New house, first pool, closed for the winter - what should I do?

[NewHouseFirstPool]

Hi all! I've been reading up and lurking here on the site and forum for a few months, trying to learn about pool care before taking ownership of my first pool. But I'm a bit confused on how to get started given that the pool was just closed when we took possession of the house in early October. My main question is: is there any maintenance I should do during the winter period while the pool is covered and the equipment shut off? Or just wait until spring and go through the steps to open it?

We had a pool inspection prior to moving in, and the inspector says the pool was generally in great shape and the water looked well-maintained at the time, though he didn't do a chemistry test. The pool was closed by a pool service in early October, and I haven't touched it since. I do have a TF-Pro Salt test kit so I can learn how to do the testing and maintenance myself once Spring comes. Anything I should do now while it's closed to increase the likelihood of opening to a pool in good shape?

Here are some details on our pool:

Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Pool Type: Vinyl Liner & Fiberglass (liner is 1-year old), Salt Water with 2-year old chlorinator and pump
Length (ft) - 30
Width (ft) - 18
Pool Depth:
Deep End (ft) - 6
Shallow End (ft) - 4.5
Avg. Water Capacity (gallons) - 17,000

 

[PoolStored]

Likely not much you can do during the winter, unless you have a mesh cover.

What cover is on the pool, pic might help?
Do you have a robot that came with the pool?

 

[NewHouseFirstPool]

Likely not much you can do during the winter, unless you have a mesh cover.

What cover is on the pool, pic might help?
Do you have a robot that came with the pool?

Here's a photo of the pool and cover. Not sure what type the cover is. It's stretched tight across the pool with hooks built into the concrete pool deck.

No robot came with it, but I was thinking about getting one for Spring time to help with the cleaning.

Appreciate any recommendations you might have. It sounds like just waiting till opening in the Spring and then using the kit to test water levels is all I can do.

 

[ajw22]

Leave the pool alone until Spring opening.

See ya then!

 

[Homebrewale]

It looks like you have a solid cover. You will want to get a pool cover pump and use it to occasionally drain the water off the cover.

 

[wireform]

I'd get rid of the foliage sitting on the cover as nothing good comes from it. If you have a backpack blower or any decent powerful blower you can make quick work and be done with it.

 

[NewHouseFirstPool]

Now that March is almost here, I'm getting nervous. This will be our first time opening a pool, and I have no idea to expect once we remove the cover.

Should I order a service to open the pool for us, then following the guides her to maintain chemistry through the season? Or, should I try to open myself? The instructions here make it seem pretty easy, but they don't mention much about the equipment itself, turning it on, getting the salt water generator going, etc.

 

[wireform]

Opening the pool is a no brainer compared to closing. You can do if your mind is made up.

 

[ajw22]

Depends if you can handle the pool cover.

I cannot pull off and fold and store my solid pool cover alone. It takes two or three young guys to get it off and stored.

The rest is easy.