I totally forgot about the possibility of a cover puncture. A few years back a tropical storm caused by one of the hurricanes put so much debris on the pool cover that very thing happened. I kept pumping water off the cover and more water kept appearing as the pool's water level concurrently diminished! I remember remedying the urgent situation by putting an inflatable under the puncture -- worked like a charm until I took the cover off and could patch.

However, this isn't the case this time. We're in a dry spell for this time of year and there is no moisture on the cover. But I sure appreciate being reminded of this 'always lurking' potential.

I'll let you know how this all turns out.

Completely off topic, I received a pool mag in the mail yesterday. I turned to the page on liners, and on some they offer a 25-year-warranty (not that I would buy through this source; I would buy local w/warranty and have professionally installed). I wonder if that means the newer liners can go that long? Wouldn't that be something!