Above Ground Pool Winter Covers | Royal Swimming Pools

An above ground winter pool cover is ordered larger than the pool itself, typically 3 to 5 feet wider in each dimension, so the material can overlap the wall and take up slack as the water level drops over winter. Covers come in solid, mesh, and leaf net, and each handles debris and drainage differently. Check the product title before ordering, since every listing states both the cover size and the pool size it fits. Winter covers are commonly installed as part of a complete closing process that includes pool closing kits. Many setups also coordinate covers with above ground pool equipment to protect exposed components. For added protection, winter covers are often used alongside above ground pool skimmers that have been properly winterized.

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About Above Ground Pool Winter Covers

How to Size a Winter Cover for Your Pool

Winter covers are sold by pool size but manufactured larger, usually 3 to 5 feet more in each dimension. That extra material overlaps the pool wall and absorbs the slack created when the water level drops during winter. Order by your pool's dimensions rather than by the cover dimensions, since each listing names both. A 24 foot round pool, for example, takes a cover measuring roughly 28 feet across.

Solid, Mesh, and Leaf Net Covers

A solid cover blocks debris and sunlight completely, which limits algae growth and makes spring opening easier. The tradeoff is that rain and snowmelt collect on top, so a cover pump is needed to draw the water off before the weight pulls the cover into the pool. A mesh cover lets water drain through and needs less attention, though some sunlight and fine sediment pass through with it. A leaf net is not a winter cover on its own; it lays over the main cover so leaves can be lifted off in one piece.

Installing and Storing the Cover

Above ground winter covers secure with a cable and winch that runs through grommets around the edge, drawing the cover snug against the pool wall. Fit it after the pool has been closed and balanced but before heavy leaf drop, and check the tension once or twice through the season. At opening, clean the cover and let it dry completely before folding it away, since storing it damp is the fastest way to shorten its life.

Securing hardware, replacement winches, and cover pumps are listed under cover accessories, and solar covers handle heat retention during the swimming season.

Above Ground Pool Winter Cover FAQs

What size winter cover do I need for my above ground pool?

Order by your pool size, not the cover size. Winter covers are made 3 to 5 feet larger in each dimension so the material overlaps the wall and takes up slack as the water level drops. A 24 foot round pool typically takes a cover measuring about 28 feet across. Each listing names both figures, so match the pool size in the product title to your pool.

What is the difference between solid, mesh, and leaf net covers?

A solid cover blocks debris and sunlight entirely, which limits algae and makes spring opening easier, but water pools on top and has to be pumped off. A mesh cover drains through on its own and needs less attention, at the cost of letting some sunlight and fine sediment into the water. A leaf net is a lightweight layer laid over the main cover so leaves can be removed in one lift.

How tight should an above ground winter pool cover be?

Tight enough that wind cannot get underneath and lift it, but not drum tight. The cover needs some slack to settle as rain and snow accumulate and as the water level drops over winter. A cover pulled completely taut has nowhere to give and is far more likely to tear at the grommets. Check the tension once or twice through the season and retighten the winch if it has loosened.

How do you secure an above ground winter pool cover?

Most above ground covers use a cable and winch that runs through grommets spaced around the edge, drawing the cover snug against the pool wall. Pools with a surrounding deck may need cover clips or weighted alternatives where the cable cannot run continuously. Wind is the main threat, so check the winch after storms and retighten as needed through the season.

When should I put a winter cover on my above ground pool?

Wait until water temperatures have dropped and stayed consistently cool, then close the pool and balance the chemicals before fitting the cover. Going on too early traps warm water underneath, which encourages algae over the winter. Aim to have it on before heavy leaf drop begins, so the cover is doing its job when the debris actually arrives rather than after.

What happens if you do not cover an above ground pool for winter?

Leaves, dirt, and runoff enter the water all season and break down into staining and algae. Sunlight on untreated water accelerates that growth, so spring opening usually means heavy vacuuming, shock treatment, and sometimes a full drain and refill. Debris can also work into the skimmer and plumbing. The cost of a cover is generally less than a season of corrective chemicals and labour.

Can you use a leaf net with a winter cover?

Yes, and it is worth doing if your pool sits under trees. The leaf net lays over the installed winter cover and catches falling leaves before they settle and soak. Once leaf drop finishes, the net is lifted off with the debris on it in a single pass, rather than scooping wet leaves off the main cover. This also reduces the weight sitting on the cover through winter.