No Polyquat!!!!

So I have had my pool for 5 years and because of this forum I have opened and closed my pool the last two years!!!! Used to spend $750 a year on open/close service. Our setups sound very similar. I closed my pool last night



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First thing I did was had a cocktail. I start draining the pool. I used the backwash, rinse and waste functions for this. Let the robot do its thing cleaning the pool. Removed ladder and railing. Turned up all the deck anchors. Had a cocktail. Had another cocktail.
Once the water level got to where it needed to be I balanced the water. Muriatic acid to get ph to 7.2. Waited about an hour. Kept the filter running (Skimmer off, main drains open). Had a cocktail. Added two gallons of liquid chlorine to get the FC to a good level. Waited about an hour. Had some water. Turned the filter off and pulled all the plugs One on the filter and two on the filter basket
Then started to clear the lines. I use the cyclone blower. IMHO this is an expensive tool but well worth the purchase for closing. Started on the suction side. I use the opening in the filter skimmer basket for this. I started with the surface skimmer after placing the gizmo in the skimmer. Cleared that and put anti-freeze down the gizmo and the plug in. Moved the valve handle to open the main drains. Forced air through until bubbles appeared and quickly closed the valve. The valve stays in the open skimmer position after this process. Then cleared the return lines. Started with the pool return side. Forced air through until clear. I capped the closest return then used the blower to clear out more water. I then put anti-freeze down the furthest return and capped it. Moved to the deck jets. Forced air through until clear. I close them one at a time from closest to furthest. I leave the furthest one open and force more air through then I put anti-freeze down that jet and cap it. I use a total of 1 gallon of anti-freeze for the whole process. After this was done I rolled out the green monster. Had a cocktail. Secured all the cover straps I leave all the equipment pad plumbing unions open. I have two on my heat pump and two on the pump side. Secured the cover and picked up. I keep all the plugs and valves from the equipment pad in the filter skimmer basket and I put all the deck jets and return hardware in the skimmer basket and store it.
Had a cocktail and went to bed!!!!!
Woke up this morning and realized I didn't fasten three cover straps.......it was dark...............


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If anyone reads this and sees any mistakes let me know. The process was a little foggy this morning!!!
HAPPY CLOSING Snoo