Chipping away...

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BowserWowser

BowserWowser

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
105
Virginia Beach, VA
Pool Size
17000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
Well, our pool survived its first winter! I used just a leaf net, not a solid cover. I did have to drain some water out of the pool once because a snow dump brought our water level up above the return, so water was pouring out. I'll either lower the water even more next time we close, or I'll get plugs for the return and skimmer just in case.

Where things went horribly wrong (I think) is that I didn't open early enough! The water was still beautifully clear through January into February at least. But then we got a few spurts of hot days with temps up to the 70s and 80s, and my clear water went from beautiful to green SO QUICKLY! It took me some time to get everything hooked back up and water refilled, but now I'm back to working on it regularly. Based on the progress I've made so far, I'm confident we'll get back to where we need to be!

Meanwhile, my youngest is asking almost daily if we can go swimming. Umm, my dear, it still gets down to the 40s overnight. You don't want to get in that water yet (even if it were clean)!
pool.png
 
The threshold is a water temp of 60F, never a date on the calendar. Above 60F the reproduction rates for most species of algae starts to climb very quickly. There are species that can grow in cold water, but most need temps above 60F to have significant growth rates.
 
Also, once you are past any threat of hard freezes for days one end, you can start dragging out the equipment to reattach it. Even when there are brief overnight dips below freezing the equipment will be fine. It takes a long time below freezing for water to do damage to pipes.
 
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JoyfulNoise said:
The threshold is a water temp of 60F, never a date on the calendar. Above 60F the reproduction rates for most species of algae starts to climb very quickly. There are species that can grow in cold water, but most need temps above 60F to have significant growth rates.
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Right, but I wasn't monitoring the water temps, hence why I didn't know when I should open 'er up!

Local friends are much less happy about the water today :LOL:

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I suggest a solid cover next fall. They can be had for under a hundred dollars. When I had an AGP, I was buying a winter cover every fall for like $50 because I hated cleaning it, and also, after a couple seasons they would develop holes. If the cover does not get any holes(birds or wearing out), you will open to clear water. You will have to get a cheap winter pump for the top, but well worth opening to clear water.
 
SecoSteve said:
I suggest a solid cover next fall. They can be had for under a hundred dollars. When I had an AGP, I was buying a winter cover every fall for like $50 because I hated cleaning it, and also, after a couple seasons they would develop holes. If the cover does not get any holes(birds or wearing out), you will open to clear water. You will have to get a cheap winter pump for the top, but well worth opening to clear water.
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I read soooo many people having trouble with winter covers - wind blowing them off, pillow or no pillow, how to get the stuff off the top without dropping it into the water when you remove the cover...I liked the leaf net, just need to open at the right time next year by checking my water temp.

Honestly, the water is already even clearer than it was yesterday, and all I've been doing is liquid chlorine and hosing off my filter cartridge when I see the skimmer suction is weak. And I have probably another month to month and a half before it will be warm enough to get in. The biggest chore that I'm not looking forward to is getting the stairs back in!
 
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I got my stuff back up and running as early as I could. We've had some temperatures down into the teens but it's been warm during the day. Obviously I have to keep the pump running on such nights but it's not a big deal in slow speed.

Keeping the leaves and stuff out of it as well as keeping the chlorine correct is important. Obviously once ice forms it gets very difficult, but as soon as it melts, even on warmer days where it's going to freeze again scoop some stuff out if possible. Check the pH and fc and so on.

I'll probably never use a cover again.
I just found it too much of a pain and too stressful with snow etc. Also, I like keeping an eye on the water, dumping the skimmer etc.

Here's the thread showing how mine looked after the winter.

Pool after no winter cover

I just wanted to share the results of my first winter without a cover. I kept the leaves out as best I could in between thaws and I needed to be very careful about maintaining the water vs ice level because I left my stairs in. I also learned that the stairs needed to be unbolted from the pool...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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cj133 said:
I got my stuff back up and running as early as I could. We've had some temperatures down into the teens but it's been warm during the day. Obviously I have to keep the pump running on such nights but it's not a big deal in slow speed.

Keeping the leaves and stuff out of it as well as keeping the chlorine correct is important. Obviously once ice forms it gets very difficult, but as soon as it melts, even on warmer days where it's going to freeze again scoop some stuff out if possible. Check the pH and fc and so on.

I'll probably never use a cover again.
I just found it too much of a pain and too stressful with snow etc. Also, I like keeping an eye on the water, dumping the skimmer etc.

Here's the thread showing how mine looked after the winter.

Pool after no winter cover

I just wanted to share the results of my first winter without a cover. I kept the leaves out as best I could in between thaws and I needed to be very careful about maintaining the water vs ice level because I left my stairs in. I also learned that the stairs needed to be unbolted from the pool...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
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Funny - I'd already read your thread the other day! I don't think I could go without at least the leaf net. My neighbors have tall pine trees that drop a lot of pine needles and pinecones in our yard. My pups love the pinecones, but my skimmer doesn't love the needles :)

Check 'er out today! I reeeeeally have to get at that bottom with the vacuum, but it's so hard to reach without getting IN the water, and it's still super cold!

PXL_20220404_173629886.jpg
 
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You really need to get those leaves out of the pool. Its consuming a lot of chlorine that could go into finishing up clearing the pool.
 
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Casey said:
You really need to get those leaves out of the pool. Its consuming a lot of chlorine that could go into finishing up clearing the pool.
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I know. I literally do not own anything that can reach them. I'm working on it!

I sent my robot vac in knowing it wouldn't get everything, but I'd run it 20 times if needed. It ran around, and when I picked it up after it stopped, the top part came off, and the base (that actually has the filter and all the junk it picked up) sank back down to the bottom :rolleyes: So now I have to find a way to fish that out as well.

This would all be easier if we had a deck, but we don't, and the prices this year are too outrageous to have one built :(

I'm not climbing into that 54-degree water. I will buy a thousand gallons of chlorine if I have to!

Meanwhile, water's getting better by the day. Clear enough so you can see Mr. Robo Vac near the top left...and his filter all the way in the middle by the pile o' leaves :sneaky:

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After a heavy leaf drop, I've gotten on an A frame ladder with brush attached to pool pole and used it like a pushbroom to get the pile closer to my deck side where I can then use the net to get them out, or at least take a good couple swipes at the pile and reduce it. Can you do something like that or maybe use it to pull that pile towards you and then use the net? You may want to turn your pump off for a bit so it doesn't just immediately scatter them.

Water is looking great!
 
Pauls234 said:
I've gotten on an A frame ladder with brush attached to pool pole
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Thats what i'm thinking. Without the pool pole, two broom handles and some duct tape would do. Or any combo of mops, rakes, etc. Pull it to the side scoop away.
 
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