Hi guys...I know the winter closing topics have been discussed at great lengths, so I apologize for bringing this up...but I keep getting different advice depending on what I read and who I ask.
I live in New Brunswick, Canada where we have a very long and very cold winter...i.e. a very thick layer of ice in the pool. Last year, I drained the pool water below my return lines as I thought I should. Unfortunately, we had a very high ground water level over the late fall (after draining), winter and spring and because I removed so much water weight out of the pool, a lot of ground water was able to get under and lift my liner. This caused me many days of severe stress (brand new pool) before I got the water out and the liner reseated properly. I would like to avoid this problem from happening again.
A lot of info I read says that, in my case, I can simply blow the return lines out and plug them while they are still under the water level. My concern, of course, is that the ice will damage the return line fittings where they go through the pool wall. What is your thoughts on this... Am I asking for trouble by leaving the water level above the return lines in this climate, or is that a better alternative then taking the chance of ground water getting under my liner again?
Thanks for the advice in advance!
I live in New Brunswick, Canada where we have a very long and very cold winter...i.e. a very thick layer of ice in the pool. Last year, I drained the pool water below my return lines as I thought I should. Unfortunately, we had a very high ground water level over the late fall (after draining), winter and spring and because I removed so much water weight out of the pool, a lot of ground water was able to get under and lift my liner. This caused me many days of severe stress (brand new pool) before I got the water out and the liner reseated properly. I would like to avoid this problem from happening again.
A lot of info I read says that, in my case, I can simply blow the return lines out and plug them while they are still under the water level. My concern, of course, is that the ice will damage the return line fittings where they go through the pool wall. What is your thoughts on this... Am I asking for trouble by leaving the water level above the return lines in this climate, or is that a better alternative then taking the chance of ground water getting under my liner again?
Thanks for the advice in advance!