Advice for winter closing when converting in spring

[cherrysun237]

Hello! We're getting ready to close our pool this weekend and have been using Baquacil for the last 3 years - got the dreaded untreatable cloudy water situation about a month ago. I was intending to add the Baquacil Oxidizer before winterizing, but now I'm wondering if that is a good idea or not since we will be converting to chlorine in the spring.

 

[Texas Splash]

I'm going to tag @Leebo and @Donldson who may be better suited to address that specific question (oxidizer). Stand by.......

 

[jessica0917]

When I knew I was going to convert from Baquacil to chlorine the following spring, I didn't add anything to the water when I closed my pool for the winter. I wanted the Baquacil levels as low as possible when I opened the pool and started the conversion. I converted in 2017 and have been happy with my crystal clear pool ever year since then.

 

[Leebo]

The Oxidizer is going to be used up rather quickly over the winter and won’t really do anything positive or negative for your water quality when you open next Spring. It will however hit your pocket-book to the tune of about $100 for the 4 gallons I suspect your pool calls for. Save the money and don’t worry about adding chemicals when you close. You’re gonna just trash the water next year when you start.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

$100.00?!?!?!?! <be still my frugal heart!> Are you kidding? Most of us with salt systems use only that or a little more per year for pool care! Dang that Bacqugoo is expensive.

 

[cherrysun237]

Thank you for the advice! And yes, Baquacil is very spendy - it's what they were using when we bought the house and we really enjoyed the water right up until the moment it went cloudy. I work in hospitality and have maintained many pools during my career, right now I'm really missing the ease of maintaining a salt water pool!
It's getting winterized and covered this weekend with no chems. Will I need to dump the water at the start of next season or just start the conversion process?

 

[Newdude]

Will I need to dump the water at the start of next season or just start the conversion process?

It's always easier to drain when your drain/fill options are good. Some places have no clear path to drain, others have a well that can't be run long when filling, possibly with lots of iron, or water is outrageously expensive. Then those folks have to fight.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

It may be an easy conversion come spring? Alternatively you can always drain and refill to have an almost painless change.

Maddie

 

[cherrysun237]

It's always easier to drain when your drain/fill options are good. Some places have no clear path to drain, others have a well that can't be run long when filling, possibly with lots of iron, or water is outrageously expensive. Then those folks have to fight.

Thanks! I'll consider this since we are on a well.

 

[cherrysun237]

It may be an easy conversion come spring? Alternatively you can always drain and refill to have an almost painless change.

Maddie

Thanks! I'm thinking we'll open earlier next year to accommodate the conversion process and mother nature might assist with the refilling process

 

[Newdude]

I'll consider this since we are on a well

So you'll likely wish to fight in the spring. In that case, you could get a head start draining now. Even if it was only 1/4, it would help dilute things now, which would then break down eveb further over the off season. Then you only battle what's left, which will still be a medium battle.

 

[cherrysun237]

So you'll likely wish to fight in the spring. In that case, you could get a head start draining now. Even if it was only 1/4, it would help dilute things now, which would then break down eveb further over the off season. Then you only battle what's left, which will still be a medium battle.

Thanks! We usually drop the water well below the return lines and it makes sense to drop it even further this year.

 

[mknauss]

Be ware there is risk draining a vinyl liner pool too far.

 

[98Poolmaster]

Be ware there is risk draining a vinyl liner pool too far.

A couple inches below skimmer is best blow out returns and cap with threaded cap expandable plugs tend to fall out over winter

 

[98Poolmaster]

When I knew I was going to convert from Baquacil to chlorine the following spring, I didn't add anything to the water when I closed my pool for the winter. I wanted the Baquacil levels as low as possible when I opened the pool and started the conversion. I converted in 2017 and have been happy with my crystal clear pool ever year since then.

You only need to worry about the Sanitizer level being zero all other levels don’t need to be zero it’s an easy conversion make sure to clean filter after conversion not just backwash