Poolside Chat Episode #39: Swimming Pool Winter Covers

measuring a swimming pool winter cover
This is Poolside Chat where every week we answer your questions on how to fix and maintain your swimming pool. Poolside Chat is presented by INYOPools.com, helping pool owners find the right parts since 2001. In today’s episode of Poolside Chat, Rob and Matt tackle another common swimming pool question:
  • What size swimming pool winter cover should I buy?
 

What size winter cover do I need for my pool?

Inyo Pool’s Forum

We have a lot of people that are looking at our swimming pool winter cover charts and they don’t see the size of their pool. For example, they have an above ground pool, that’s a 16-foot diameter. Unfortunately, pool covers are not made for 16-foot round pool; but what they’ll need to do is go up the next size. So in this example, you have a 16-foot pool, the next size up would be for an 18-foot cover.

Inground Pool Winter Cover

If you need inground pool winter cover, let’s say it is an 18 by 36 rectangle, but you have a four-foot step section on the end that adds on four feet. The overall dimensions f the pool with then be 18 by 40-foot. Again, winter pool covers are not made for that size, but you will find a 20 by 40 cover. The 20 by 40 pool cover will fit nicely over your pool with a little fabric to spare.

But what if you have a free form pool?

Measuring for a winter cover on a free form pool is simple; measure out the longest length and the widest width to find a rectangle ship that would cover the pool. That’s it.

6 responses to “Poolside Chat Episode #39: Swimming Pool Winter Covers”

  1. William Avatar

    I have an 18 x34 foot free form pool. What is the overage on a 18×34 cover?
    I am in Canada so I will drop the pool to a foot below the jets so edge to water surface is about 24 inches initially. Will there be enough material to take that drop into account? What is the spacing of the grommets?
    Rather than fool around with water bags, a more permanent solution I use is
    I hold down the cover using galvanized 12 inch nails that are put through holes drilled through the concrete deck. They are about 12 inches from the pool edge.

    1. Matthew Simmons Avatar

      We do not offer an 18’x34′ cover, the next size up is 18’x36′; these covers have an actual cover size of 23’x41′.

  2.  Avatar

    My pool is kidney shaped how do you do that one ?

    1. Matthew Simmons Avatar

      You’d follow the same instructions as we talk about in the free-form section; measure the overall length and width of the pool, and find a cover that is equal to or greater than those dimensions.

  3. Nancy Avatar

    How do I cover a free form shaped pool that is taller on side than the other? I have tried sand bags, but the wind still gets under the over and leaves and rodents end up I the pool.

    1. Matthew Simmons Avatar

      What do you mean by higher? Is there a ledge or wall the pool butts up to? What is the height difference between the two ends?

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