What Is The Best Pool Cover Pump?
Covering an above ground pool during the winter is a necessity for many pool owners who live in climates where it’s too cold to swim. I can tell you from my own experience that winter pool covers can be very expensive which is why I do my best to maintain it both while in storage and when it’s protecting the pool during the winter.
One of my biggest issues, though, is keeping water off the cover. Whether it’s the many rain storms that roll through the area or the constantly melting and refreezing ice, it’s always a challenge. That is up until I purchased a pool cover pump a few years ago which definitely saved me a lot of money. Let me tell you why.
Quick Guide to Pool Cover Pumps
| Brand | Type | Maximum Gph (Gallons Per Hour) | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne WAPC250 | Automatic | 3,000 | $$$$ |
|
| Little Giant PCP550 | Automatic | 550 | $$$ | |
| Superior Pump 91330 | Automatic | 1,800 | $$ | |
| Little Giant APCP-1700 | Automatic | 1,700 | $$$$ | |
| Blue Wave Drain | Manual | N/A | $ |
**Below, you’ll find our pool cover pump reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Why Do You Need a Pool Cover Pump?
After my second season owning an above ground pool and going on my second winter cover, I realized I could not keep spending roughly a $100 every year replacing the cover. I realized that one of the issues was I that I was allowing water to collect on top of the cover and this ended up stressing the fabric and it eventually began to deteriorate….quickly.
I learned the hard way that if you don’t take care of your cover, you will spend a lot replacing it every year. Here are some major reasons why that pool cover pump I purchased was the biggest money saver for me in the long run.
It Protects Your Pool Investment
Not only will removing water from a pool cover save you hundreds of dollars in replacement covers, but it also saves your pool as well from the stress of hundreds of pounds of pressure that standing water and melting snow will put on your cover and ultimately on your pool walls.
Above ground pools are not cheap. My pool cost thousands between the pool, equipment, installation, water and accessories and I do just about everything I can to protect my investment. And believe it or not, a $150 pool cover pump can be a very important piece of equipment that could save you thousands in repairs.
Pool Cover Pumps Are Lifesavers When Opening Your Pool
I’ve done this a few times and I’m sure if you’ve owned a pool for some time, you have too. In a rush to open the pool over Labor Day Weekend, you pull off the wire that attaches your pool cover and you start to yank the cover off while letting all of that dirty water and debris from the cover fall right into the pool water. Then you spend days upon days trying to vacuum and clear that cloudy mess you created.
One year I used to see a few local ducks visit the little ‘pond’ I had created on my pool cover because I didn’t pump the water off of it. Those ducks swam and pooped all over that cover and it was an awful mess by the time I was ready to open the pool in the spring. No matter how many times I chased those ducks away, they always came back when I wasn’t looking.
Had I purchased a pool cover pump back then, I would not have had such a terrible mess to clean up and there would have been no water for those ducks to swim in. Take it from my terrible mistake….a simple pump would have made life SOOOO much easier. Don’t let this happen to you!
They Also Help In Closing Your Pool
I’ve recommended buying a pool cover pump to many people and I always mention that you’re not buying a one-trick-pony here. These pumps have multiple uses, not just in removing water from your winter cover.
I have an old Rule 1800 Pool Cover Pump that I use every year to lower the pool water level to below the skimmer so I can close the pool for the winter. It’s easy and depending on how powerful of a pump you buy, it doesn’t take long to pump out a few thousand gallons.
So when it comes to closing your pool, these pumps can be invaluable. I’ve even used the pump in my basement when it flooded one year!
Is There A Reason Why You Would NOT Need A Pool Cover Pump?
I like to give you the GOOD and the BAD whenever I write about pool products. Let me tell you, it was hard to come up with some reasons why you might not need a cover pump but here they are:
If You Never Close Your Pool
This one’s a no brainer. If you rarely if ever close or cover your pool for the winter, there’s no reason for a pool cover pump. This is mainly for those lucky people who swim year round in Florida or other parts of the deep South.
You Have A Very Limited Pool Budget
Let’s be honest. If you have a tight budget and you need to pick between pool chemicals or just the winter cover itself or a pool cover pump, go with the things you REALLY need to run and protect the pool. You NEED chemicals to keep the water safe and sanitary and if you live in cold climates, you need to cover your pool for the winter.
I’ll show you below another manual way of removing water from your winter cover that is less expensive than the top of the line electronic cover pumps. It’s not the most ideal solution but its budget friendly for sure.
Bottom Line?
Here’s the deal, if you can fit a pool cover pump into your budget, it is money well spent. The savings alone from not having to replace your winter cover to the tune of $100-150 is worth it in my opinion. I’ve had my pool for going on 8-years now and I’ve owned the cover pump for about 6 of those years and it’s been a lifesaver on more than one occasion. Do yourself a favor and check out the top ones below and go grab one. You’ll thank me later.
