Yes, another first timer closing with questions (NorthCarolina)

[ashtonbritney]

Ok...so I have read pages of posts and read the pool school closing (Pool School - Closing an In Ground Pool)

I guess I am confused at what the proper protocol is. I have been told by 2 different people 2 different methods. One says, basically, SLAM, plug, blow lines, remove drain plugs from filter/pump, put the looplock cover on...wait until spring). The other says they dont do anything, they treat it just like summer but have the bot running under the cover and turn the pump on continuous during nights that get below 35 degrees.

So...I am more confused than ever....I live in Albemarle, NC which is just east of Charlotte, NC. We get a few days, maybe a week around freezing, with usually one or two days of flurries. Any thoughts/advice?

 

[duraleigh]

Both methods can work in a climate like yours. It's your call as to what seems best to you.

Sorry to be vague but the answer is simply not black and white. If you lived further North or further South, the climate dictates the correct method.

 

[appstategrad]

Ok...so I have read pages of posts and read the pool school closing (Pool School - Closing an In Ground Pool)

I guess I am confused at what the proper protocol is. I have been told by 2 different people 2 different methods. One says, basically, SLAM, plug, blow lines, remove drain plugs from filter/pump, put the looplock cover on...wait until spring). The other says they dont do anything, they treat it just like summer but have the bot running under the cover and turn the pump on continuous during nights that get below 35 degrees.

So...I am more confused than ever....I live in Albemarle, NC which is just east of Charlotte, NC. We get a few days, maybe a week around freezing, with usually one or two days of flurries. Any thoughts/advice?

I am about 2 hours west of you (near Hickory). I do a full close. To me it is worth the day of work to close just to have peace of mind that I won't have problems if we have a power outage. I know many people who don't close, but I'd have a hard time sleeping when we get one of those major ice/snow storms.

 

[ashtonbritney]

Thank you! Do you do a full close (lower below skimmer, blow lines, plug etc)?

 

[appstategrad]

Thank you! Do you do a full close (lower below skimmer, blow lines, plug etc)?

Yes. Raise chlorine to SLAM level a few days before I close, water to waste just below returns, lines blown from pump, returns capped and skimmer plugged with Gizmo, skimmer basket out and brought inside, filter drained, salt water cell removed and brought inside, dry out remaining water inside of the pump basket, remove pump basket plugs and put them inside the basket and bring inside, breakers off at pool and also inside basement at the breaker box, and finally cover the pool. I do most of this by myself with the exception of putting on the pool cover. It isn't hard, it just takes a few hours, but much better than paying someone hundreds of dollars!

Water temp isn't consistently below 60 until November, so I don't close any earlier than Veteran's Day and usually it is around Thanksgiving when I have more time off work. The constant struggle is keeping all the leaves out of the pool until I close. [emoji849]

Good luck!

 

[appstategrad]

Thank you! Do you do a full close (lower below skimmer, blow lines, plug etc)?

I forgot to add...

Remove handrails and ladders (I usually do this a few days before, at the same time I SLAM just to save time on the actual closing day).

Remove the sight glass, pressure gauge, and the drain cap on the sand filter, and bring inside.

Move the multiport valve on the filter to winter.