"Pre-start" the pool

beachhouse · Apr 29, 2023

Hi!

My pool is still winterized, with the cover on and the pump disconnected.
I'll be traveling in the next four weeks and I won't be able to open the pool until May 29th.

My concern is that temperatures will increase soon (I am in NY), and algae will grow before I open the pool.

My neighbor suggested adding chlorine to the water before I leave, and starting the pump for 2-3 hours a day while keeping the cover on for the next four weeks.
He also suggested not installing the cartridges from the cartridge filter to avoid contaminating them with algae.
The goal would be to get cleaner water when I open the pool on MAY 29th.

Do you think it makes sense to "pre-start" the pool?
Or should I just do nothing and open the pool on May 29th?

Thanks!

Mdragger88 · Apr 29, 2023

If you won’t be there to maintain the chlorine for a month it really won’t make much difference what you do now.
If you travel often you may consider installing a saltwater chlorine generator to chlorinate the pool for you whether you’re home or not. Then you can open & close at the appropriate pool temps.

Newdude · Apr 29, 2023

Welcome BACK Fabio !!!!

I soft open every year. I'm always ready to look at the pool long before the Temps agree. Both of my pools were obnoxiously front and center and I'd spend the off season daydreaming many times a day. Plus, I get antsy when I know I have an upcoming project so I'd want to be done with said project every year, by February.

Being reminded of it on the daily only made the antsy worse.

Get the water circulating under the cover. The cover will stop a good deal of UV loss. Dose to SLAM before you go and you'll be in better shape when you return than if you did nothing. Is there anyone you could train to test/dose 2 weeks into the trip ? It's 2023 and you could FaceTime (etc) and be right there with them to walk them through it.

beachhouse · Apr 29, 2023

Welcome BACK Fabio !!!!

Thank you!!! This forum is one of the things I look forward to every year

Get the water circulating under the cover. The cover will stop a good deal of UV loss. Dose to SLAM before you go and you'll be in better shape when you return than if you did nothing.

Do you think turning on the pump for 2-3 hours a day would be enough, while the cover is still on?

Also, do you recommend installing the filter cartridges, or would you wait for the water to be cleaner?

And finally, should I care about the CYA level during the soft-opening phase? I am sure it's close to zero, but I guess it's not a problem since the pool wouldn't get direct sunlight, thanks to the cover.

Thank you so much!

Newdude · Apr 29, 2023

beachhouse said:
Do you think turning on the pump for 2-3 hours a day would be enough, while the cover is still on?

Oh yeah. The chemicals need 15 minutes to mix with good circulation.

beachhouse said:
Also, do you recommend installing the filter cartridges, or would you wait for the water to be cleaner?

If you had a friend to dose mid trip, you'd be less likely to clog the filters with a swamp. But it's probably better safe than sorry with a starved/blown pump either way.

beachhouse said:
And finally, should I care about the CYA level during the soft-opening phase?

If you can add it, it can only help with whatever sunlight makes it through the cover. Life always finds a way, they say. When I did my soft open, it took 5 minutes total to pop the shallow side, reinstall the return eyeballs, and put the cover back. You could leave yours open for a few hours to soak and disperse the CYA. You'll be surprised how far you can brush afterwards for the CYA and also the chlorine addition.

beachhouse · May 1, 2023

Quick update:
- I soft-opened the pool yesterday, and I set the pump to run 2 hours a day (10pm-12am).
- The cover is still on, so I was not really able to see if the water is clear. For sure, the smell wasn't great.
- FC was 0, as expected
- PH was 7.8
- CYA was 35, which is unexpected - I expected it to be zero, considering all the rain during winter

I added 5.7lbs of Cal-hypo to bring the FC to SLAM level (14 PPM).
This morning I re-measured the water, and the FC had already dropped to 7.5 PPM.

Is such a drop in FC to be expected, considering that the water is not clean, and there is still a lot of debris in the pool?
Should I keep SLAMing?

Thanks,
Fabio

Newdude · May 1, 2023

beachhouse said:
CYA was 35, which is unexpected - I expected it to be zero, considering all the rain during winter

We were about a foot short of usual this year. Plus, the pool needs to mix for a full day before you can trust the spring test results

beachhouse said:
Is such a drop in FC to be expected, considering that the water is not clean, and there is still a lot of debris in the pool?

Absolutely. The crud needs to go or it will chew through the FC you add, which doesn't come cheap these days.

beachhouse said:
Should I keep SLAMing?

SLAM Process until you pass all 3 exit criteria. I understand it will likely be frustrating because you're not using it and are going away, but you're saving yourself a bigger headache when you get back.

Mdragger88 · May 1, 2023

Unleash the bot

After your opening slam do you have anyone who can add some chlorine while you’re away?
You have some wiggle room with cya so you could use some tabs but they won’t last a month.