Ok to put winter cover on empty pool?

[pakrh8r]

After I winterized my above ground pool (12' x 18' oval ~5500 gal) a leak developed. I'm not sure where it is exactly since I had my cover on but it now appears to be mostly empty. The cover had a few small tears that have now gotten larger so I decided to buy a new cover. My question is if it is ok to put the new cover on the empty pool and deal with finding the leak and/or replacing the liner in the spring? I'm in Chicago and it's already getting cold and I don't really want to deal with the liner right now, but I also don't want to damage the frame of the pool. Will that be a concern if the snow load is fully on the cover and not having the cover sitting on top of the frozen 1/2 filled pool as in previous years? The pool is about 10 years old now and I was able to fix 1 leak about 2 years ago with a patch. Thanks.

 

[Mdragger88]

Leave the cover off.
The water or ice/snow weight on the cover will pull on the walls without the support of water underneath. Then u will have more than a leak to deal with .

 

[Newdude]

If it’s done leaking, throw some rain boots on and the leak is at that water level. Or in the floor if it’s totally empty. Find the holes and patch / refill. Your walls will do fine with the snow. The wind that comes with the snow that will parachute your walls across the yard, on the other hand…….. will be a problem.