How to Cover Your Pool for Winter in Michigan
As another Michigan pool season comes to an end, it is time to start thinking about protecting your swimming pool from freezing temperatures, snow, ice, wind, and debris. One of the most important parts of the pool-closing process is installing a winter pool cover correctly.
A properly installed pool cover helps protect your water and pool throughout the off-season while making spring cleanup much easier. However, simply throwing a cover over your pool is not enough. Choosing the right cover, securing it correctly, and maintaining it throughout the winter can make a big difference.
At Sunny’s Pools & More, we carry winter pool covers and other supplies you need to help prepare your swimming pool for Michigan’s colder months.
Why Should You Cover Your Pool for Winter?
A cover is only one part of properly closing and winterizing your swimming pool, but it plays an important role in protecting your pool until spring.
Some of the biggest benefits of using a winter pool cover include:
- Keeping leaves and debris out of the water
- Reducing exposure to sunlight
- Helping limit algae growth
- Protecting your pool from winter weather
- Reducing the amount of cleanup required in spring
- Helping protect your investment throughout the off-season
Without a cover, leaves, sticks, dirt, and other debris can collect in your pool throughout fall and winter. By spring, that can leave you with a much larger cleanup project.
A solid winter cover can also reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the pool water. Since sunlight can contribute to algae growth and affect pool chemicals, limiting exposure can help your winterizing chemicals do their job.
Choose the Right Winter Pool Cover
Before covering your pool, make sure you have a cover designed for your specific pool size and type.
Sunny’s Pools & More offers several winter pool cover options for above-ground and inground swimming pools. The proper size is important because a winter cover should provide enough overlap to be installed and secured according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Your installation method will also depend on the type of pool and cover you own. Above-ground winter covers may use cables, winches, grommets, and cover clips, while inground pool covers may require a different anchoring or weighting system.
Always follow the instructions provided with your particular pool cover.
Should You Use an Air Pillow Under a Pool Cover?
For many above-ground swimming pools, an ice equalizer pillow, often called a pool air pillow, can be an important part of winterizing.
The pillow sits beneath the winter cover and helps manage pressure caused by freezing conditions. It can also help stabilize water and ice on the cover during the winter.
When installing an air pillow, avoid overinflating it. The pillow should have some flexibility so it can respond to changing winter conditions.
Make sure the pillow is positioned and secured according to its instructions before installing your winter cover.
How to Secure an Above-Ground Pool Cover
Once your pool has been properly winterized and the air pillow is in position, you can install your winter cover.
For many above-ground pools, the cover is placed over the pool and secured with a cable that passes through the cover’s grommets. A winch is then used to secure the cable around the pool.
Cover clips can provide additional protection by helping reduce movement caused by wind.
One common mistake is pulling a winter cover extremely tight. Your cover needs enough flexibility to handle changing weather conditions. Follow the cover manufacturer’s installation instructions rather than stretching or forcing the cover into place.
Also inspect the area around the pool for anything sharp that could puncture or damage the material.
Keep an Eye on Your Pool Cover All Winter
Installing the cover does not mean pool maintenance is completely finished until spring.
Michigan winters can bring rain, freezing rain, heavy snow, ice, and frequent freeze-and-thaw cycles. Check your winter cover periodically to make sure it remains secure and in good condition.
Remove Excess Water
Rain and melting snow can cause water to collect on top of a solid winter cover. Too much standing water adds unnecessary weight and stress.
A pool cover pump can be used to remove excessive water from the cover when conditions allow.
Be Careful With Ice
If water on the cover freezes, avoid pulling, chopping, or aggressively removing the ice. Doing so could damage or tear your winter cover.
Allow the ice to melt naturally before removing the resulting water with a cover pump.
Watch for Wind Damage
Strong winter winds can cause a loose cover to move, rub, or flap against the pool.
Check your cover after major storms and make sure cables, clips, anchors, or other securing devices remain properly positioned.
Prepare Your Pool Before Installing the Cover
Remember that a winter cover cannot replace the rest of the pool-closing process.
Before covering your swimming pool, you should properly prepare the water, plumbing, filter, and other equipment for winter. Depending on your pool, the closing process may include:
- Testing and balancing the pool water
- Cleaning and vacuuming the pool
- Adding appropriate winterizing chemicals
- Lowering the water level when necessary
- Winterizing plumbing lines
- Protecting the skimmer and return
- Draining and preparing pool equipment
- Removing ladders and accessories
- Installing an air pillow when appropriate
- Securing the winter cover
Taking care of these steps before installing your cover can help reduce the chances of algae, freeze damage, staining, and other problems when it is time to reopen the pool.
Winter Pool Covers and Closing Supplies at Sunny’s Pools & More
Getting your pool ready for winter is much easier when you have the right supplies.
At Sunny’s Pools & More, we can help you find the winter pool cover and pool-closing supplies you need for your swimming pool. From winter covers and cover clips to ice equalizer pillows, cover pumps, winterizing chemicals, plugs, and other closing supplies, our team can help you prepare for the off-season.
We have been helping Michigan families enjoy and maintain their swimming pools since 1967, and we are here to help you protect your pool through another Michigan winter.
Browse our pool covers or contact Sunny’s Pools & More if you have questions about getting your pool ready for winter.
Protect your pool now and make opening it next spring that much easier.