Closing Above Ground Pool with Deck Around It

[whiter0se]

Hi,

I'm going to be closing my pool this weekend but is there anyone that has a deck around their above ground pool? How did you cover it and how do you prevent the wind from blowing away the cover when its attached? I don't have any anchor points or anything to hold the cover in place. The deck is also really close to the walls of the pool so I'm unable to pull down the cover or even crawl under the deck. There's just no room.

Thanks,

 

[Newdude]

You can weigh down the cover with water bags / aqua blocks like an inground with a tarp, or install some sort of anchors to tie off the cover grommets.

With a wrap around deck, I would seriously consider a safety cover because it's probably close to buying a new cover every year or two, after 15 years.

 

[Mdragger88]

There’s been several posts on the subject recently - here’s one

Winter cover with a deck

We've used a winter cover in the past, but got tired of having to replace almost yearly because the wind would get underneath, would tear etc. Because of tears, wed end up with light hitting the water and often open to green. So we tried the coverless route, which worked quite well for the most...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[whiter0se]

I have a Guardian Pool Fence which has 7 gallon water buckets underneath that hold up a fence. Here's what they look like No Holes Pool Fence - Patented, Requires No Drilling In Your Deck

Can I use these to weigh down the cover? It is a tarp pool cover and I'm worried about the tarp opening up from one end and letting snow/rain/dirt into the water while covered.
Also is it okay to place these 7 gallon water bases on top of the pool edges? It'd be a lot of combined weight and not sure its safe to do so.

Thanks again.

You can weigh down the cover with water bags / aqua blocks like an inground with a tarp, or install some sort of anchors to tie off the cover grommets.

With a wrap around deck, I would seriously consider a safety cover because it's probably close to buying a new cover every year or two, after 15 years.

 

[Newdude]

I have a Guardian Pool Fence which has 7 gallon water buckets underneath that hold up a fence

Thats COOL !!! I've never seen that before.

Also is it okay to place these 7 gallon water bases on top of the pool edges

I wouldn't. The top rails aren't designed for holding weight and the deck is.

How much height differential is there between the tip rails and the deck ? Is it flush ? The bigger the gap is, the more air can get under the tarp making it a sail. That may be an issue also.

 

[whiter0se]

Thats COOL !!! I've never seen that before.

I wouldn't. The top rails aren't designed for holding weight and the deck is.

How much height differential is there between the tip rails and the deck ? Is it flush ? The bigger the gap is, the more air can get under the tarp making it a sail. That may be an issue also.

There isn't much of a height difference. it's pretty flush and close to the pool as possible. I've attached some photos here. I still have to decide if I want to call someone else to come and blow out the pipes and drain the water below the skimmer or not sure if I'm able to do it myself since the previous owner really went above and beyond and has pipes running to the side of the house )about 10-15 feet away) to where the pump and filters are located.

 

[Newdude]

There isn't much of a height difference. it's pretty flush

That's perfect !! Many wrap around decks are over the top rails, leaving a vertical gap.

I still have to decide if I want to call someone else to come and blow out the pipes and drain the water below the skimmer or not sure if I'm able to do it myself

Post pics of all of it. We can walk you through it. Above grounds are way easier with gravity going in your favor.

 

[whiter0se]

That's perfect !! Many wrap around decks are over the top rails, leaving a vertical gap.

Post pics of all of it. We can walk you through it. Above grounds are way easier with gravity going in your favor.

Thank you for your help!

The first thing is I'm unsure if I should bother draining below the skimmer and placing those those caps to block water from going into the skimmer assembly.
Not sure how to disconnect the skimmer's pipes from underneath (I can't get underneath the deck).
For the return it seems pretty easy, however I'm unsure how to remove the pipes, I've watched a couple YouTube videos and have an understanding of how to plug the hole where the return is once I remove it.
It's one of those light up returns, Aqualumniators.

The pipes run underneath the deck to the side of the house where all the pump, filter, heater and the frog system is located (frog system is unused for now, but keeping it just in case).
The pipe to the pump has a valve where I am able to close the water but some water does drip (I guess I'm not closing it all the way?).
Then it goes to the filter then to the heater then on a check value to the frog system then back to the return lines.

I don't even know where to start. We just brought the house 3 months ago so I'm still learning as I go.

Thanks again.View attachment 455977

 

[Newdude]

This will be easy, but I'm not sure about the return light thingy. Does the inside part come off to expose the pipe ?

The basic plan will be to drain below the skimmer/return, and remove the pump, filter and the pipe that's high. They all have unions and will come right off. Gravity will drain 95% of the water for you. You can stick the shop vac hose in the exhaust port to blow out the rest, first from the skimmer and then the return. Then reassemble the pad and remove the drain plugs from the equipment. If we have a way to plug the return, we'll do so and add a gizmo to the skimmer to plug that.

 

[Newdude]

I don't even know where to start. We just brought the house 3 months ago so I'm still learning as I go

That's why you found us. We got you.

The pipe to the pump has a valve where I am able to close the water but some water does drip (I guess I'm not closing it all the way?)

Ball valves are cheap and don't last. It's just not closing fully. It won't matter once we empty it.

 

[Mdragger88]

Aqualuminator Pool Light - How to Winterize

The Aqualuminator pool light is one of the best accessories available for an above ground pool. Learn how to prepare it for the winter in this tutorial.

blog.thepoolfactory.com