How to Use a Pool Cover Winch

On this page (10 sections)

1. How does a pool cover winch work?
2. What do you need before you start?
3. How do you attach the cover to the reel?
4. How do you roll the cover up?
5. How do you lock the reel when the cover is up?
6. How do you put the cover back on the pool?
7. Which reel size fits your pool?
8. How do you keep a pool cover winch working well?
9. What are the common mistakes with a pool cover winch?
10. How do you use a pool cover winch well?

To use a pool cover winch, clip the cover straps to the reel tube, then turn the crank to wind the cover up, and lock the reel once it's rolled. To cover the pool again, release the lock and pull the cover back across the water.

The crank does the lifting, so the job takes a minute or two once the cover is clipped on. Most problems come from setup and strap tension, not from the winch itself.

How does a pool cover winch work?

A pool cover winch is a hand crank that turns a tube and winds the cover around it. The tube sits on two legs beside the pool, and a mechanical lock holds it in place when the cover is rolled.

The crank turns a small gear that spins the longer reel tube, so one hand does the winding. The tube has a grooved surface that grips the straps and stops them sliding sideways as the cover packs on.

A good balance between the tube and the legs matters more than raw force. A reel that sits level winds the cover evenly, while one that leans pulls the cover to one side.

That is the whole mechanism. The rest of this guide is about keeping the cover, the straps and the reel lined up so the crank stays easy to turn.

What do you need before you start?

You need the reel assembled and standing level, the cover on the pool, and the straps lined up with the tube. Have a helper for the first wind so you can watch how the cover behaves.

Check that the legs sit on firm, flat ground or decking. Loose sand or a slope lets the reel shift mid-wind, and shifting is what stretches straps and twists covers.

Lay the cover out flat across the water before you attach anything. Wrinkles and folds wind onto the tube as lumps, and a lump pulls the cover crooked on every pass after that.

If your cover is still in its box, fit it to the pool first. Our guide to how to measure for a pool cover explains sizing for any shape.

How do you attach the cover to the reel?

Attach the cover by clipping each strap to the tube at even spacing, then checking that every clip grips the same way. The straps should pull straight from the cover edge to the tube.

Start at the middle and work outward. Even spacing is what keeps the cover square on the tube, and uneven spacing is the most common cause of a cover that rolls at an angle.

Pull each strap snug before you close it. Loose clips let the cover slide on the tube, and once it slides it bunches at one end.

On a solar cover, you may need to cut the cover to fit the pool first, then let the straps attach at the points that line up. The VINGLI reels use a strap link design that spreads the pulling force across the tube.

How do you roll the cover up?

To roll the cover, turn the crank slowly at first, then keep a steady pace as the cover lifts off the water. Watch the tube so the cover winds evenly from end to end.

Start with a few turns and stop to check. If the cover is drifting to one side, unwind a little, straighten the straps, and begin again.

Once the cover is winding straight, keep going at a steady speed. Fast cranking is where covers slide off straps and wind on crooked.

Should you stand on one side?

Stand where you can see the full tube rather than close to the crank. A few steps back shows you the cover's line across the pool, so you catch a drift early instead of after the cover is already bunched.

If you use a wheeled reel, walk it to the side of the pool before you start. The wheels let one person move the reel, and the legs stay clear of the coping while you crank.

How do you lock the reel when the cover is up?

Lock the reel as soon as the cover is fully wound, using the mechanical lock on the tube or frame. A locked reel can't unwind, so the cover stays packed and off the water.

Give the lock a small tug before you walk away. If the tube still turns, the lock isn't seated, and the cover will sag back down over the pool.

On a windy day, lock it every time you stop, even mid-roll. The cover acts like a sail once it's partway up, and an unprotected tube will spin.

Store the reel with the cover wound when you aren't using the pool. Keep it away from direct sun where you can, since sunlight breaks down solar cover material over time.

How do you put the cover back on the pool?

Put the cover back on by releasing the lock and pulling the cover across the water while the tube turns. Guide the leading edge so it lands square against the far wall.

Pull from the middle of the cover edge, not from a corner. A corner pull sends the whole cover sideways before it reaches the far end.

Once the cover is out, spread the wrinkles toward the edges. A flat cover insulates better and won't catch the wind as much.

This is also the point to check whether your cover still suits the job. Our guide to mesh vs solid pool cover covers how each one handles rain and debris.

Which reel size fits your pool?

The reel has to span the width of the pool, so measure that width before you pick one. VINGLI sells three sizes, and the right one depends on your pool, not on the cover.

When is the 18 ft solar reel the right pick?

The VINGLI 18 ft Solar Cover Reel suits in-ground pools from about 9 to 14 ft wide. Its aluminum tube and stainless legs don't rust, and the solid tires roll it out of the way between uses.

It works on odd shapes too, as long as you cut the cover to fit the pool and set the straps at the points that line up. This is the pick for a narrow pool where a bigger reel would overhang the deck.

When do you need the 18 ft or 21 ft reel?

The VINGLI 18 ft Pool Cover Reel fits in-ground pools from 14 to 18 ft wide, and the VINGLI 21 ft Pool Cover Reel is the version to look at for wider pools. Both use a 3-section aluminum tube with a grooved surface that keeps straps from sliding.

Choose by pool width first, then by cover type. A reel that matches the pool covers the whole surface with one wind, so you never walk around to gather a half-covered corner.

How do you keep a pool cover winch working well?

Keep a pool cover winch working by rinsing the tube, drying the straps, and storing the reel out of the weather. Check the clips and the lock each time you use it.

Salt, chlorine and grit collect on the tube and straps. Rinse them after a long stretch of use and let them dry before the cover is wound again.

Inspect the strap ends for fraying where they meet the tube. A frayed strap can slip its clip, and a slipped clip is what sends a cover off the reel.

For winter, the routine changes. If you're switching to a solid or mesh cover for the cold months, see how to install a winter pool cover.

The reel comes off and the cover anchors down instead.

If you're unsure which cover type you're rolling, safety cover vs winter cover explains the difference, since a safety cover doesn't go on a reel at all.

What are the common mistakes with a pool cover winch?

The common mistakes are cranking fast, clipping straps unevenly, and leaving the reel unprotected. Each one ends with the cover off its line or off the reel.

A cover wound wet and left packed for weeks can grow mildew between the layers. Let it dry on the pool every so often, then wind it again once the surface is clear.

Don't force the crank when it stiffens. Stop, unwind, and check the straps, because resistance almost always means a strap has slipped or the cover is drifting.

How do you use a pool cover winch well?

Use a pool cover winch by matching the reel to your pool width, clipping straps evenly, and cranking at a steady pace with the lock on whenever you stop. That routine keeps the cover rolling straight for years.

Pick the 18 ft solar reel for pools from 9 to 14 ft wide and lighter covers. Step up to the 18 ft or 21 ft pool cover reel when the pool is wider and the cover is heavier to wind.

The winch does the lifting, but the setup does the rest of the work. Get the straps right once and every roll after that is a minute at the crank.

Frequently asked questions

Should the reel be centered on the pool?

Center the reel along the width of the pool so both ends of the cover pull evenly. A reel set off to one side winds the cover lopsided, which makes it bind on the tube as you crank.

Can two people crank a winch at once?

No. One person turns the crank while anyone helping guides the cover and keeps the straps straight.

Two hands on the handle fight each other and can twist the tube.

What do I do if the cover slips off the straps?

Lower the cover, line the strap clips back up with the tube, and tighten them before you crank again. Clips that sit loose are the usual reason a cover works its way free.