Jan 2025 IG pool build in Georgia, need liner re set!!!!

[JoyfulNoise]

Putting the heater on the back burner for now. Will add it eventually whether it be this year or next. Does look like the dig will begin jan 6th. Will post pics. Getting excited and stressed already. Lol.

You might consider at least running the conduit for a dedicated 220V/60A service to the equipment pad on the off chance you go with a heat pump. The trenches are going to be dug anyway and electrical conduit is dirt cheap. You just need the conduit and a nylon pull line. Then all an electrician would have to do is either hang another subpanel on the house or wire into an existing set of breaker slots and pull some wire. No need to dig up the yard a second time. However, if you go gas, then you’ll be trenching the yard again. Gas lines need to be installed and pressure tested while the trench is still open in a lot of jurisdictions and so it’s not something you can cheaply install in the ground if you decide to not use it later. A spare electrical conduit is always useful.

 

[JamesW]

What pump will you get?

Will you have automation that can increase the pump speed on call for heat?

This is important because you want to be able to operate at low speed to save money until call for heat and then have the pump increase speed to provide enough flow for heating and then drop back down on end of call for heat.

 

[JamesW]

I would get automation with a subpanel and pull in wires sufficient to operate everything plus the heat pump if you are sure about getting a heater.

 

[suzook]

You might consider at least running the conduit for a dedicated 220V/60A service to the equipment pad on the off chance you go with a heat pump. The trenches are going to be dug anyway and electrical conduit is dirt cheap. You just need the conduit and a nylon pull line. Then all an electrician would have to do is either hang another subpanel on the house or wire into an existing set of breaker slots and pull some wire. No need to dig up the yard a second time. However, if you go gas, then you’ll be trenching the yard again. Gas lines need to be installed and pressure tested while the trench is still open in a lot of jurisdictions and so it’s not something you can cheaply install in the ground if you decide to not use it later. A spare electrical conduit is always useful.

I'm running wire big enough to the pool sub panel from the main meter tap. That will have room for a 60amp breaker if needed later on.

 

[suzook]

Still up in the air as far as closing the pool down for winter. Everyone down here looks at me like I am nuts. I used to winterize mine up north myself, and it was really easy. I don't understand why you would run your pool all the months you are not actually using it. Sure it looks nice open, and uncovered, but all the Crud getting into it, along with the extra wear and tear/cost to keep it open seems wasteful. What's everyone's thoughts??? Am I stuck in a northerner mentality?

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Still up in the air as far as closing the pool down for winter. Everyone down here looks at me like I am nuts. I used to winterize mine up north myself, and it was really easy. I don't understand why you would run your pool all the months you are not actually using it. Sure it looks nice open, and uncovered, but all the Crud getting into it, along with the extra wear and tear/cost to keep it open seems wasteful. What's everyone's thoughts??? Am I stuck in a northerner mentality?

Because it’s easier to run a pool all year long and keep it clean and sanitized than cover it up and let it turn into a giant green swamp. In the lower latitudes, pool water doesn’t freeze so there’s very little chance of plumbing damage. Couple that with variable speed pumps that use tiny amounts of energy and cold water (<60F) that doesn’t grow algae as easily (and thus uses very little chlorine) and it makes no sense to go through the hassle of closing and covering a pool.

We stop swimming here in my home once the kids are back in school. After Sept no one uses the pool. I still keep it running rather than “close” it because it far easier to adjust pump run times and chlorine output than try to drag a cover over it and shut it down. When the water really cools off in early December and the SWG stops producing chlorine, I add maybe a gallon or two of liquid chlorine all winter and test the water less than once every two weeks. It’s just not worth it to close a pool.

 

[suzook]

Because it’s easier to run a pool all year long and keep it clean and sanitized than cover it up and let it turn into a giant green swamp. In the lower latitudes, pool water doesn’t freeze so there’s very little chance of plumbing damage. Couple that with variable speed pumps that use tiny amounts of energy and cold water (<60F) that don’t grow algae as easily (and thus uses very little chlorine) and it makes no sense to go through the hassle of closing and covering a pool.

