How to Use a Pool Pump to Drain Water From the Winter Cover

A winter cover on a pool accumulates water from rain and snow. Siphoning the water from the cover with a hose takes a long time and requires a lot of adjustments to keep the water pooled at the end of the hose. A pool pump can drain the water from a winter cover a lot faster, even though you will need to make several adjustments to keep the water pooled at the end of the hose. Before using the pool pump to drain the water, all connections must be open and ready for operation.

Things You'll Need

• Leaf skimmer
• Pool vacuum

Instructions

1. Clean off all large debris on the pool cover with a leaf skimmer.

2. Turn the control on the pool filter to “Waste.” This bypasses the filter and sends the water out the discharge line.

3. Make the appropriate connections for the pool vacuum. Place one end of the vacuum hose in the skimmer, with the vacuum polls and head on the other end.

4. Press the head of the vacuum onto the pool cover, allowing the water to move to one section of the cover.

5. Turn on the pool pump and the water will go through the vacuum and out the discharge line of the pool filter.

6. Turn the pump off while repositioning the cover to pool the water in one location for vacuuming.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not allow the vacuum to suck air, or it may break the pool pump.

• Use two people to complete the task--one to turn the pump on and off and the other to maneuver the pool vacuum.