Newly filled w/out circulation or chemicals...how to close?

[Veccster]

This is a vinyl in-ground pool in cold weather climate (Pittsburgh). We are filling with city water from hose this week but not past the skimmers. Once full, we put the winter cover on. So the pipes will not see water this year and we'll have no circulation (pump not even set up yet).

So how do I add chemicals for the close?

The winter cover is solid safety with a mesh drain in center to allow water to drain into center of pool.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[kimkats]

You can use a straw broom and have someone walking quickly along the edge of the pool several times to help mix the water while someone else is brushing the pool. This one, two punch will mix the water up good.

Just thinking this through I am thinking that having the broom person do a couple/few quick laps before you pour anything in to get the water moving. Walk behind the broom person and slowly pour the chemical in you are working with at the time.

You could also use a sub. pump to help move the water and mix it up.

Kim

 

[Veccster]

Any idea how much of anything I should add?

I don't have a test kit yet as I didn't want to buy one just to close the pool. I'll buy one in the spring to use next year.


Good idea about swirling it with a broom. I thought about using my gas leaf blower to move some water as well. Just don't want concentrated areas of bleach sitting on our liner all winter.

 

[kimkats]

Without at least a "baby" test kit you will be shooting blind There is a hth 6 way test kit that will help BUT I really think it would be better to get a "grown up" test kit in my siggy. You will end up getting one early next year so..............

Your fill water will have PH and TA and may even have some FC in it. You REALLY need to know what these levels are.......low/high PH, TA, FC can ruin your brand new liner.

Kim

 

[Veccster]

Will the regents still be good next year? I had planned to buy the TF-100 next spring.

If I had to, I could take a sample up to the pool store and get it tested. But are they accurate?

 

[kimkats]

shhhhhhhhh but some of my regents are going on two :gone: yrs old and still work fine! It is really all in how you store them. Mine are in a kitchen cabinet.

The pool $tore testing is worse than nothing. Most of the time they get it all wrong and this is too important to take the chance with. I wish you could use the little cheap FC/PH tester BUT we really need to know the TA as well

My first pool liner got RUINED due to the PH and TA being so off. I let the pool store test and they said it was fine! My liner "rotted" with water in it! I found a crack on the bottom of the pool and when I messed with it with my toe the whole bottom cracked and OUT went the water almost taking it with me!

I refused to get a new pool until my husband found TFP..............look at me now

Kim

 

[Veccster]

Ok...I ordered the TF-100 and speed stir. My builder is going to close the pool for me but I don't trust that he is very knowledgeable with pool chemistry. He's probably just throw some bags of shock in and put the cover on

I hope I can get the chemistry right with my limited ability to "stir" the pool. I'll start researching but I believe the pool needs to be brought up to SLAM levels before putting the cover on.

 

[kimkats]

Here is our closing link:

Pool School - Closing an In Ground Pool

See if this helps you.

Good news on getting the new toys!

Kim