We stop swimming here in my home once the kids are back in school. After Sept no one uses the pool. I still keep it running rather than “close” it because it far easier to adjust pump run times and chlorine output than try to drag a cover over it and shut it down. When the water really cools off in early December and the SWG stops producing chlorine, I add maybe a gallon or two of liquid chlorine all winter and test the water less than once every two weeks. It’s just not worth it to close a pool.

Idk. Takes me an hour to completely close and winterize, and put on cover. Opening, maybe 2 hours. Never had a green opening. I guess it's whatever someone is used to. I guess I could leave it open first year, and see what I think. Btw, it drops into the teens at night here a few times a month during the winter. Obviously freezing pipes are an issue if the pump is not running.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Idk. Takes me an hour to completely close and winterize, and put on cover. Opening, maybe 2 hours. Never had a green opening. I guess it's whatever someone is used to. I guess I could leave it open first year, and see what I think. Btw, it drops into the teens at night here a few times a month during the winter. Obviously freezing pipes are an issue if the pump is not running.

Most automation systems have freeze protect circuits. They’ll turn the pump(s) on when they sense air temps below 36F. A few hours below freezing can be managed by simply putting a tarp over the equipment with a 100W incandescent bulb in a cheap aluminum contractors lamps. I do it every year. If the forecast calls for an extended freeze then you simply drain all the above ground equipment by opening up the filter, pump, and heater (if you have one) drain plugs. Then tarp and leave a lamp on.

Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Newdude]

Closing is second nature on year 13 (?) and a joke for me. But we put the pool obnoxiously front and center from the kitchen table and I'd SO much rather look at the uncovered pool, even if it's cold. The VSP sips energy about $20 a month and I don't even realize its on the electric bill to care I'd be 'wasting' power. All personal preference, of course.

 

[suzook]

Closing is second nature on year 13 (?) and a joke for me. But we put the pool obnoxiously front and center from the kitchen table and I'd SO much rather look at the uncovered pool, even if it's cold. The VSP sips energy about $20 a month and I don't even realize its on the electric bill to care I'd be 'wasting' power. All personal preference, of course.

You live in NY, and leave the pool open???

 

[Newdude]

You live in NY, and leave the pool open???

No i close. Very very sadly.

I meant i wouldn't close if I was somewhere deep freezes weren't all but inevitable

 

[JoyfulNoise]

You live in NY, and leave the pool open???

We have had users from Canada leave their pools open and heated deep into the winter. Very precarious thing to do but as long as the heater and pump were running 24/7 and the pool was kept covered, they were able to have a swimmable pool way up in the Great White North ….

FAQ: Cheaply Keeping a Pool Hot -- 90F,95F,100F -- How we ran till Jan 11th in Canada

We were running our swimming pool until January 11th! And sometimes ran our pool to 100 degees F (hot tub mode) on some days! And this is here in Canada. That said, we've got a Zone 7 climate, so a bit more temperate, but still a feat I'm told. Pic taken January 4th, 2016: Water...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[JoyfulNoise]

There was even a TFP Expert (@Swampwoman) from years back who put an inflatable dome over her Michigan pool and kept it running all winter long too …

Anyone Have a Winter Pool Dome - Ameridome or Others?

Hi all. I'm looking for reports of anyone whose had an Ameridome or similar style winter pool enclosure. Pool Domes | Ameri-Dome Inground Swimming Pool Enclosures I have a torn meniscus among other issues that has not healed since June. I've seen a specialist who wants me to keep up my pool...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mdragger88]

@suzook ,
I’m about 3 hours north of you and I close for winter- although some here don’t, especially with inground pools.
I just prefer one less thing to worry about incase of an ice storm/ power outage etc. (Which seems to happen every year now.)
along with all the other things that take precedence in the winter like the holidays etc.
I usually cover in late September/early October because whilst running on a very reduced schedule then fully winterize around Halloween, maybe a little later & de winterize in late March/early April but leave covered until the sky stops falling again lol.
I feel like in your area its a toss up with the weather. There’s really no wrong way- just personal preference.

 

[DSMinAtlanta]

Most automation systems have freeze protect circuits. They’ll turn the pump(s) on when they sense air temps below 36F. A few hours below freezing can be managed by simply putting a tarp over the equipment with a 100W incandescent bulb in a cheap aluminum contractors lamps. I do it every year. If the forecast calls for an extended freeze then you simply drain all the above ground equipment by opening up the filter, pump, and heater (if you have one) drain plugs. Then tarp and leave a lamp on.

Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

This is our first year of pool ownership and we decided to try leaving it open to see how that goes. We put a leaf net over the pool in the late fall and I removed the net yesterday now that the majority of our leaves have fallen. We do have a huge tulip tree in the yard dropping thousands of seed pods right now but at least they float and can be easily scooped out. It's funny how we never noticed how much stuff came off our trees until we got a pool.

There have been several nights this month with temps in the 20's but so far the freeze protection feature has been working as expected. I've got the pump running 24/7 right now since it has been colder so the freeze protection is just turning on/off our feature wall to keep the water flowing through those pipes. We will see how this first year goes and then decide if we want to leave it open again next year.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

This is our first year of pool ownership and we decided to try leaving it open to see how that goes. We put a leaf net over the pool in the late fall and I removed the net yesterday now that the majority of our leaves have fallen. We do have a huge tulip tree in the yard dropping thousands of seed pods right now but at least they float and can be easily scooped out. It's funny how we never noticed how much stuff came off our trees until we got a pool.

There have been several nights this month with temps in the 20's but so far the freeze protection feature has been working as expected. I've got the pump running 24/7 right now since it has been colder so the freeze protection is just turning on/off our feature wall to keep the water flowing through those pipes. We will see how this first year goes and then decide if we want to leave it open again next year.

Make a disaster plan and PRACTICE it. You need to have a “go bag” of tools and stuff you need to drain the equipment pad should the power fail for an extended period. It will happen at 2am on an early Sat morning with freezing rain coming down in buckets so you need to be able to get dressed in warm clothes quickly, have adequate battery powered flashlights and a helper. You need to know how to open every drain plug and air release so that the entire above ground plumbing can be drained and you need a tarp to throw over the equipment with some heavy rocks or cinder blocks to hold it down. You need to be able to do this blind-folded and with one hand tied behind your back while dodging incoming gun fire and battling Ninja assassins.

 

[suzook]

Make a disaster plan and PRACTICE it. You need to have a “go bag” of tools and stuff you need to drain the equipment pad should the power fail for an extended period. It will happen at 2am on an early Sat morning with freezing rain coming down in buckets so you need to be able to get dressed in warm clothes quickly, have adequate battery powered flashlights and a helper. You need to know how to open every drain plug and air release so that the entire above ground plumbing can be drained and you need a tarp to throw over the equipment with some heavy rocks or cinder blocks to hold it down. You need to be able to do this blind-folded and with one hand tied behind your back while dodging incoming gun fire and battling Ninja assassins.

Lol, well, this just sealed the deal. I am winterizing it. It's just easier to close it, and not worry about until March opening.
And of course way below temps are forecast for the middle of Jan. I will NOT allow any concrete poured if temps will be well below freezing.

 

[kimkats]

Do what works for you and your pool.

Now a word of caution........................watch the water temps in the Spring. The only time I got a slight algae outbreak was in the Spring when I did not pay attention to the water temp so did not put enough chlorine in. I noticed the water was getting a bit "dull". I ran my tests and found the FC gone! Once the outside temps go up so does your use of chlorine.

 

[Mdragger88]

Definitely what Kim said!
The timing will just be different for you now in the south compared to the past in the north.
Follow the 60 degree rules and you’ll be fine.

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.troublefreepool.com

Opening your pool- An easy to follow guide

Opening your pool can be stressful. This Pool Start Up guide teaches everything from start-up chemicals, covers, and more for your start up.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[suzook]

Definitely what Kim said!
The timing will just be different for you now in the south compared to the past in the north.
Follow the 60 degree rules and you’ll be fine.

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.troublefreepool.com

Opening your pool- An easy to follow guide

Opening your pool can be stressful. This Pool Start Up guide teaches everything from start-up chemicals, covers, and more for your start up.

www.troublefreepool.com

Yup, I will definitely be opening it early March. My SWG also adjusts chlorine output according to water temp, so that's helpful. But I will have to re adjust to the southern climate vs the NE climate with chlorine and other chemicals the 1st year.
BTW, Reading that closing guide, only thing I did up north was drained my pump, filter and Heater, blew out the return, and plugged them. NO antifreeze. Did that for 9 years through minus zero temps with no issues.