Where does my CYA go in the winter?

[kchinger]

After the winter, my salt, for example, will be at maybe 30-50% of where it was when I started closing, due to pumping out for closing and pumping out for the winter rains and snows.

However, every year my CYA is at 0, or as near to 0 as I can measure. Despite starting at 80. I'd expect it to be at like 20-40 maybe. Is there a process by which CYA can break down over the winter? I spend the first month slowly getting my CYA back up, and it's expensive.

 

[mknauss]

CYA - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[kchinger]

CYA - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

thanks. I think I remember reading that before now. Is there a way to tell if it's ammonia or just normal degradation over the winter?

 

[mknauss]

If the bacteria eats the CYA, it transitions through ammonia eventually to nitrates. You know you have ammonia if the chlorine demand is through the roof at opening. I believe if it has transitioned through to nitrates, there is no discernible effect to your chemistry.

 

[kchinger]

I suppose I could use my fish tank kit to test for nitrates, lol. I don't seem to have high demand at opening. I probably need to do a better job figuring out how to keep my FC up over the winter.

 

[PoolStored]

I'm in Ohio. I follow this. Close Oct 31, open April 15, and have test FC 2, and 2.5 the last two years openning...

Closing an In Ground Pool

Winterizing a pool is essential for keeping your in-ground pool protected during cold-weather months. This Pool Repair guide will show you how to do it.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[kchinger]

I'm in Ohio. I follow this. Close Oct 31, open April 15, and have test FC 2, and 2.5 the last two years openning...

Closing an In Ground Pool

Winterizing a pool is essential for keeping your in-ground pool protected during cold-weather months. This Pool Repair guide will show you how to do it.

www.troublefreepool.com

Yeah, I follow that too. I end up with a decent bit of plant matter and worms under the cover, not to mention just dirt (mesh style cover), enough that it eventually eats up all the FC I think just from being dirty. I've started trying to run the robot after closing until it starts to freeze, and then again after the thaw, but I get busy and lazy.

 

[PoolStored]

You:
Close Oct 31 or later and
Open by April 15 and
You raise to slam level upon close and
You use polyquat 60 while closing...?????

 

[kchinger]

You:
Close Oct 31 or later and
Open by April 15 and
You raise to slam level upon close and
You use polyquat 60 while closing...?????

This year I was late opening, looks like my app says May 9, water temp was still 56 though. Closed November 14th. And yes to the rest.

 

[jgofnj]

I suppose I could use my fish tank kit to test for nitrates, lol. I don't seem to have high demand at opening. I probably need to do a better job figuring out how to keep my FC up over the winter.

Someone said this is not recommended (really don't understand why) - But I will add some liquid chlorine about every 1-2 months after closing. When I open in April - my pool is crystal clear. I just take the cover off one of the corners, dump some LC and brush that corner area into the middle of the pool for about 10 minutes. Before I did this, I used to open up a dirty pool.