Closing pool vs. Keep it up and running

[SteveTech]

Afternoon all,

Well, after a good summer of learning and getting everything dialed in, I am coming up on a decision on if I should close this year or run it like last year. Last year, it ran all winter, with our ice storm, etc. Pentair freeze protection worked fine. I do not have a cover (yet), so it would be open. I also don't have many trees at all where I could not clean out the pool in 5 mins with a skimmer.

In Oklahoma, temps can get wild during winter if last year taught me anything. With that said, I am debating closing vs keeping it open again.. Personally, I'd like to close to see what the $$ difference is electricity-wise this year, but I also don't want to deal with a swamp (But I am guessing that would be individuals with a LOT of leaves falling in..) and if the cost of closing outweighs keeping it open. I'm just not sure.

I am installing a heater bypass as it is getting cooler outside for next year as well as replacing gaskets in the multi-valve while it is down.

So, opinions and experiences would be great, I have no issue doing either as my first year keeping it running, winter was nuts..

Appreciated

 

[Bperry]

Afternoon all,

Well, after a good summer of learning and getting everything dialed in, I am coming up on a decision on if I should close this year or run it like last. Last year, it ran all winter, with our ice storm, etc. Pentair freeze protection worked fine. I do not have a cover (yet), so it would be open. I also don't have many trees at all where I could not clean out the pool in 5 mins with a skimmer.

In Oklahoma, temps can get wild during winter if last year taught me anything. With that said, I am debating closing vs keeping it open again.. Personally, I'd like to close to see what the $$ difference is electricity-wise this year, but I also don't want to deal with a swamp (But I am guessing that would be individuals with a LOT of leaves falling in..) and if the cost of closing outweighs keeping it open. I'm just not sure.

I am installing a heater bypass as it is getting cooler outside for next year as well as replacing gaskets in the multi-valve while it is down.

So, opinions and experiences would be great, I have no issue doing either as my first year keeping it running, winter was nuts..

Appreciated

Shouldn’t be a problem unless you get an extended amount of below zero temps. Would be wise to know how to drain all the equipment very quickly in case that happens and not have to figure it out in the middle of an ice storm.

 

[SteveTech]

Shouldn’t be a problem unless you get an extended amount of below zero temps. Would be wise to know how to drain all the equipment very quickly in case that happens and not have to figure it out in the middle of an ice storm.

That was last year.. we had a good solid 2 weeks of near and below zero temps WITH an ice storm, and even when the pool was frozen, pump still did its thing.. I think I spent more time worrying about freeze protection failing then anything else..

 

[Bperry]

That was last year.. we had a good solid 2 weeks of near and below zero temps WITH an ice storm, and even when the pool was frozen, pump still did its thing.. I think I spent more time worrying about freeze protection failing then anything else..

Ask Texas about what can happen if you get a power outage. It must’ve not got cold enough there for long enough to do any harm which is good.

 

[Newdude]

I don't envy the areas where it's reasonable to go either way. Further up north it's an easier decision to go through the hassle of blowing out the lines. Once you've done it a couple of times though, it's second nature and takes mere minutes. The first few times you spend hours walking around mumbling and planning but that's not the job time, that's the yard mumbling time.