Closing procedures in NY

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richierich

Bronze Supporter
Jul 12, 2013
756
Long Island, NY
I figured it's never too early to make sure I have all my closing procedures ready. I would like some advice for my first closing. I'm worried about ice and freezing.


-I have a micro mesh cover so the rain water will just seep through so I don't have to pump off the excess water from the cover
-I will be using the aquador to cover the skimmer box and the standard threaded plug for the return
-When heavy snow is forecasted I will take the cover off completely so it doesn't weigh down the rails


I'm conflicted about whether or not to drain the pool say 6 inches below the returns. On the 1 hand I feel like if I do drain all the rain water will eventually freeze and expand and could break my skimmer or return since the aquador and return plug aren't 'flush' against the liner since water freezes upwards Or should I not drain at all and if the rain water goes above the return and skimmer that is ok since ice expands upwards (I think). Would love to know what others do for closing in climates that freeze with mesh covers .

By the way I use these to clamp the cover on. I did this with my intex pool a few years ago and it was great.

BESSEY 2 in. Steel Spring Clamp with Handles and Tips-XM5 - The Home Depot
 
Can you take a picture of the Intex Pool. How do you plan on blowing out the return line(s) and closing the skimmer? Your pump is probably very close to the skimmer and return(s)? With AGP, a lot of people take everything apart and bring indoors. I would definitely not recommend lowering 6" below the returns. For an Intex, I would recommend a solid tarp and not a mesh cover. If you allow water to build up on the surface, this actually protects the surfaces below. In NY, you will have colder temperatures than NJ.


I only lower my water about 1" below the skimmer. Besides for closing reasons, it is always a good idea to replace some water yearly. Closing an IG pool is a little more tedious and requires a good compressor and/or blower.
 
Catanzaro said:
Can you take a picture of the Intex Pool. How do you plan on blowing out the return line(s) and closing the skimmer? Your pump is probably very close to the skimmer and return(s)? With AGP, a lot of people take everything apart and bring indoors. I would definitely not recommend lowering 6" below the returns. For an Intex, I would recommend a solid tarp and not a mesh cover. If you allow water to build up on the surface, this actually protects the surfaces below. In NY, you will have colder temperatures than NJ.


I only lower my water about 1" below the skimmer. Besides for closing reasons, it is always a good idea to replace some water yearly. Closing an IG pool is a little more tedious and requires a good compressor and/or blower.
Click to expand...


I used to have an intex - Now I have a permanent 15 foot above ground, see signature. Yes I will definitely be bringing in the equipment. Interesting about not draining, maybe I would do that.
 
This is how I have done mine the last two years.
Algae doesn't do too well at 65 F and lower neither do swg's so,
I blow out my solar panels early with an air compressor.
Then I watch the daytime high temp of the pool water, about mid Oct it will not hit 65 F, after that happens I stop circulation.
Vac head and hose in the pool I vac to waste and water my lawn until my water level is 6-8 inches below the skimmer.
Remove 6-way valve, swg cell and pump to basement warm storage.
Monitor FC level until first ice.
 
I have the Aquadoor, but use solid cover. I don't drain. In the spring I had to change my cover plate for the door. It used to leak, very slowly. I left the hose attached and open was away from pool. We'' see what happens this year with the new cover. When it got cold I put and empty water bottle upside down into the bottom opening of the skimmer for ice expansion.

Floats for Closing.jpg These are the floats I use under my cover. I use them to pull the cover on top of the water. The fence makes it harder. Takes two to put cover on. I use 2 pieces of grey plastic elec conduit with 3/8 clear tube inside to drain water off. Clear so you can see the water coming. This pulls out most of the gunk off the cover too. This year i was lucky no rain for about a week before opening and I got the cover off by myself.

Hope this helps.

With your cover that lets water thru you will most likely have to drain at some time. You still need something in the water to allow for expansion of ice.
 
Why do I need something in the water? Last year I had the intex pool with the micromesh cover and the water froze and then thawed and there was no problem. I'm leaning toward not draining the water but occasionally using a submersive pump to drain when it gets too high.

I've read that if you drain 6" below the skimmer since ice expands upwards it could pull the aquador or return plug up during ice freezing since they aren't flush with the wall

I guess my 2 options are drain 6" below and try to make sure it never gets above the skimmer OR leave it where it is which is already above the return plug and the aquador.
 
We drain to ~6" below skimmer, which is also a couple inches lower than the return port, we don't use an aquador but do use a plug for the return port. The skimmer drain is left open for drainage and we use a solid cover that has some holes in it so it leaks and therefore not really solid. LOL
Big "river rafts" are used as "pillows" for holding up cover. Other years did not use "rafts" to hold up cover. The rafts seem to be for making it easier to get water off the cover. Did not seem to have any affect on ice expansion.
We have solid freeze in the winter but have never had ice levels rise high enough to damage the skimmer or return port.
Hope this helps.

- - - Updated - - -

It seems like leaving the water level high would cause the ice expansion to push on the aquador and cause damage to the skimmer and return port. Also IGP behave differently than AGP when dealing with ice expansion. Even with our 7 ft deep end, that is only 3 1/2 ft below grade which is still above the frost line in Michigan. Would an IGP have a solid freeze since some of the water is below the frost line? That might be why lowering the water only 1" in an IGP would work but not with an AGP
What have you noticed with the Intex? It seems that the ice would behave the same way in either the soft or hard sided pool.
Hope this helps.
 

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