Several pool closing questions

[Chewbubba]

This will be my first year to leave the pool up, frankly because taking it down and putting it back up are such a chore for a one-man (old man) crew...

Anyway, I've read the bit in the Pool School about Above Ground Winterizing, and looked through a few pages of posts here, and I have some questions from what I've read and experienced.

Feel free to address them all or just one. Any opinions on these matters are better than no opinions!

1. I've read in a couple of places that the water temps need to dip below 60 degrees (F), and one place mentioned for 5 days. Why? I haven't seen an explanation on why that is important. Is it because of algae? I'm about at the point where my job (I'm a teacher) doesn't allow me enough time to maintain the pool. The water is cold but I'm pretty sure it is nowhere near 60 (I'm in Arkansas). I'm getting a thermometer this weekend.

2. Pool covers. My pool came with a nice & heavy pool cover. Unfortunately, sturdy was not one of it's features. The drawstring tore through the cover on it's second or third use and I threw it away. Not keen on purchasing another Intex pool cover. Any other brands I should look at?

3. I've seen mention of "pillows" and tire tubes. Are there some guidelines on how many I should purchase? Too few? Too many?

4. Definitely getting a leaf net ASAP. We have a 60 foot Willow Oak that in a couple of weeks will drop about 6 billion skinny leaves all over the neighborhood (my neighbors probably hate me), plus a 50 foot pine, and 50 foot Pin Oak in the front that drops leaves all winter long, even until the new leaves push the old ones off in spring. Okay, not really a question here...

5. What about water that collects on the pool cover after closing? Does it need to be pumped off with a sump pump or something?

Thanks for any help!

 

[laceygirl]

Algae cannot breed at a temperature below 60 degrees so you will not need to keep adding chemicals over winter....... Pillows or floating rings will stop the cover from collapsing and water will still collect, you just get a pump and pump it away next summer....... I'm really sorry but I cannot advise you on the pool cover, I'm yet to cross that bridge.....

 

[pwrstrk]

Yep the whole key to opening and closing to clear water is the water temp. Close when the temp is on the low fifties and bring it up to shock level. Open it back up when it's on the low fifties.
I still has 4 ppm of FC after when I opened after just about 5 months. ?

 

[Casey]

If you have to close, you can do so. Use Polyquat 60, SLAM it and cover with a quality cover. I'm covering mine in the next day or so because I may be having surgery. I'm done with it. I've closed this early last year by just SLAMing with no problems, I don't foresee one coming for next year. You are south so I'd do the Polyquat and call it a day!

 

[Chewbubba]

Sorry to have abandoned this thread, but I lost my internet connection at home for the last several days.

Is Polyquat available at big box stores, or is it only available at a pool store?

 

[Casey]

Try pool store or online. Doubt you'd get it at Walmart...

 

[Chewbubba]

So far, the biggest obstacle has been finding a pool cover company that has good reviews AND also has a 16' cover... :/
A few companies with good reviews, but nearest covers are only 15' and 18'.