How to Use a Pool Cover Winch
Pool covers can be difficult to manage, but having equipment that makes it simple to fasten and remove them goes a long way to make things easier.
Such equipment can help you save a lot of time and effort. An example is the pool cover winch.
For parents or guardians who live with kids in a house with a pool, it is very important that you cover up the pool when not in use. To reduce the stress of doing it manually, we will show you how to do it with a winch.
After reading this, you will know how to use a winch for a pool cover, so read on…
What is a Pool Cover Winch All About?
It could occasionally be essential to close your above-ground pool. Closing your pool is a good way to preserve it from the weather, especially in the winter or close to it.
Typically, a winch can be used to tighten the pool cover kit.
The pool cover winch has a basic crank or rake appearance. Numerous pool cover manuals frequently refer to these winches as cable tighteners. In most cases, they are constructed from sturdy, rust-free metal.
Despite how simple a winch for a pool cover may seem, not everyone is familiar with it.
No need to worry, you will learn the easiest way possible how to use a winch for a pool cover.
You may anticipate a clean pool when you open it because the cable tightener is simple to fasten and secure with a winch.
The pool cover winch not only helps with removing and installing pool covers, but it also makes sure that the cover is tightened properly to keep your pool clean and enhance the durability of your pool cover.
How to Use a Winch for a Pool Cover
Here is our simple step-by-step guide on how to use a pool cover winch for your ground pool, along with some useful point-outs to ensure you do it the right way.
First Step: Preparing the Pool
The pool itself needs to be prepared before you can even begin to cover it for the winter.
You must ensure that the pool is in good condition before you cover it up. Remove all debris. Utilize a net, a vacuum, and your pool’s filtration system will help you do this.
Step 2: Preparing the Pool Water
You must prepare the pool water after the water has been cleansed. Under the pool skimmer, the water level needs to be lowered by at least 4 inches. You have to give space between the pool cover and the water’s surface.
Step 3: Place the Pool Cover over the Pool
Stretch the pool cover slowly across the top of the pool.
Most pool covers will have a material overlap of two feet or more and will be slightly larger than the pool frame. Together with the winch and cable, this material overlap secures the cover.
Make sure that all of the excess material is hung equally all around the pool.
Also, inspect thoroughly to see if the pool cover grabs or rips on anything sharp when you stretch it across the pool.
Step 4: Weave the Cable through the Pool Cover Eyelets
The cable must be carefully woven in and out of the eyelets along the edge of the pool cover as the initial step in utilizing the winch.
The simplest way to make sure each eyelet has been used is to simulate stitching a thread with an under-and-over pattern.
Step 5: Weave the Cable through the Winch Eyelets
The wires must then be tightened by pulling them through the eyelets in the pool cover.
Beginning with the cable’s one end, thread it tightly through the winch’s right eyelet. The opposite end of the cable should then be threaded through the left eyelet, completely overlapping the right, and pulled tightly.
You’ll see that the wire has a little excess length sticking out of the winch. It will only become tangled if you thread it back through the eyelets, which will stop the winch from working.
Simply let the cable dangle slack.
Step 6: Tighten the Winch
Once the winch is ready, start moving the handle clockwise to start pulling. Be sure to periodically verify that the cover’s sides are level as you turn the winch handle and that the wire is tucked behind the above-ground pool’s rail.
It shouldn’t take long for the cover to be sufficiently tight, depending on the size of the pool. When the cover is sufficiently secure, it will be challenging to continue turning the winch handle; then you know you are almost there.
In a case where the pool has already been prepared and the cables have been securely threaded, using a pool cover winch is a rather simple procedure.
Tips on Using Pool Cover Winches
Here are some of our top suggestions to remember in order to get the most use out of the pool cover winch:
Check Faulty Cables and Winches:
Even the toughest cables and winches can deteriorate, break, or weaken with time. Before utilizing the cables and winch, always check them. Strong winds have the potential to snap old cables and winches.
Use plastic clips to secure the edges of the pool cover and the pool frame to prevent this and add an added layer of safety.
Check All Eyelets in the Pool Cover Are Used:
Always make sure the cable has been woven through each and every eyelet along the pool cover’s edge. If any are overlooked, the cover may wind up being damaged as a result of being adjusted unevenly.
Use Good Quality Cables and Winch:
Make sure the wires you use are of high quality, particularly cables that have a protective coating like the plastic coating on them.
The winch should always be constructed of durable materials like stainless steel and aluminum alloy. The winch should ideally be both rustproof and waterproof.
Final Thoughts
Now you can easily describe how to use a winch for a pool cover. The safest and most efficient tools are winches that are specifically made for pools.
Ensure the winch is well secured by using a strong strap.
Using this method doesn’t just make covering your pool easier, it also ensures that your cover is completely fastened so it doesn’t blow away in windy conditions.
