Backstory: We didn't use a pool cover last winter. The water was very clean up until freezing, and when it thawed it was also very clear. I've been netting out anything that falls into it -- mostly leaves & tree pods. I haven't opened it yet.
However ... it's starting to go green, despite all my netting. And even though I'd wanted to avoid opening until Memorial Day, I'm worried that it will become a health hazard! It's starting to smell vaguely like algae and I know it's going to take lots of work to get it up to swimmable. I don't think there's any way I can clean it up without opening, because nothing will circulate. So I seem to be stuck with either opening now (April!) or tolerating an increasingly green and smelly pool. My questions:
1) Would using a cover next winter mean that I could open later to a clear pool? Or would it just have meant that I wouldn't see how green it is (which would ease my mind), but it would still be in exactly the same shape when I opened it?
2) If I could tolerate the greenness (and I'm not sure I can!), is it dangerous to people or to my pool to leave it until it's swimming weather?
3) Has anybody calculated the cost of opening early (electricity/water costs) vs. opening later (more chemicals)?
Thanks everyone for your input!
However ... it's starting to go green, despite all my netting. And even though I'd wanted to avoid opening until Memorial Day, I'm worried that it will become a health hazard! It's starting to smell vaguely like algae and I know it's going to take lots of work to get it up to swimmable. I don't think there's any way I can clean it up without opening, because nothing will circulate. So I seem to be stuck with either opening now (April!) or tolerating an increasingly green and smelly pool. My questions:
1) Would using a cover next winter mean that I could open later to a clear pool? Or would it just have meant that I wouldn't see how green it is (which would ease my mind), but it would still be in exactly the same shape when I opened it?
2) If I could tolerate the greenness (and I'm not sure I can!), is it dangerous to people or to my pool to leave it until it's swimming weather?
3) Has anybody calculated the cost of opening early (electricity/water costs) vs. opening later (more chemicals)?
Thanks everyone for your input!