Do I need to close?

[1brandkins]

So I am in Northern California. (Hot as Haides in the summer) Our temps don't usually get below 30° except occasionally at night. I am a first time inground pool owner. We are getting to the point where it's cooling down at night so the water temps are staying low enough that we aren't swimming. My question is, do I need to close? At what point can I put on the cover? Do I slam first, blow out lines? I have never closed so it's a little confusing.

 

[JJ_Tex]

If you are saying your lowest lows are generally around 30 degrees, that is much warmer than us and we keep our pools open year round. We will get into the 20's and some nights down into the teens, but rarely are we below freezing during the day.

If you do not want to close, you will still have to maintain your pool. For me, that means less chlorine usage, but more dealing with leaves.
You also need to be prepared to run your pump when the air temps get below freezing to keep your pipes from freezing. If you have any sort of automation, that will usually have freeze protection that kicks in to make sure everything is running when the air temp is freezing.

 

[mknauss]

Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Take a look at the above. In the Redding area, you would not close the pool. Maintain over the winter. Protect surface equipment from the short freeze times you have.

 

[1brandkins]

So can I keep my pool open and still cover it as not to have to deal with winter debris?