Things To Look For When Buying A Pool Cover Pump
When it comes to buying things, I spend a lot of time comparing products and learning everything I can before spending my hard earned money. Basically I’m going to save you a ton of time here and tell you the most important things to consider when buying a pool cover pump.
Brand
In my research there are three major players in the cover pump market….WAYNE, LITTLE GIANT and SUPERIOR. I used to highly recommend a fourth (RULE) but they don’t make those pumps anymore.
The Wayne model is a bit more expensive, but it is easily the very best you can buy (see my review below.) Little Giant has been making pumps for years and you can’t go wrong with any of their pumps in my view. And finally Superior which to me is an OK solution if you’re budget challenged.
How Much Water Can It Pump
When buying a pool cover pump, they are always rated by their maximum flow rate or how many gallons per hour they can pump. You will want something that is over 1500 gallons per hour (GPH) flow rate in order to properly remove water from a cover in a timely fashion.
I Recommend An Automatic Pump
There are manual pumps on the market which require you to walk outside and use a hand pump to start the suction process to remove the water, but that is a real pain. Imagine having to go outside in every rain storm to get the pump going! No way.
All of the pumps I will recommend here (with the exception of the one single manual pump I recommend for the cost conscious folks out there) are automatic pumps which are able to either detect when there’s water to be pumped out or which turn on and off after a set amount of time.
A Strainer Base Is Important But Not Required
A strainer is a removable plastic base the pump sits on that keeps leaves and other debris out of the pump. I live in an area where there are tons of trees, lots of leaves, and it’s very windy which means there are leaves on my pool cover all the time. If you buy a pump with a strainer base, you won’t have issues with clogging and they’re easy to remove and clean too.
Warranty
I definitely recommend purchasing a pool cover pump that comes with a decent warranty. It’s an electronic device which means they can fail, but the good manufacturers will stand behind their products with a good warranty period. As an example, Wayne offers a 3-year warranty on their pumps which is nice to have for something that can sit outside for many months and seasons.
Now, let’s get to some recommendations…
Reviews of the Top Pool Cover Pumps
| Brand | Type | Maximum Gph (Gallons Per Hour) | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne WAPC250 | Automatic | 3,000 | $$$$ |
|
| Little Giant PCP550 | Automatic | 550 | $$$ | |
| Superior Pump 91330 | Automatic | 1,800 | $$ | |
| Little Giant APCP-1700 | Automatic | 1,700 | $$$$ | |
| Blue Wave Drain | Manual | N/A | $ |
**Below and above, you’ll find our pool cover reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
Best Overall Pool Cover Pump: Wayne WAPC250
The Wayne WAPC250 is the best pool cover pump on the market and has been for the past 2-years. Not only is it reasonably priced (retails under $150) but it is well made by an Ohio company and totally assembled in the U.S.
The WAPC250 can pump 3,000 gallons per hour (GPH) with it’s strong and efficient ¼ HP motor and it comes with an industry leading 3-year warranty coverage plan. The pump has an automatic on/off feature that uses Wayne’s iSwitch technology to sense the presence of water and it also has automatic freeze protection which is nice for those like me who live in the cold winters of the Northeast.
It’s a real workhorse of a pump and is considered a #1 BEST SELLER in the Power Water Pumps category on Amazon.com. If my current pool cover pump (Rule 1800 – discontinued) failed, I would buy this one in a heartbeat.
Best Budget Friendly Pool Cover Pump: Little Giant PCP550
If you own an above ground pool and you’re on a strict budget but really need something to remove water from your pool cover, the Little Giant PCP500 is the way to go.
For around $60-70, the PCP550 is a compact smaller unit which can pump up to 550 gallons per hour (GPH.) Although that’s not a lot of speed as compared to the Wayne model above, it’s normally enough power for most people with smaller pools.
Best Manual Pool Cover Pump:Blue Wave Drain
If you have a small pool or do not need an electric pump with all of the bells and whistles, the Blue Wave Drain for Winter Pool Covers is a decent option. It’s not only affordable at less than $30, but most pool owners are pretty happy with the amount of water it can remove from a cover in a relatively short period of time.
When I first purchased my above ground pool, this is the pump I used as I just finished dropping north of $5,000 on my pool and my wife said ENOUGH when I wanted to add another toy to my pool arsenal! So I went with the Blue Wave and it worked perfectly for the first year, but I soon found out it was just simply too small for my 24′ pool. I have to say though, it did a good job while I had it so if you have a smaller pool and tight budget, it’s worth the purchase if you cover your pool during the winter. Something is better than nothing.
