New pool owner, new to GA

[althomas049]

We recently moved to GA (Atlanta area) into a house that has an inground heated pool. It is a small 10000gal pool with a heat pump for heating and salt water chlorinator. I recently had the main filter pump upgraded to a variable speed pump. The pool also has a booster pump for a Polaris 3900 sport cleaner. There is also an automatic cover on the pool. I am trying to figure out what I need to do or how I should operator the pool in the winter months in GA.
- Should I close the pull for winter?
- How late/early in the year should I expect to be able to use the pool?
- Should I be heating the pool all the time or only a couple days before we plan to use it?
- I assume I should keep the cover closed as much as possible to keep it cleaner and keep the heat in?
- What sort of pump schedule should I be using during the winter? During the summer, I was running the pump at 50% for 18 hours a day. FYI, the pump does have a freeze protection feature.
- I assume I don't need to worry about the running the pool cleaner when the cover is closed, only when its open?

Sorry for the all the questions, but I appreciate any info that anyone is willing to share.

 

[Wobblerlorri]

1. Yes, close the pool. Atlanta can get below freezing, and it usually snows once a year or so, enough to foul up traffic and close down the city. Like a foot or 6 inches. Atlantans are frightened by snow in any amount. You can find info on closing at Closing an in-ground pool.

2. Depends on what your idea of a comfortable temp is. You'll want to open before Memorial Day, because the water will be warming up and you don't want algae to get a toehold. If the water's to your liking, then jump in as soon as possible. You can use your heater if it's still a bit chilly. How to Open Your Winterized Pool will walk you through the process.

3. Don't know, I don't have a heater. Someone else will chime in eventually. @YippeeSkippy maybe?

4. If you've closed your pool you aren't running the heater. If you're keeping it open, then I'd keep the cover on to retain heat.

5. Don't know. If you close it, you'll be flushing the system and not using the pump.

6. Correct. With the cover on, there's nothing to clean. Take your cleaner out, let it drain, and store it til next season.

 

[Kellyp]

First, welcome to the forum and Georgia!

We are about 20 miles north of Atlanta, we don't close, and don't know any other pool owners who do here. We have freeze protection to kick the pump on as needed. Snow has not been an issue yet, going on 4 years.

We have a gas heater, not a heat pump, it's my understanding heat pumps take longer to heat, and don't raise the temp as much, so I can't advise you there. With the heater, we swim from late March/early April, till Oct/Nov, anytime air Temps are 80 +

We gave a variable speed pump so we keep the same schedule year round, the cost is negligible.
Enjoy your new pool!

 

[PoolBrews]

My last pool was in Douglasville, GA - just west of Atlanta. It was an 18K pool, saltwater, and had a 120K heat pump. We closed our pool in mid-November, and opened the first week in March every year. A heat pump will not be able to heat the pool adequately during the winter months, but it does work great in the spring and fall.

If we had had natural gas run to our home there, I would have had a gas heater installed.

Although we had freeze protection on our automation we were unable to use the pool for 3-3.5 month, so we decided to close and save the expense of running the pump, doing the regular cleaning and adding chemicals during that time.

 

[markayash]

I am in north atlanta and after I get all the leaf's out I usually just turn the pump off around Nov and drain below skimmer level and drain all the water out of the pump/filter etc. MY pad is above water level
I watch the weather and if I think it's going to get below freezing I crank everything back up and let it run.
One thing about atlanta, if the local weather guys say 6' of snow expect nothing..If it looks bad and they say " we might get a dusting expect a blizzard

The trick to atlanta is like Lorri said..Around April/May temps can climb fast and Pollen can hit hard and you can go from clear to a swamp in a week so either have the SWG up or add liquid chlorine.