not opening ag pool this year. Tips/ideas to keep rain from collecting on cover

[mateo]

Hi. Thanks for your reply Ben.

The problem with dismantling it is that I have a large deck built around it. This is the least attractive option for us right now, though not completely off the table...

Do you have any suggestions for keeping rain off the cover if I were to just fill it back up and cover it? What about the beach ball idea?

Thanks!

[PoolDoc]

OK.

But long term, a covered, unused pool is a risk. Bad things happen when people or pets fall unexpectedly onto a pool cover.

I'm not sure how to advise you.

1. With a damaged liner, it's hard to keep water in the pool.
2. Without water, there's great risk of pool wall collapse.
3. Any sort of tarp & tent cover will require regular maintenance, one way or the other.

I just don't know of a really good way to close pools long term, that doesn't involve removing or filling them.

[AnnaK]

Since you're planning to drain the pool anyway, why even worry about a cover and all the resulting hassle? The walls will collapse without water but you could brace them with 2x4s. If the liner is removed you're not likely to have standing water and a mosquito breeding ground. Then you could build a railing between the deck and the pool to keep people from falling into the hole. It doesn't have to be fancy, it mostly has to be a visual deterrent.

[CarlD]

Some good ideas above.
But rather than a beach ball, which is far too small, you'll need cover pillows. These are about 10' long and 4' wide and inflate like giant beach balls, floating on the water and supporting the cover. My late dad used to get hold of used truck tire inner tubes and use about 8 of them tied together and tied to keep them in the center of the pool and cover because they were free and easy to get.