I have a 30' round AG pool and live out in the country.....very windy. I've had the pool around 6 years.....the first year I covered it......got a bad storm and it ripped the VERY WELL secured cover off, taking with it three top rails and a stand up piece.

I never again covered it. I just lower the water level, put a aquadoor on the skimmer, undo the filter hoses and plug the outlet.....that's it.

Yes, I have over 200 trees on my 3 acres, and I get some leaves in the pool. It takes me 30 minutes to scoop them out in the spring. No big deal.

My pool stays clean and clear and looks great once the ice melts. Sometimes I will take the outlet plug off if the water level gets too high...that's it.

Once spring comes, I will add chlorine to the water if the water temp gets too high before the official opening.

BTW, I live outside of Buffalo NY, so we do get winter.

Frank D.