Your advice please, I’m panicking as the temperatures have nose-dived! My pool is at our second home in France. I have only just been able to return to it and the temperatures have plummeted: it is -1c (30f) this morning. I covered it end of Aug - with algae and a high Cya problem that I ran out of time to fix. Since then I know they have had some hot weather here during Sept. Should I just drain it down now below skimmers, add floaty things, protect pipes, filter, take pump indoors (that’s our normal routine) OR do I need to test and correct chemistry first? I have come back armed with the Taylor K-2006 thanks to advise on here! Thanks for any advice- I feel I’m racing against time!
Can I close without correcting chemistry?
- Thread starter Wendypoolboss
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,045
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
At this point your water isn't going to be corrected by tabs or anything "quick" unless you can properly complete a SLAM Process. I'd say focus on protecting the equipment by closing properly to prevent freeze damage. You can address the algae next spring. That said, it's your call if you have the time and resources to do a complete drain and refill. That is an option as well.
I however would run the chlorine up to SLAM levels (using bleach / liquid chlorine, not tabs or pucks) before closing.
Its not going to fix things 100%, but it may be the difference between opening to a manageable algae outbreak or a green swamp.
Perhaps given it is France there may be available a Chlorine Dioxide precursor from the local pool store. This could be used to shock the pool in about 4 hours. Run at about 5 mg/l to shock much lower than chlorine.