To Close OR Not To Close??? I have questions!

[melsteph]

Good Morning-
Fall has made its first arrival in Texas and I know my pool days are probably over for a few months.
New IG pool, we do have automatic freeze protection, and I dont think we will cover. We live on top of a hill with no close trees or deciduous shrubbery.
So what are my options for Texas? I have read through some past posts and have a general idea gathered but need a few specifics.
Filter runtime?
SWG percentage?
Will I add acid and liquid chlorine all winter?
Run waterfall?
Does pool math values stay the same?

Thanks as always!
Melissa

 

[ajw22]

Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Jimrahbe]

Melissa,

Your SWCG will shut off when the water temperature gets to about 52 degrees. When that happens just add Liquid Chlorine.. It does not take much FC during the winter.

You numbers should stay the same winter or summer does not really matter.

Most people in the DFW area do not close their pools..

If you have VS pumps, you can just run them 24/7 at some low RPM, if the air temps get really cold..

If the temps are predicted to stay below freezing for several days in a row, I would have a large tarp ready to throw over the equipment pad with an incandescent light bulb to add a little heat.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JJ_Tex]

I'm curious on the waterfall/water features as well. Do you just run it at a low speed with all valves including the waterfall open?

 

[ajw22]

I'm curious on the waterfall/water features as well. Do you just run it at a low speed with all valves including the waterfall open?

Freeze protection needs to turn everything on to keep water flowing and prevent freezing.

 

[melsteph]

Melissa,

Your SWCG will shut off when the water temperature gets to about 52 degrees. When that happens just add Liquid Chlorine.. It does not take much FC during the winter.

You numbers should stay the same winter or summer does not really matter.

Most people in the DFW area do not close their pools..

If you have VS pumps, you can just run them 24/7 at some low RPM, if the air temps get really cold..

If the temps are predicted to stay below freezing for several days in a row, I would have a large tarp ready to throw over the equipment pad with an incandescent light bulb to add a little heat.

Thanks,

Jim R.

thank you Jim! I do not have VS pumps but I do have timers. How many hours daily?

 

[JJ_Tex]

My freeze protection is set to run the pump anytime the air temp is below 35 degrees. The concept is to keep the water moving so it doesnt freeze. It may be tough to use a timer as it really depends on your weather. Some days that may be a few hours at night, or it could be the full day.

 

[melsteph]

My freeze protection is set to run the pump anytime the air temp is below 35 degrees. The concept is to keep the water moving so it doesnt freeze. It may be tough to use a timer as it really depends on your weather. Some days that may be a few hours at night, or it could be the full day.

NO I meant during a regular winter, fall day, above freexing temps, how many hours do you run your filter?

 

[crusemm]

I run my pump the same year round. 4 hours a night, and then running while swimming

 

[Jimrahbe]

Melissa,

You only need to run a pump long enough to...

1. Generate enough chlorine from a SWCG or Tab feeder
2. Skim the water to your sanctification
3. Mix any chemicals (an hour or so max)

I run my VS pump 24/7, because I like generating a little chlorine all the time, and I like constant skimming..

Many of our member only run their pumps for 2 to 4 hours in the winter..

The point is.. there is no right answer.. It is all about what you want the pump to be doing. You just want to make sure that your main pump is running anytime the air temp is at or below freezing..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[HeyEng]

We didn't winterize last winter and won't again this winter. Chlorine use was fairly minimal and maintenance was mostly dealing with leaves (which we *do* have). We have been running the pump for 3 hours a day (summer schedule) to great success and will probably dial that back to 2 hours a day (until it colds enough to run freeze protection most nights then we will turn it off) in the next couple of weeks. I have had some concerns about extended power outages due to ice storms, but the previous owner told us that they went without power for several days and didn't have any freezing issues. Not to say, "don't worry about it!" because it is something to consider. As you know, it *can* get cold enough in Texas to freeze stuff...ask me about having to replace our boat motor while living in San Antonio because of single digit temps...