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The 8 Best Pool Cover Pumps

best-pool-cover-pump

If you have a swimming pool cover in place, you’ll want to ensure the cover doesn’t get bogged down with water.

The best pool cover pump will prevent this from becoming an issue without requiring you to leave your swimming pool unprotected.

Today, we review the leading pumps on the market so you can establish whether any make the right fit for your pool.

We understand you may have no idea what you’re looking for when you’re comparing pool cover pumps, though. To help streamline your buying decision, focus of the following pointers:

  • Type of pool cover pump: Pool cover pumps, come in 2 main types, automatic or manual. Automatic pool cover pumps are electric. They come equipped with sensors that detect when water reaches a given level. Once activated, water is pumped off until the cover is dry. Automatic pumps vary significantly in terms of performance. These models pump from 250 to 3500 gallons of water per hour. If you don’t check your cover regularly, an automatic pool cover pump makes sense. Water is pumped off before a problem develops. A manual pool cover pump needs to be physically activated when you water removing from the cover. In all other respects, these pumps work in the same way as automatic alternatives.
  • Rate of water pumped: Look for how much water the pump will process in an hour. This is expressed in terms of GPH (gallons per hour). Think about the climate where you live. If there’s a great deal of rainfall or moisture, you should look for a pump with a good GPH rating
  • Cord length: It’s inadvisable to use extension cords with appliances like pool cover pumps. As such, you should make sure the power cord is long enough to reach the outlet by your swimming pool
  • Efficiency of filtration: Not all pool cover pumps come with filters that work efficiently. Check user reviews to make sure there are no issues flagged with the filtration on any pumps on your shortlist
  • Build quality: A robust pool cover pump will not only last much longer, but it will also be resistant to toppling over and shutting itself off when you want it to be removing water from your swimming pool cover
  • Price/performance: A manual pump might be cheaper, but it may not offer the convenience you’re looking for. In order to get the best pool cover pump for your needs, you should look beyond the bottom line and assess this relative to performance

OK, with those basics in place, you should have a clear idea of what you’re looking for when you’re comparing pumps.

We’ll now break down the best half a dozen models in a crowded marketplace so you can easily pick the right one for you.


The 8 Best Pool Cover Pumps

1. Our #1 Pick: Wayne Pool Cover Pump

Wayne-57729-WYNP-WAPC250-Pool-Cover-Pump

Features

  • Thermoplastic
  • 54 pounds
  • 2 x 7.9 x 11.9 inches

First up in our collection of the best pool cover pumps is our overall favorite. How does this unit from Wayne Pool shape up, then?

Firstly, this is an automatic pump, so you won’t need to physically monitor the pool cover or activate the pump. It will kick in when required thanks to iSwitch technology baked in. What does this mean in plain English, though?

Well, any time rainwater tumbles down onto your pool cover, the sensors will activate the pump. This prevents any clogging of the cover, and it also removes any drowning risk from the cover itself. This is one of the inbuilt issues of using a pool cover without a pump attached. By protecting your pool to prevent a kid or pet tumbling in, you could create another risk with a drowning hazard on the cover itself. With the Wayne pump, you’ll sidestep this risk completely.

Despite this pump being marketed as having freeze protection, we found a handful of complaints from disgruntled users in this regard. Setting this bugbear aside, the vast bulk of user testimony concerning this pump is overwhelmingly positive.

The maximum flow rate for this pump is 3000 gallons per hour. This is achieved using a 1.25-inch drain hose.

This pump packs a special protection circuit that should help if the impeller becomes blocked by debris. The unit goes into automatic shutdown if this occurs to mitigate any chance of overheating.

If you’re looking for a swimming pool cover pump that’s brisk, efficient, and long-lasting without costing. a fortune, look no further than this fine example from Wayne.

Things We Like Things We Dislike
  • iSwitch technology
  • Debris filtered by base
  • Auto on/off
  • Freeze protection not ideal

2. Also Great: Little Giant Pool Cover Pump

Little-Giant-577301-APCP-1700-Automatic-Swimming-Pool-Cover-Submersible-Pump

Features

  • Submersible pump
  • 14 pounds
  • 8 x 12 x 9.5 inches

Next in line comes another highly effective automatic pool cover pump, this time from Little Giant.

The first thing that will impress you about this unit are the space-saving dimensions and lightweight form. You won’t strain yourself maneuvering the pump into position, and it won’t eat up too much room poolside. The handle built in makes it even easier to shift this pump around if needed.

When you need to access the float for cleaning, you won’t need any tools for the job and you won’t need any technical expertise either. This is a user-friendly pump even if you’re a complete beginner.

The power cord is neatly insulated and 25 feet long. This should give you ample leeway to hook it up to your power outlet without needing an extension cable. You can expect a maximum flow rate of 1700 GPH with this setup. If you use a 50 feet garden hose, friction losses will bring this performance down to 500 GPH.

Compatibility is first-rate. All you’ll need is a garden hose with a standard 0.75-inch connector.

