how important is it to vacuum the bottom of the pool before closing?

[primuspaul]

My filter has not been maintained in a while and the sand is no longer functioning well. I also don't have a functioning vacuum. Planning to replace the sand in the winter and to also secure a vacuum at that point in time.

 

[Lake Placid]

Vacuuming IMO is very important to the closing process. You want the water as pristine as possible before pulling the cover or you are inviting headaches in the spring. That said, if you don’t close with pristine water and conditions just be prepared for a battle with a swamp at opening.

As for your filter media, why do you think it’s bad? Unless floc has been misused and destroyed/channeled your sand it’s not likely the issue. Sand doesn’t go bad per se. You may have some other issue going on with filter. More detail would help in assessing your situation.

 

[Mdragger88]

Also have a read

Closing an In Ground Pool

Winterizing a pool is essential for keeping your in-ground pool protected during cold-weather months. This Pool Repair guide will show you how to do it.

www.google.com

 

[trivetman]

I don’t worry about having pristine water at close. I clean it up before putting the cover on but don’t worry about every last leaf. Plenty of crud slips under the cover over the course of the winter, so a few extra leaves at the start doesn’t do much extra damage.

Open early enough before your water warms up and starts to grow things and you’ll be fine

 

[primuspaul]

Vacuuming IMO is very important to the closing process. You want the water as pristine as possible before pulling the cover or you are inviting headaches in the spring. That said, if you don’t close with pristine water and conditions just be prepared for a battle with a swamp at opening.

As for your filter media, why do you think it’s bad? Unless floc has been misused and destroyed/channeled your sand it’s not likely the issue. Sand doesn’t go bad per se. You may have some other issue going on with filter. More detail would help in assessing your situation.

It's been years since we replaced it and I often notice what looks like sand going into the water at the return after I do a backwash/rinse. I believe this is the source of much of the dirt at the bottom of the pool.

I don’t worry about having pristine water at close. I clean it up before putting the cover on but don’t worry about every last leaf. Plenty of crud slips under the cover over the course of the winter, so a few extra leaves at the start doesn’t do much extra damage.

Open early enough before your water warms up and starts to grow things and you’ll be fine

Ever since the nearby pine tree fell the pool has gotten many times less leaves and debris than in all prior years so fortunately that is less of a problem this year. I rarely need to clean out the collection baskets and almost never use the net.

 

[Lake Placid]

It's been years since we replaced it and I often notice what looks like sand going into the water at the return after I do a backwash/rinse. I believe this is the source of much of the dirt at the bottom of the pool.

If this only happens after a backwash, I’d first suspect the spider gasket in your mpv is going south.