Extended Pool None Use and Closing

[bjxds]

My understanding if the pool is open and not used for say an extended vacation several weeks, it best to maintain it as if it was being used daily. Maintain water levels, clean skimmer,pump, and test and maintain chemicals.

So now lets say I want to close the pool for the winter, 3-6 months and travel the country, world, or fly south for the winter. What are the TFP recommendations?

 

[PoolGate]

??? You would just winterize as usual. What am I missing?

 

[Newdude]

If you were to close during the season, you'd likely return to a swamp. Many times its the lesser of two evils versus finding/paying someone to maintain it being open in your absence.

We can help you clear it when you're ready, and no matter how bad it is, we've seen worse. It won't be a 10 year forclosure pool full of mud with trees growing in it.

 

[bjxds]

Maybe I was not very clear. I am not as concerned with the water quality. I am asking about the water level.

We are thinking about a mesh cover, I understand it will not be as clean as a solid cover. I have received conflicting info on if we have an extremely wet, winter/spring and the cover allows water to flow thru into pool, it should just overflow on the deck and run off. The deck and surrounding grade drain very well. It would be nice to not need to worry about someone trying to pump/lower water level when we are not there.

 

[PoolGate]

What do you usually do? For the most part, I completely ignore my pool over the winter. Keeping the water level is largely a myth. It doesn't really matter. I'm in the same climate as you.

 

[Bperry]

Maybe I was not very clear. I am not as concerned with the water quality. I am asking about the water level.

We are thinking about a mesh cover, I understand it will not be as clean as a solid cover. I have received conflicting info on if we have an extremely wet, winter/spring and the cover allows water to flow thru into pool, it should just overflow on the deck and run off. The deck and surrounding grade drain very well. It would be nice to not need to worry about someone trying to pump/lower water level when we are not there.

Depends on the deck, skimmer, and coping design. Generally allowing water to overflow the coping is bad news as water can get under the deck through the skimmer joints and/coping joints if they are not sealed. Water in the soil can cause erosion and deck movement, which leads to cracking, etc.

 

[Newdude]

Water usually finds it's way under the patio, and can undermine it. A great many by me either completely ignore it while here, or snowbird and ignore it from FL every year without harm. YMMV.

I pump mine a foot at a time 2 or 3 times an off season, depending on that years rainfall.

 

[bjxds]

Water usually finds it's way under the patio, and can undermine it. A great many by me either completely ignore it while here, or snowbird and ignore it from FL every year without harm. YMMV.

I pump mine a foot at a time 2 or 3 times an off season, depending on that years rainfall.

I do not understand, do you snowbird to FLA and ignore or pump it during the off season?

 

[Newdude]

, do you snowbird to FLA and ignore or pump it during the off season?

I stay here and pump it as needed. If I wasn't here, I'd find someone to check it occasionally and pump it as needed. Most copings are not water tight and mine certainly isn't.

I am happy for all those both here and away who ignore it without issue, but am surprised more don't have issues. Especially if there's water under the patio/coping when it freezes.

 

[PoolGate]

My water is lowered 2 feet when I winterize. I have never gotten enough rain and snow to bring the water up to the coping level. I suppose it could happen, but that would be an unusually heavy precipitation year.