Removing and Storing your Safety Cover

Tips for Removing and Storing Your Swimming Pool Safety Cover

With the warm weather already upon us, many families are getting ready for their annual "opening of the swimming pool" ceremony. And it all starts by removing the swimming pool safety cover and storing it away until fall.

In order to help extend the life of your swimming pool cover, and to ensure that it is primed for use come fall, there are certain steps you should take to ensure the cover is removed and stored properly. Follow these steps for removing and storing your pool cover, and it will last longer and protect your property better.

Step 1: Clean the Cover Before You Remove It

Over the fall and winter, dirt and debris can collect on the swimming pool cover. The last thing you want to do is slide the cover off without first removing the debris because everything sitting on top of the cover will eventually slide into the pool. Worse yet, a large branch or twig could cause a tear.

All it takes to clean off the cover is a standard garden hose with a power nozzle. Simply hose off the debris and you're ready to get started with the removal process. If, on the other hand, your pool is protected by a solid cover instead of a mesh one, then you will want to suction off any standing water on top of the cover before you remove it. A cover pump is designed to help make that task easy.

Step 2: Remove the Cover Springs and Screw Down Anchors

Before you can remove the swimming pool safety cover, you will have to remove the cover springs and screw down anchors. The installation rod that came with your cover is the perfect tool for removing the springs from the anchors.

Once all of the springs are removed, take the hex key (that also came with your cover) to lower the brass anchors down into the deck. By lowering the anchors into the deck, you'll be reducing the risk of your cover getting snagged on them during the removal process. This is an important step to helping prevent damage to your cover, so don't bypass it.

Step 3: Proper Removal of the Swimming Pool Safety Cover

How you remove the cover from your pool is important for minimizing damage risks. Start at one end of the cover and fold the cover in small sections in an accordion-style until your reach the end. Then, without dragging the cover, carefully remove it from the end of the swimming pool and set it on a flat clean surface.

Step 4: Clean the Cover Thoroughly

Many swimming pool owners bypass this step entirely, but not cleaning the cover before storing it is a big mistake. To clean the cover, you will want to spread it out on a clean section of your lawn and clean it thoroughly using a mild detergent mixed with water. Or, you can use a safe and effective spray-on cover cleaner. If the pool cover is extremely dirty, then you can use a pool brush to scrub the dirt and grime from the cover. Rinse the soapy water or cover cleaner from the cover using a hose and let it dry. Be careful not to let your cover sit on your grass for an extended period of time or it can harm your lawn.

Step 5: How to Properly Store Your Pool Cover

You want to wait for the cover to be dry before you store it away. This will help reduce the risk of mold and mildew from growing on it over the summer. Once it is dry, fold the cover in half as many times as possible until it is small enough to fit in the storage bag that was supplied with it. This can be a difficult process to do on one's own, so a second person is recommended.

When storing the cover, do not set it on the floor. Hang the bag high off the floor so no rodents can burrow into it over the summer. If necessary, store the cover in a covered plastic bin or in a large garbage pail. This will help ensure that once the swimming season is over, your swimming pool safety cover will be in good shape and ready for reinstallation.

If you need a new safety cover this year, then now is a good time to find a great deal. Find an authorized LOOP-LOC dealer near you and give your pool one of the strongest and most reliable swimming pool safety covers on the market. And remember, our covers are so strong, they can hold an elephant!