Anyone in the Midwest opening early?

thefloatqueen

Bronze Supporter
Dec 24, 2018
1,331
Columbus, Ohio
Pool Size
7500
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
I’m in central Ohio and it has been unseasonably warm this month (and most of the winter, tbh), so I’m highly considering opening in a couple weeks as long as this weather keeps up — which according to the extended forecast, it’s supposed to. Even though I obviously won’t be able to swim yet, is anyone in the Midwest (or north) opening early to avoid the jolly green monster, or just because you feel like it? I’m bored and sick of looking at this cover lol. Go ahead and laugh, but I know I can’t be the only one. Or at least I hope not. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I usually open the first week of April, so I open early regardless even if it’s still cold lol
 
I’m bored and sick of looking at this cover lol.
#Preach. If it stays warm I'll probably open mid March. Even if we get one last blast of cold after that, it will be over fairly quick and running the pump should be enough to keep it from freezing.
 
#Preach. If it stays warm I'll probably open mid March. Even if we get one last blast of cold after that, it will be over fairly quick and running the pump should be enough to keep it from freezing.
My thoughts exactly. And those last blasts of cold only last a day or two here once March rolls around. So I figured I’d just run the pump to keep it from freezing, also. My solid cover lasted all winter so far without flying off surprisingly (we have had some insane winds lately!!) and even leaving water around the cover in a “moat” around the pillow (still inflated…yay!) did not help keep it from parachuting — it just moves all the water to one side, even if I would leave a couple inches. The jugs didn’t stop the issue either and looked ridiculous. I gave up and just started pumping water off of it whenever it rains to keep my cover clean for opening (not spilling any crud into the pool during removal) and free of leaves/worms/etc. and just been letting it look like a giant tent during severe winds.

Could this impact opening up to clear water even though the cover has stayed on all winter somehow using only the cable and winch it came with? I don’t know how much stuff actually gets under the cover when this happens. I tested my FC on January 20th and it was at 6 ppm. I closed the pool in mid-November at 16 ppm and no Polyquat. It has been unfrozen ever since I lasted tested it, but the water is obviously still really cold. It is probably at 0 ppm by now or close to it. Hoping I won’t open to a cloudy pool.
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I don’t know how much stuff actually gets under the cover when this happens.
Hardly any. The blowing yard debris should be long gone by now, but evenso, it would have to blow across the yard, hit the pool wall, travel dead up and wiggle through the 1 inch gap of the cover cable and wall.

Stuff will get in there, but not much.

Maybe next year try flooding the solid cover completely, like a pool on top of your pool. Dump some bleach in it every once I'm a while so it doesn't get nasty. Then pump and scoop before removing.
 
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I’m hoping it won’t happen here since
You have next to no sunlight on the water and had 6 FC recently. With little CYA left after it had several months to degrade, that's likely above SLAM level proportions. For all we joke that its warm out, it's really not and 40s only feels like spring compared to what we should have in February. Open before it warms up for real and you'll be fine.
 
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Hardly any. The blowing yard debris should be long gone by now, but evenso, it would have to blow across the yard, hit the pool wall, travel dead up and wiggle through the 1 inch gap of the cover cable and wall.

Stuff will get in there, but not much.

Maybe next year try flooding the solid cover completely, like a pool on top of your pool. Dump some bleach in it every once I'm a while so it doesn't get nasty. Then pump and scoop before removing.
I thought about this but since the cover is so cheap and flimsy (I plan on just buying a new cheapo every year), I didn’t know if it would cause the cover to fail — even if it’s just a tiny bit of bleach. I will say I’m surprised. That thing was only $37 and has taken a massive beating with these winds and somehow still standing with just the cable and winch. We had gusts over 50 mph last week and I was fully prepared for it to fly off and into a neighbor’s yard halfway down the street. Somehow it stayed put lol even without water on top (or a very tiny amount that the wind pretty much splashed off). It was wild!
 
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You have next to no sunlight on the water and had 6 FC recently. With little CYA left after it had several months to degrade, that's likely above SLAM level proportions. For all we joke that it’s warm out, it's really not. open before it warms up for real and you'll be fine.
You already know I’m going to end up opening in probably a week or two. I JUST CANT HELP MYSELF!! 😂😂🥴🥴
 

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You have next to no sunlight on the water and had 6 FC recently. With little CYA left after it had several months to degrade, that's likely above SLAM level proportions. For all we joke that its warm out, it's really not and 40s only feels like spring compared to what we should have in February. Open before it warms up for real and you'll be fine.
P.S. — I’m going to be a Karen and remind you that you need to update your signature, sir!! Show off that boujee new pool of yours! Yes, I’m jealous. 🙄
 
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Click toggle signature and the build thread is there.
I seeeee it! I’m just saying if I was having that thing installed, y’all would be hearing about it every time I post and my signature would be updated before the digging even begins to let EVERYONE know that my new boujee IG pool is coming! 🤣🤣🤣
 
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Lalalalalalalalalalala minding my business on a Sunday. Lalalalalalalalalalala

*25 lbs of calcium chloride and 15 lbs of CYA get delivered*

*puts it next to the 160 lbs of salt already in garage*

(Back to the original question....... )

Yeah. It's been a thought. All I need now is some bleach. :ROFLMAO:
 
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I'm not in the midwest. I'm in the south and debating when to start up the pool equipment. I have not taken a water temperature yet. The temperature reached 80F last week and forecast to reach 78F this Thursday. I would love to hold off until the second week of April but I probably will need to do it earlier. I'll just leave the Loop-Loc cover on the pool until mid-April with the pool equipment running.
 
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I am opening (Chicago) 2nd week of March due to going in for shoulder surgery first of April
If we get any cold spells will just let the pump run 24/7
I normally open around first to mid April
 
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