratchet down the cover. Wrap the winter cover under the rails and loop the cable through the grommets. Make sure it’s nice and tight when you ratchet it down.
Here is how you properly loop the cable through the grommets on an above ground winter pool cover.
We recommend using these in addition to the cable-and-grommet cover. The clips are just an added level of security.
They’re simple devices that clip on the cover directly under the above ground pool rail. They’re inexpensive, so the more you use them, the better.
Highly recommended to secure your winter cover to your above ground pool in conjunction with a cable and winch system. Add 1-3 per railing section for the best security.
Even tied down, a cover is susceptible to the wind. One good gust under the cover can blow it off, and repeated gusts can tear it.
Adding just one to three inches of water on the cover top will help protect it from wind damage. Remember to keep an eye on the water level, though. If it rains and you get too much water on top, the cover may sink down into the pool water. Keep a pool cover pump handy to remove excess water.
The same goes for snow. If you allow too much to accumulate, the weight will push the cover down into the pool. Make sure you remove snow from the pool cover before it gets to that point.
This cover has a solid, water-impermeable fabric. The design includes a 4-foot overlap for easy installation. And comes complete with a winch and cable system to ensure a secure fit through the integrated grommets.
Also called an ice compensator, a pool pillow helps protect your above ground pool from ice damage. If the pool water freezes during the winter and the ice expands, it can push the pool apart, sending all that water gushing into your yard.
It can also possibly damage the pool to the point where you’ll need to replace it altogether. The pillow under the cover will absorb the expansion and protect the pool walls from damage.
This air pillow absorbs pressure caused by ice expansion, protecting the swimming pool walls from damage during the winter months.
NOTE: Does an air pillow need to be under the middle of your pool cover or the center of the pool? The short answer is no. It can be anywhere under the cover. But if you want to keep it under the center of the cover, we recommend using the Pool Pillow Pal. 👇
A straightforward solution for securing an air pillow to a winter pool cover without ropes. It includes two flexible, peel-and-stick patches that adhere to both the pillow and the cover, ensuring the pillow stays centered and assisting with effortlessly positioning the cover over the pool.
You don’t want to buy a new cover every year. You can improve your cover’s lifespan if you take proper care of it and practice preventative measures.
WARNING: If you’re using a tarp-style inground pool cover, do not use any heavy object to secure it on the pool deck. This includes bricks, cinderblocks, etc. Heavy winds can turn your cover into a parachute and pull these objects into your pool, damaging the walls and floor. Instead, use water tubes, water bags, or Aqua Blocks around the edges of your pool.
Made from high-density polyethylene five times thicker than standard, ensures your pool cover stays in place. With a simple snap-lock design, these 3-foot-long weights are easy to fill, close, and store, providing hassle-free pool maintenance.
We get asked a lot of questions about this topic over the winter. I answered all of them here.
Chances are it’s from excess water weight, low water level in the pool, or it’s not secured correctly. Make sure you’re using a cover pump to keep things dry. Check the water level under the cover. And check those cable ties or winches to ensure they’re tight.
For an inground pool with a safety cover, tighten each strap around the pool. If you have a tarp, make sure you have plenty of water tubes around the pool and the cover is resting on the pool surface (a tarp should not be tight). For an above-ground pool, use the winch and cable, and tighten them evenly.
It depends on how well you take care of it. Generally, a quality pool cover can last you 5 to 10 years if you treat it right. That means cleaning and storing it properly during the off-season.
To keep it in place, use water bags or aqua blocks for an inground pool. For above ground pools, ensure the cover’s cable and winch system is tight and right. Adding a little water to the cover will also protect it from wind damage.
An air pillow is only needed on an above ground pool. It prevents water and debris from accumulating in the center by promoting runoff. It also takes the pressure off your pool walls by compensating for ice expansion, acting like a buffer.
Check if it’s repairable with a patch kit. If it’s just a small puncture, you’re back in business. If it’s dead, replace it pronto to keep that cover from sagging.
Yes, a pool cover should rest gently on the water’s surface. This support helps the cover hold the weight of rain, snow, and debris. If it’s not touching the water, it’s like a bridge without supports, and sooner or later, it’s going to have trouble standing up to the pressure.
Remember, the goal is to keep your pool in tip-top shape, even when you’re not splashing around. These cover tips are your off-season playbook – follow them, and you’ll be the MVP of pool maintenance.
Answer a few questions and we'll tell you what to test, what to add, and when.
Get My Free Plan
Matt is the founder of Swim University. He's been in the pool and spa industry since 1996. His mission is to make pool and hot tub care easy. Each year, he continues to help people with water chemistry, cleaning, troubleshooting, and more.
Think you can just cover your above ground pool, and it'll be fine until spring? Think again. Do just a few more things, and opening will be a breeze.
Winterizing an Intex pool is similar to closing an above ground pool, with just a few minor but important differences. Make sure you winterize it correctly.
Water on your pool cover causes sagging and tears. Remove it fast with these tools. Protect your investment with these expert tips.
Mesh or solid? Or maybe the new kid in town: hybrid? Which pool safety cover is right for you and your pool? Find out before you make that investment.
Learn exactly how long to run your pool pump in winter based on your climate, outside temperature, and water clarity.
Do you need a pool pillow for your above ground pool this winter? Here’s my honest take, plus a size chart and how to set one up so it doesn’t pop.
