Chlorine and pool cover, closing

[Kendall.Nash]

I am planning on closing my pool in a few weeks (first time), just waiting on the temps here to get consistently colder. I was reading through the information here and was wondering about the chlorine. I read where it says raise the chlorine level up to slam level then
“let the chlorine level fall about half way back to normal levels, typically another day and a half.”
My question is what is the purpose of letting the chlorine level drop half way back to normal before closing? My normal is 7ppm and Slam is 16ppm. When the temps are low, it would think it would take 3 or 5 days at least for it to drop. Can I just raise my FC to slam level and close? Why wait?

Second question: I purchased this house in January, came with a pool that was closed (although not well) and a safety cover, no winter cover. Will closing still be the same with a safety cover instead of winter cover? Can I (or should I) get a winter cover to go over the safety cover? I live in Little Rock Arkansas, fairly mild winters but occasional snow and freezes.

 

[wireform]

The letting the FC drop down is for when your adding a polquat 60 but many of us seem to be fine with closing at slam level without the polquat, basically it's a choice. I've never used polquat 70 and always close at slam or close to it. As far as winter cover, if it doesn't really freeze you'll be OK with the regular cover just make sure the water level is up there to support the cover. The winter mesh cover is a completely different story and needs to be fit to the pool and have anchors drilled all around the deck to hold it in place.

 

[Kendall.Nash]

Thank you, that makes sense. I might be confusing my terminology with safety cover and winter cover. My cover is a mesh cover that has holes drilled in the concrete all the way around the pool with anchors that hold it in place. It stays well above the water line. It looks like it allows water to flow through it but it will hold snow for sure. We don’t normally get real hard freezes but it does get into the teens and even single digits occasionally in January and a little bit of snow from time to time. I’m sure I’m fine with this cover, I just want to do whatever I can to avoid the swamp I had when I opened it for the first time this past spring.

 

[PoolStored]

I just want to do whatever I can to avoid the swamp I had when I opened it for the first time this past spring.

Don't close until your water temperature is consistently below 60 degrees...then...follow the guide...

Closing an In Ground Pool

Winterizing a pool is essential for keeping your in-ground pool protected during cold-weather months. This Pool Repair guide will show you how to do it.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Kendall.Nash]

Thanks, I have read through and watch the video on closing. That is what prompted my original question about the chlorine levels as well as the cover since mine is not like the one described.
Waiting on the water temps to consistently get below 60 is proving to be difficult where I live. Next week highs are back in the 80s, lows in the 40s.
Water temp has been right at 60 for about a week now.

 

[Kendall.Nash]

To make things a little more complicated. I am now convinced I have a leak as well that seems to have gotten worse. I’ve been having to add water ever 3 or 4 days to keep it from going below my skimmers.

 

[PoolStored]

If you have a leak, you should find it and fix it before you close.

 

[Kendall.Nash]

Yeah I was thinking that as well. Any suggestions on best way to do so considering the water is 60 degrees now so swimming around in it is not going to be fun. I’m sure I can find someone to come find it and patch it but that’s probably going to cost me.

 

[PoolStored]

Wet suit is the best I got. Do you have any idea/suspicion where the leak might be?

 

[Mdragger88]

Here’s a guide to help you figure it out

Leak Detection

A number of things can cause leaks in your pool. You can learn tricks for leak detection and how to pinpoint where your pool is losing water.

www.troublefreepool.com