By Matt Giovanisci If you live in a region that gets a lot of snow, you have to contend with the accumulation of snow on your pool cover. It may not seem like that big of a deal—it’s just going to melt eventually, right? Well, yes, but in the meantime, it can actually cause a lot of damage to your pool cover. And if you have an above ground pool, too much snow on the cover can damage the pool itself.
This is easily remedied. You just need to keep the right pool cover snow removal tools on hand, and take action before any damage is done.
Why Remove Snow from a Pool Cover?
Have you ever been to the beach? Maybe you got a little sand on your legs or arms, but you didn’t even notice it because just a few grains are seemingly weightless.
Now, have you ever been buried in sand at the beach? The sand on your body was quite a bit heavier, wasn’t it? You may have still been able to move, but not without some difficulty.
It’s the same situation with snow. One or two flakes are nothing. But millions upon millions sticking together eventually becomes very heavy.
How Heavy is Snow?
The weight of snow depends on the type. Time for some math!
On second thought, we’re going to skip the math and use a snow weight calculator.
Let’s say your pool is ten feet long and eight feet wide, and you allow one foot of light, fluffy snow to accumulate across that entire area. That snow will weigh somewhere between 250 and 350 pounds.
Then the temperature warms up just a bit, and the snow starts to melt, and now you have one foot of wet, slushy snow on the pool cover. Now the snow weighs somewhere between 1,998 and 4,146 pounds.
You read that right.
For an above ground pool that’s ten feet in diameter, the weight of that one foot of snow increases to between 2,497 and 5,182 pounds.
You read that right again.
Think about this: Once you put a cover on your pool, would you dare walk out onto it? And how much do you weigh? If you’re not keen on putting just your body weight on the pool cover, you’ll understand why pool cover snow removal is crucial.
That much weight put on something that was never meant to hold it will cause damage. And what’s the point of avoiding pool damage? Saving money.
If snow builds on the pool cover to the point of ruining anything, it’ll cost you money to repair or replace whatever’s ruined. The type of damage will depend on the type of pool you have.
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Above Ground Pool
The walls and rail on your above ground pool are strong. They have to be to contain hundreds of gallons of pool water. But that’s just it. They’re built to hold in a certain amount of water and weight.
If you allow snow on the pool cover to accumulate, it will slowly increase in weight, putting more and more strain on the cover. And because the cover is attached to the pool walls, that weight will strain the top rail and walls as well, pulling them inward toward the center of the pool. They’re not made for that.
Let it go too long, and get too heavy, and the walls could collapse altogether, leaving you with a huge mess to clean up, and the expense of replacing the pool in the spring
Tip: Remember to use a pool pillow with your winter cover to protect your pool even more.
Made from 16 gauge vinyl, this air pillow absorbs pressure caused by ice expansion, protecting the swimming pool walls from damage during the winter months.
Inground Pool
There’s no danger of your inground pool collapsing under the weight of too much snow on the pool cover. But the cover itself can stretch under that weight, which means it won’t cover your pool the way it’s supposed to.
Let’s be honest: High-quality inground pool covers can be expensive. Save yourself some money, and practice pool cover snow removal all winter long.
Safety covers can be even more expensive. If you have an higher-priced mesh or solid pool safety cover, it’s even more important to keep it free of snow to prevent stretching and tearing. The weight could also pop out the cover anchors or even your pool’s coping. And there’s more money you’ll have to spend.
Remove Snow from Cover Before it Causes Damage
Keep just a few tools on hand, and get snow off the cover before it becomes too heavy to remove.
- Use long, soft-bristled broom to push new, fluffy snow off the cover.
- Use a pool cover snow removal tool for older, heavier snow; it’s made specifically for that purpose.
- DO NOT use a shovel or anything with sharp edges; this can tear the cover.
- If the snowfall is light, you may also be able to use a leaf blower to keep it from accumulating.
- If snow did accumulate, but has melted as daytime temperature rises, you can use a pool cover pump to remove the water and keep it from freezing when temperatures drop again.
Set it and forget it! The built-in iSwitch technology turns the pump on and off by sensing the presence of water and includes automatic freeze protection to prevent damage during the winter.
Keep the Snow Miser at Bay
With just a few tools and a little vigilance, you can keep snow off your pool cover and protect your investment. Plus, who doesn’t like to play in the snow?!
Happy Pool Cover Snow Removal!
(Photo Credits: pat00139)
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