To close or not to close

[cainsconundrum]

Greeting TFPoolers,

Dont want to close the pool this winter, being new we still enjoy the water features, morning coffee and get togethes weather permitting. Got a freeze stat on the equipment to bring it on when necessary. Will drain the water features as freezing temps get closer.
Can I decrease my pump run time now that swimming is over and water temp is dropping? and since I have a swg manually add bleach to maintain FC? I realize reagular cleaning will continue as well. I've also heard the CYA will drop during winter, do I worry about maintaining or restore this spring?

Thank you in advance for your advice,

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hey there Cainsconundrum welcome to TFP!

A lot of folks up in NC choose not to close. If you feel like us, you like to see the pool and water even in cold weather. We have an autocover so we can open/close daily easily. If it is going to get down in the single digits we run the pump overnight to keep water moving.

As to sanitation- with my chlorine pool I might only test once every 3-4 weeks in colder weather just to see what's going on. Rarely do I have to do anything. The SWG will not work once the water gets too cold so yeah, you'll just have to use a little bleach now and then. Not often at all. CYA may go down a bit but you can't count of that (if your level is too high, for example). Turn your pump down to as many hours as you want, 2-3 is a good start. I like mine a bit more to keep the surface debris moving to the skimmer myself. Its as much or little as you like that gets the job done. In spring/fall when the SWG may still be working you can tweak it also as you'll notice chlorine demand is less.

I'll let the robot take care of any debris that falls in the water when open.

I see you have the K2005 test kit- have you obtained the FAS-DPD test for chlorine that will make your kit equivalent to the one we recommend (K-2006C)? You can get just that FAS-DPD kit at tftestkits.net And make sure you sign up for their emails so you'll get notified when they hold their refill sales. Great bargain.

We just put a Saltron Mini SWG in our hot tub and I highly recommend it! Now both pool and hot tub are super easy to care for. And that will get you off the bromine out and keep it out of the pool if you go from hot tub to pool like my kids do.

Maddie

 

[cainsconundrum]

Thank you Maddie,
Yes I've had the FAS-DPD kit for a few months now, won't be going back to the guess the shade anymore. I'll update my signature.
The pool/spa builder said there were issues with hot tubs and chlorine is why he recommend bromine, something about the hot water conditions. Our grandkids go from pool to spa too, must have a adverse effect on boths water chemistry?

 

[anthonypool89]

Wish I'd have the option of not closing the pool during the winter here in PA! Actually, last year it didn't freeze once during the winter. Still, who wants to swim in water that gets down to the low 40's? Got in today for the last time before putting the cover on...a balmy 64 degrees. Refreshing, what?