Above-ground Pools With No Deck

• 1). Stretch the pool cover across the top of the pool. The sides of the cover should overlap evenly, ideally by about 2 feet.
  
  
• 2). Thread metal cable through the grommets at the edges of the cover around the circumference of the pool. Attach one end of the cable to the frame of a manual winch and the other end to the rotating cog of the winch. Engage the safety catch and pull the winch handle back and forth to ratchet the cable until it's snug, but not tight.
  
  
• 3). Tuck any loose ends of the cover underneath the cable to prevent wind damage. Use the winch to tighten the cable completely.
  
  

Pools With a Deck

• 1). Measure the pool cover, making note of the distance between the loops or grommets in the edges of the cover. Measure the length of the straps and springs that came with the cover.
  
  
• 2). Measure and mark the position of the grommets where they would be on the pool deck with the cover installed. Measure outward (away from the center of the pool) from each grommet. Mark the length of one spring and strap and mark the position of each anchor. Drill holes in the pool deck at the anchor marks and install the anchors according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  
  
• 3). Attach a spring to each loop or grommet on the pool cover with an adjustable strap. Stretch the pool cover across the pool. Snap each spring onto the adjacent anchor using the provided hardware, starting on the long sides of the pool.
  
  
• 4). Tighten or loosen the adjustable straps as needed. When correctly adjusted, there should be no wrinkles in the cover.