"Gino F." wrote:

-snip-
This year, I had some trouble with the liner on my above ground pool
that was a direct result of too much snow sitting on my cover and
stressing the walls of the pool last winter.

I'd be interested to hear what the 'trouble' was.

They recommended that I keep the pool cover on only until the all the
leaves have fallen and then remove the cover for the reminder of the
winter so that there is no pressure on the walls from the snow.

I quit using a regular cover 10 years ago. I'm under/near some
trees, so I got a leaf cover. [like a fish-net- about 1" holes. Much
easier for one person to handle than a solid cover] This may be the
first year that I'll actually take it off before spring as it looks
like the leaves will be all off before the pool freezes. Usually I
just end up blowing the leaves off it & letting the snow settle
through the holes. [I still use the 'pillow' in the center. It helps
keep the cover above water so it is easy to blow off.]


Sounds like a good idea, and I just took the cover off the pool today
(I live in New Hampshire, BTW). It's hard to believe, but my water
level was down some 6" or more from where I left it when I covered it
up!
-snip-

6" sounds more like a pinhole leak to me.

So I have 3 questions:

1. Is it sound advice to keep the cover off for the winter and just
let the snow accumulate in the pool?

It's worked for me for about 15 years-- I'm in NY just a bit north of
Albany.


2. Is it ok for my liner to have more than half of the 4' wall
exposed? Will it dry out?

The only problem I ever had with a liner was at the seam where the
bottom meets the sides.


3. Did the water in my pool really evaporate or is it more likely
seeping through my cover or is something else happening?

Tough time to try to find it- but I'd look for a pinhole. There's a
guy in our area who uses a dive suit and specialises in finding little
leaks. If I were in your shoes I'd be weighing the cost of having
him check it against the cost of a new liner- and possibly pool. I
suspect that the cause of my liner failure was a pinhole that drew the
water down enough so if froze solid. It split the liner and bent
several of the uprights.

Jim