Winter in a mild climate

[kmmattson]

We are in a coastal southeastern climate where it may freeze but it is rare - we only had two days with frost last year and no hard freeze but several years ago it was lows in the 20s for 3 days. But I just looked at winterizing process and it doesn’t seem worth it.

We haven’t swam in about a month, the water temp is ranging low-mid 70’s so mostly we are just wimps. Our swimming season will probably be May-Sept but we’re looking into a heater to extend that. Would have gone in today if the water wasn’t so chilly! I have a solar cover and a leaf cover, but don’t know how to attach the leaf cover, it’s just floating on the surface right now. I’ve been putting chlorine in periodically and check the pH.

*Can I cut the pump run time down? It’s running about 8 hrs daily right now.
*What do I do if it is going to freeze over night?
*How do I attach the leaf cover?
*Do I just keep up with the chemicals like I would if we were swimming in it?
*Should I remove and store the solar cover?

thanks for any help!

 

[kmmattson]

Also is my signature not posting? Don’t see it from my phone so here it is...

~5500 gal vinyl AG Embassy Century
1HP Powerflow Matrix w/sand+DE filter
Taylor K-2006 test kit

 

[ajw22]

Turn your phone to landscape view to see your signature.

Read Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

 

[kmmattson]

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Read Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

Yep, there it is!

 

[Richard320]

8 hours filtering might be overkill during the season, and is going to be too much in the off season. I get by with two hours a day.

If you know it's going to freeze, but not North Dakota-like, leave the pump on. Not knowing how it's wired, all I can suggest is removing the off tripper so you don't forget. Also be aware that there are freeze-protection devices for intermatic timers that bypass the timer and turn things on below certain temperatures. If your pump is programmable, you're on your own.

I have zero clue about attaching covers.
I maintain my chemistry during the off season. It doesn't require much when things get cold. But I have an attached spa, so if I decide I want a soak, the water needs to be ready.

 

[kmmattson]

8 hours filtering might be overkill during the season, and is going to be too much in the off season. I get by with two hours a day.

If you know it's going to freeze, but not North Dakota-like, leave the pump on. Not knowing how it's wired, all I can suggest is removing the off tripper so you don't forget. Also be aware that there are freeze-protection devices for intermatic timers that bypass the timer and turn things on below certain temperatures. If your pump is programmable, you're on your own.

I have zero clue about attaching covers.
I maintain my chemistry during the off season. It doesn't require much when things get cold. But I have an attached spa, so if I decide I want a soak, the water needs to be ready.

Thanks, Richard. I am not sure what an off tripper is but I will ask my husband...he does the technical, I do the chemical Guess I will get back on my usual routine and just keep up with it. I don’t remember the last time I added chlorine and it isn’t green...yet...

 

[revitup]

In the off season here a little north of you we cut the pump run time from 8 to 4 hours and run it during the hours it would be most likely to hit any freezing temp, between 1 and 5 AM. The system has a freeze protection function also of course.

 

[kmmattson]

In the off season here a little north of you we cut the pump run time from 8 to 4 hours and run it during the hours it would be most likely to hit any freezing temp, between 1 and 5 AM. The system has a freeze protection function also of course.

Thanks! We are in Beaufort, I imagine climate is really pretty similar! I don’t know if our pump has a freeze protection function, we have it on a manual timer, so probably I will need to remember to turn it on myself on those cold nights, but setting the run period to the coldest hours is a great idea to be safe. I think it’s turning out that just taking care of the pool to keep it swim ready will be far simpler than try to cover and close it. I drug the solar cover and leaf cover off today and it was a huge pain.