Wintertime pool care for AGP

[rocker93]

We've decided to go uncovered this winter as we generally experience a lot of wind and blizzard-like conditions in wintertime and don't want to worry about the cover flapping around, blowing off, tearing, etc. Of course, the first person I told that to gave me a very helpful story about a neighbor (back in the '60s or '70s) who left his pool uncovered and ended up with a shredded liner. Not sure I really get why, as there is ice in the pool whether it's covered or not, but still... that brought me back here looking at winter options again.

If we were to go without the cover, is there anything special we need to do to care for the pool over winter, in addition to the normal monitoring (which around here pretty much just means making sure it's still standing)? The pool is likely to be a solid block of ice (with 2 feet of snow on top) for most of January and February, after which all bets are off.

 

[gonfishin]

I've thought about going uncovered for the winter, but dread the spring cleanup of all the leaves that will be in the pool versus on the cover. At least until they're all down or it snows, I can keep scooping or blowing them off the cover. Seeing them at the bottom of the pool, disintegrating, would make me a crazy woman wanting to get them out.

For the last couple of years, we've kept our winter cover on using clips instead of the winched cable. While the cover flaps a bit with the wind, it's not nearly as much as with the winch. It looks to me like your pool could also use the clips. Something similar to Amazon.com : Swimline Above Ground Winter Pool Cover Clips - 30 Pack : Swimming Pool Covers : Garden & Outdoor

 

[zea3]

You could try a one of these winter cover sealers. Its pretty much like using pallet wrap to tape down the pool cover. Amazon.com : Blue Wave Winter Cover Seal for Above Ground Pool : Garden & Outdoor

 

[thefloatqueen]

Following. You’re making me want to go uncovered now. Can the leaves still be scooped out with a net skimmer? I’ve been doing that nonstop lately lol

 

[rocker93]

Following. You’re making me want to go uncovered now. Can the leaves still be scooped out with a net skimmer? I’ve been doing that nonstop lately lol

Ours has a leaf net on it currently, but we'll have to take that off just before the water freezes I think. Chlorine is at SLAM level and we are draining tomorrow.

 

[Casey]

I've left my pool uncovered for 2 winters in a row and I won't do it again. It's a week long process of me getting the leaves out of a black pool and SLAM'ING to crystal clear. That is just to much work for me. I'd rather deal with the cover and top it off.

 

[thefloatqueen]

I've left my pool uncovered for 2 winters in a row and I won't do it again. It's a week long process of me getting the leaves out of a black pool and SLAM'ING to crystal clear. That is just to much work for me. I'd rather deal with the cover and top it off.

Probably a dumb question but this is my first closing so bear with me lol. I’m wondering why the water turns black? Is that an inevitable when you go uncovered? I’m in OH so we probably have similar winters and your reply piqued my interest. I’m thinking of going with a micro mesh cover. Kind of sounds like the best of both worlds? Lol

 

[Casey]

It goes black because of leaves and algae growing. Algae grows because of sunlight, along with the debris of dirt, leaves and pine needles. When I use a solid cover, I always open to a crystal clear pool.

 

[mepcards]

Move here to Dallas, and you wont have to shut your pool down for the winter...lol....I couldn't imagine mine being frozen solid, and 2ft of snow on top..We freak out with 1inch of snow..

 

[Lisbek]

I tried a regular winter cover on my old pool and the amount of leaves that collected ripped it loose and that was the end of that pool. I got a mesh cover which has worked wonderfully that last two years used with a pool pillow. The rain water drains through, the leaves blow off. I don’t get a lot of snow so that has not been an issue. I bought it oversized and anchored it to the ground

 

[rocker93]

Wanted to follow up on the original post, for future reference (my own included!). We ended up using only a mesh leaf net (without a pillow), and we kept it on through the winter which for us ended only a couple weeks ago. We had lower than average snowfall but a lot of cold, so the pool went through many freeze/thaw cycles between November and May.

We screwed teacup hooks into the underside of our deck railing all around, then ran a cord through the edge of the net and attached the cord evenly to the hooks. I've attached a picture taken at the end of November -- how it looks in the photo is pretty much exactly how it looked when we opened. During the winter, whenever we had a thaw I went out and poured liquid chlorine (10% bleach) into the pool right through the mesh. I didn't exactly measure, just poured about half of a 2-qt pitcher (that I use ONLY for chlorine!). I did that 3-4 times over the winter. I also had to drain off about 6" of water in early spring when the snow melted and we started getting heavy rain.

Our opening was amazing compared to the messy pool openings I remember from when I was a kid. We unhooked the mesh cover and dumped it over the railing to get the leaves (a ton of them) off of it, then allowed it to dry before storing. The water was completely clear. There were not many leaves at the bottom, just some clumps here and there that we fished out with our regular leaf skimmer. Refilled to normal water level, did a couple good vacuumings, brushed the bottom a little bit, ran the filter (had to clean the cartridge twice during this process). We passed the OCLT right away so didn't need to SLAM. I brought up CYA and chlorine levels and we were done. This is definitely the way to go for us. If we had gone completely uncovered the debris buildup in the water would have been atrocious.