Hi,
I will be going out of town in one week for 3 to 4 weeks and the weather is still in the 90 - 97 degree temps this week, (I live in Northern VA) and will remain in the 80's to 70's for the next 3 to 4 weeks. I would like to have a company winterize the pool before I leave but I know the high temps will cause algae to grow quickly. This way I won't have to worry if the pumps fails or gets clogged or we have a power outage, or dead animals, etc. ( I have had large toads, frogs, moles, snapping turtles, snakes and don't want to worry my elderly neighbor). I thought if I have it closed I might be able to open the cover enough to shock it when I return since we won't be using the pool again this season.
Would it be better to leave it open, have the pump run (and use the main drain only as the water will evaporate from the skimmer), and ask a neighbor to add chlorine tabs once a week to a float dispenser? The tabs would last longer than the liquid chlorine. The pool won't get brushed so it still will develop algae, but maybe not as much as if it was closed. I would than have it closed when I return. I could put a solar cover on while I am gone too. Unfortunately I can't ask my neighbors to do more. I would just hope for no animals in the pool. I would appreciate your thoughts.
I will be going out of town in one week for 3 to 4 weeks and the weather is still in the 90 - 97 degree temps this week, (I live in Northern VA) and will remain in the 80's to 70's for the next 3 to 4 weeks. I would like to have a company winterize the pool before I leave but I know the high temps will cause algae to grow quickly. This way I won't have to worry if the pumps fails or gets clogged or we have a power outage, or dead animals, etc. ( I have had large toads, frogs, moles, snapping turtles, snakes and don't want to worry my elderly neighbor). I thought if I have it closed I might be able to open the cover enough to shock it when I return since we won't be using the pool again this season.
Would it be better to leave it open, have the pump run (and use the main drain only as the water will evaporate from the skimmer), and ask a neighbor to add chlorine tabs once a week to a float dispenser? The tabs would last longer than the liquid chlorine. The pool won't get brushed so it still will develop algae, but maybe not as much as if it was closed. I would than have it closed when I return. I could put a solar cover on while I am gone too. Unfortunately I can't ask my neighbors to do more. I would just hope for no animals in the pool. I would appreciate your thoughts.