Made from a glass-filled polypropylene, you’ll get a pool cover pump that’s built to stay the distance while delivering first-class performance along the way.

Most user reviews are positive, but we found some scattered complaints concerning customer service and the warranty. With regard to the warranty, disgruntled consumers mention the need to pay for return shipping, rendering the replacement pretty costly.

Overall, this is a small but powerful automatic pool cover pump that’s reasonably priced, small, and lightweight. See if you think it makes the best fit for your home swimming pool. Backed by a 3-year limited warranty, you can buy with complete confidence.

Things We Like Things We Dislike
  • Removable intake screen
  • Integrated handle
  • Float switch
  • Issues with warranty

3. Superior Pump Utility Pump

Superior-Pump-91250-1/4-HP-Thermoplastic-Utility-Pump

Features

  • Thermoplastic
  • 8 pounds
  • 12 x 7 x 7 inches

Superior Pump specialize in producing a variety of highly effective pumps. How does this utility pump shape up for use in your home swimming pool, then?

The first you’ll notice is the durable and well-made thermoplastic housing. Any pump is only as strong as the housing, so things are off to a fine start here.

Beyond the housing, attention to quality and detail extends throughout. The motor windings are all made of solid copper, and the shaft seals are constructed from heavy-grade stainless steel. The impeller is especially durable, and double seals extend the likely lifespan of this unit.

Rated at 0.25 horsepower, the pump has a maximum flow rate of 1800 gallons per hour. The pump is capable of lifting water vertically up to 25 inches. As with all these pumps, you may notice a slightly reduced flow rate under normal operating conditions. This is caused by friction loss when using a regular garden hose.

The suction screen bundled is removable for ease of cleaning and maintenance. This screen can deal with solid debris up to 0.125 inches in size.

This is a submersible pump that easily connects to your garden hose or a discharge hose. Neither of these is provided.

The pump is UL and CUL listed. It also comes CSA-certified and backed by a 1-year limited warranty. With responsive customer care based in the USA, this completes a winning package from a brand you can trust. With pool pump covers this good costing so little, why leave things to chance?

Things We Like Things We Dislike
  • Moves up to 1800 gallons per hour
  • Removable suction screen
  • Handles solids to 0.125 inches
  • Some quality control concerns

4. Little Giant Pool Cover Pump

Little-Giant-14942702-PCP550-Pool-Cover-Pump

Features

  • Thermoplastic
  • 2 pounds
  • 7 x 7 x 5.5 inches

Next up we have another entry from Little Giant in our collection of the best pool pump covers. How does this unit differentiate itself, then?

Firstly, this is a manual pool pump, so you should be clear on what that involves. This doesn’t mean that you’ll need to be involved with physically removing the water from your swimming pool cover. That said, the pump won’t kick in automatically like many on our shortlist. You’ll need to keep an eye out for water accumulating on the cover, and then you activate the pump to remove it. How does it fare on that front?

Well, the maximum flow rate is 500 gallons per hour, so this is certainly not the most efficient or powerful pump on our shortlist. The inbuilt advantage, though, is that you’re getting one of the cheapest pool cover pumps you can find that doesn’t force you to compromise in terms of quality or performance.

The rock-solid thermoplastic housing should give you plenty of faithful service, as long as you keep on top of basic maintenance.

There’s a lengthy 25-foot power cable, so you shouldn’t need to think about using an extension cord, and you should have plenty of flexibility with placement.

Setting this pump up couldn’t be easier. You won’t need any tools or DIY skills, and all you will need is a standard garden hose with a 0.75-inch connector. With that in place, you have everything you need to keep your swimming pool cover free of rainwater and debris.

Although most users reviews sing the praises of this pool cover pump, a few disgruntled consumers complain about a disappointing lifespan.

Things We Like Things We Dislike
  • Removes 550 gallons per hour
  • Fits 0.75-inch garden hose connector
  • 25-foot cord
  • Lifespan is questionable

5. AgiiMan Pool Cover Pump

Pool-Cover-Pump-above-Ground-Submersible-Water-Sump-Pump-Swimming-Water-Removal-Pumps

Features

  • Submersible pump
  • 2 pounds
  • 16 x 4 x 4 inches

This pool cover pump from AgiiMan is well worth your further investigation.

You will need to put in a little effort to manually hook the pump up when the cover to your swimming pool gets clogged with water.

The flow rate of this pool cover pump is more than fit for purpose, rated at 850 gallons per hour. You get 25 feet of hose included, and a pool cover pump that works well for smaller above-ground pools. To put this into perspective, the drainage speed is around twice as quick as that of a regular pump.

Unlike many pool accessory brands, this company delivers excellent customer care, and this product is backed by a satisfaction guarantee. As long as you don’t have a huge swimming pool at home, you should find this pump prevents your swimming pool cover from being overloaded with water.

While the majority of user reviews for this pump are positive, we found a few gripes centered on the fact the pump often tips over.

Overall, though, you’re getting a highly effective swimming pool pump that allows you to extend the lifespan of the cover on your pool without bankrupting yourself.

