To Close or Leave Open in NC?

[Chris W]

I'm in western NC in the foothills.
Trying to decide to close like I have been doing or leave open this year.
Our coldest month is Jan. Avg low of 26, Avg high of 49
Avg Snow 1" in Jan & Feb, 2" in Mar.

I have a good timer, if you think it is alright to leave open, how long should I run pump at night and or daytime?

TIA

Chris
TFP Diciple

 

[appstategrad]

I'm in western NC in the foothills.
Trying to decide to close like I have been doing or leave open this year.
Our coldest month is Jan. Avg low of 26, Avg high of 49
Avg Snow 1" in Jan & Feb, 2" in Mar.

I have a good timer, if you think it is alright to leave open, how long should I run pump at night and or daytime?

TIA

Chris
TFP Diciple

Hi neighbor! I fully close, but I know many people who don't close at all or they just put a cover on. My fear is an extended power outage and I have no backup means to run a pump. It's all a personal preference.

 

[Griswald]

Another neighbors opinion... I close because I just don't want to pay for the electricity when I can't enjoy the pool.

 

[Chris W]

Hi neighbor! I fully close, but I know many people who don't close at all or they just put a cover on. My fear is an extended power outage and I have no backup means to run a pump. It's all a personal preference.

Another neighbors opinion... I close because I just don't want to pay for the electricity when I can't enjoy the pool.

Hi Neighbors !!
I have closed for the last 6 years.
But thinking about leaving open this year and just running the pump the minimal time needed each night.
My neighbor closes their AGP, but another friend a couple miles away doesn't, hers is an IGP though.

 

[Chris W]

Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

[Chris W]

I'm in western NC in the foothills.
Trying to decide to close like I have been doing or leave open this year.
Our coldest month is Jan. Avg low of 26, Avg high of 49
Avg Snow 1" in Jan & Feb, 2" in Mar.

I have a good timer, if you think it is alright to leave open, how long should I run pump at night and or daytime?

TIA

Chris
TFP Diciple

Can some of the TFP Experts chime in here please?

 

[AftonJeeper]

If your pump doesn't have freeze protection built in you will want to make sure it is running when it gets below freezing. I would run the pump at night and monitor the pool water temp during cold snaps. If the pool water gets close to 32 you will have to run the pump on 24/7.

Flowing water will freeze if it is cold enough, we drive across the Mississippi up here in Jan/Feb.

 

[duraleigh]

I'll chime in but you have already received very good advice.

How long to run? Every pool is different. Enough to keep your pool clean. Also enough so that you run overnight during a hard freeze.

I would start at 6 hours daily and cut back until I didn't feel like the pool was being kept clean. You will still have to vacuum and brush as needed

 

[emac]

Im not far from you in SC. This is my first winter, so I am interested in the experts advice as well. My pool has a connected spa, so we will use it year round, but I dont want to run my pump all the time. I have cut it back to about 8 hrs a day and it seems to be doing fine for chemical balance. My pool controller system has an freeze protection that runs the pump when the temps drop. Hopefully that will work! If the power fails, I have generator back up.

However, I am considering building an insulated cover to go over my pool pump area that currently has three rock walls surrounding it. Something I could remove at springtime. I also thought about wrapping the lines with insulation, but that may look bad after a while. I have a well and I keep a blanket over the pipes and one of those rock covers over the pump. It doesnt freeze. If I did enclose the area I use a light bulb to keep it warm. We get cold here, down in the teens sometimes, but it doesnt last long. It does get cold enough to freeze pipes and engines so I do need to be concerned.