TLDR: Should you cover your pool when there is still chlorine in it, or does chlorine degrade your winter cover? Especially if you bring to shock level.
So after reading this forum a few years ago, I started shocking my pool before closing it - just to make sure nothing is left in the pool and to have a smooth opening next year.
Last spring I opened the pool. and it was cloudy, had to SLAM for 3 days to correct. Also my water level was lower than I had made it the past winter.
This year I put my winter cover on, and within 30 mins, I noticed some water pooling on the cover. I tried patching one tiny pinhole but after it rained it was impossible to see where the other holes are. I tried running my cover pump to dry the cover, even pushed water towards it, but it was a never ending fight. I let the cover pump run all day, and now my water level is way below where I left it. Anywhere I push down on the cover, water seeps through, there must be water seeping through everywhere, even though there is no visible holes.
A friend of mine said he no longer shocks his pool and he actually removes chlorine a few days before closing, and just uses an algaecide (which I also use). He heard that trapping the chlorine gas under the cover can wear down the cover.
I purchased a very good winter cover with a 20 year warranty, and it barely lasted three seasons....I bought it with my pool just over 3 years ago.
So is there any truth to this? It makes sense because if you ever tried to remove a stain from a white shirt, and you leave your shirt to soak in bleach for a while, the shirt will just shred to pieces easily.
So after reading this forum a few years ago, I started shocking my pool before closing it - just to make sure nothing is left in the pool and to have a smooth opening next year.
Last spring I opened the pool. and it was cloudy, had to SLAM for 3 days to correct. Also my water level was lower than I had made it the past winter.
This year I put my winter cover on, and within 30 mins, I noticed some water pooling on the cover. I tried patching one tiny pinhole but after it rained it was impossible to see where the other holes are. I tried running my cover pump to dry the cover, even pushed water towards it, but it was a never ending fight. I let the cover pump run all day, and now my water level is way below where I left it. Anywhere I push down on the cover, water seeps through, there must be water seeping through everywhere, even though there is no visible holes.
A friend of mine said he no longer shocks his pool and he actually removes chlorine a few days before closing, and just uses an algaecide (which I also use). He heard that trapping the chlorine gas under the cover can wear down the cover.
I purchased a very good winter cover with a 20 year warranty, and it barely lasted three seasons....I bought it with my pool just over 3 years ago.
So is there any truth to this? It makes sense because if you ever tried to remove a stain from a white shirt, and you leave your shirt to soak in bleach for a while, the shirt will just shred to pieces easily.