Things We Like Things We Dislike
  • Robust flow rate
  • Hardwearing shell
  • Integrated temperature control
  • Prone to toppling over

6. Wayne Pool Pump

Wayne-WWB-Submersible-Transfer-Pump

Features

  • Submersible pump
  • 6 pounds
  • 11 x 10 x 11 inches

Wayne makes some efficient swimming pool pumps in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The first thing to clear up with this model is that it is not the best fit for any large pools. If you have a much smaller above-ground pool, though, you may find this pump hits the spot.

As you would expect from Wayne, this unit is built to stay the distance. The durable ABS plastic won’t degrade over time, and the hardware is all designed to keep corrosion at bay.

The flow rate is quite impressive at 1350 gallons per hour, although we still encountered a handful of complaints about the speed of operation. If you have a bigger pool, you will find progress slow, and we would advise scoping out some of the more robust pumps on our shortlist.

As an inbuilt kicker, the multipurpose and portable nature of this pump lets you drain more than just your swimming pool cover. If you end up with water accumulating in a basement or garage, suck it up quickly using this workhorse of a pump.

You should always unplug this unit once the water on your swimming pool cover is removed. Failing to do this could result in the pump burning itself out. There is no auto shut-off feature baked in.

Setting aside the performance issues with larger swimming pools, this pump is more than fit for removing the water from the covers of small above-ground pools.

Things We Like Things We Dislike
  • 1350 gallons per hour
  • Corrosion-resistant hardware
  • Built in the USA
  • Slow draining large pools

7. FibroPool Electric Swimming Pool

FibroPool-Electric-Swimming-Pool-Winter-Cover-Drain-Pump

Features

  • Thermoplastic
  • 54 pounds
  • 2 x 7.9 x 11.9 inches

As we edge to the end of our swimming pool cover pump reviews, we have another impressive electric model from FibroPool. This is manual pump, so you’ll need to activate it and turn it off rather than relying on automatic functionality.

In terms of versatility, this is one of the best pumps out there. It’s ideally suited for use in both in-ground and above-ground pools.

The chassis of this pump is especially lightweight. As such it’s ideally suited for more delicate pool covers. You can keep the cover debris-free without weighing it down.

The hose provided is 22 feet long and designed not to kink in use. You can remove large quantities of water without lifting a finger and without any hands-on maintenance. Your pool cover will be easier to remove, and there won’t be any danger for kids or pets with water accumulating on top of the cover either.

The maximum flow rate of 600 gallons per hour should be more than fit for most purposes.

Although most user reviews are favorable when assessing overall performance, we found a few complaints concerning the overall build quality and lifespan. That said, when you consider the budget pricing, we feel you need to keep your expectations reasonable.

Things We Like Things We Dislike
  • Pumps 600 gallons per hour
  • Kink-proof hose
  • Lightweight yet rugged
  • Weak build quality

8. Splash Pools Universal Pool Cover

500-GPH-Universal-Pool-Cover-Pump

Features

  • Thermoplastic
  • 3 pounds
  • 5 x 3.5 x 6 inches

Last but certainly not least in our curated collection of the best pool pump covers comes this universal unit from Splash Pools, a household name in this vertical.

This is a submersible pump that can be used for a variety of purposes. As well as ditching the water from your swimming pool cover, you could also use this for a wet basement, or any area you need to clean up after water damage.

This is a small and very lightweight pump perfect for more delicate pool covers. It weighs just 3 pounds, and it’s got a space-saving footprint, too.

The maximum flow rate is 500 gallons per hour, so you can expect the pump to put in all the hard work while you can spend more time enjoying your pool.

The 24-foot power cable gives you ample leeway when it comes to placement. You can hook this pump up to any standard electrical outlet. You won’t need any tools for installation, so you can get going right out the box.

Build quality is solid, and you can expect this pump to last for years as long as you look after it properly.

As an added kicker, you’ll benefit from excellent and responsive customer service if anything goes amiss. Given the overall build and performance, this is thankfully quite unlikely. This is a great pump for almost any pool and pool cover.

Things We Like Things We Dislike
  • Removes 500 gallons per hour
  • 24-foot power cord
  • Multiple use cases
  • Not good for larger pools

Conclusion

Well, if we have done our job properly today, you should be perfectly positioned to sift through the best pool cover pumps out there and find the most suitable one for your home swimming pool.

If you have a cover on your pool, you shouldn’t stint on investing in a pump. This is doubly important if you have toddlers or pets at home. Allowing rainwater to accumulate on top of your pool cover creates a potential drowning hazard. Beyond this, you’ll damage your pool cover, while also finding it very tough to remove.

Stick with one of the pool cover pumps we review and you’ll be able to buy with your eyes wide open and a clear idea of where the pump stands and falls. We never mask the flaws when we’re reviewing pool products so you can always buy based on hard data.

Take a moment to bookmark Wild River Country before you head off today, and be sure to pop back soon. We bring you fresh content daily on all aspects of pool maintenance and ownership.

3.8/5 - (9 votes)

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