Fall Closing - our plans

[AnnaK]

We are located in eastern PA and keep our pool open until the last moment, just before freezing, so that the dogs can do their therapeutic swimming as long as possible. Dogs can take some pretty cold water.

Last year the builder closed it for us, adding many chemicals and then putting a cover on. This year we're on our own and there will be two changes for sure: many fewer chemicals and no cover. Leaves and other debris aren't much of an issue and I can scoop them out or vacuum if I have to until the surface freezes. The cover really delayed opening the pool this Spring due to the mega layer of ice on it.

Our plan is this - and I would very much appreciate your input and guidance in case I'm heading down the Path to Perdition:

WATER
1) Remove steps, cover with tarp.
2) Clean vinyl surfaces (bottom and sides) and especially where steps were.
3) Balance water (FC, pH, TA, CYA). This may take a couple of days because I tend to do this slowly to keep from overdosing.
4) Shock with bleach to 15 ppm.
5) Add 1/2 bottle of PolyQuat 60 (or a full bottle???).

EQUIPMENT
2) Drain pool via filter backwash and rinse to below the skimmer surface.
3) Cover skimmer with plate; remove skimmer basket and store in basement.
4) Disconnect piping and hoses from pool. Snow melt and rain water will drain out. Any water left in pipes will have room to expand when it freezes.
5a) Drain pump. Remove strainer basket for storage.
5b) Turn off main pool breaker, unplug pump.
6) Drain filter, set on "Winter", cover filter and pump with tarp.
7) Clear off deck and store furniture and cleaning equipment.

How am I doing so far? Am I out of sequence in any of the steps? Do I need to do anything else with the water? Should I add CYA? My guess is not because there won't be a lot of chlorine loss in a cold pool.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Poconos]

Hi Anna,
You seem to have it knocked. Lot easier winterizing an AG pool compared to an IG. Can't comment on the polyquat since I don't use it and the only thing you didn't mention is draining the pump. Probably just an oversight in the post. Something you may want to do for curiosity since you're not covering, sink a 5 gallon pail to make a hole in the ice so you can measure the ice thickness. I use a couple Home Depot pails and found a smaller bucket that fits inside. I fill the smaller one with crushed stone for weight so the 5 gal pail sinks to within a couple inches of the lip. I then put a piece of plywood or something over the 5 gal pail to keep the rain and snow out. To remove, take off the plywood, remove the inner weight pail, then pull out the 5 gal pail and you have a fishin hole. If the 5 gal sticks just pour a couple quarts of hot water in it and wait a few minutes and it will come out. I'll dig up some pics that were on the old forum BC (Before Crash) and post them. Watermom tells me I live in the North Pole so I guess you must be at Latitude 89N since you're just South of me.
Al

Here are the pics.
--5 gal bucket and stone loaded inner pail
--Ice thickness gauge. Short section goes in hole under ice with inch markings on long side.
--Bucket sunk in pool
--Ice Fishin'

511

[Watermom]

Poconos, just what exactly can you catch in your pool? Probably frogs or frozen "spyders"! :eek: Or, knowing you, you probably stock it with fish in the fall. Then, the fish stay frozen in a layer of ice during the winter and then when you get hungry and are snowed in up there in the North Pole, you can go and catch yourself a fish to cook for dinner! You are a nut! :D

[AnnaK]

Poconos, just what exactly can you catch in your pool? Probably frogs or frozen "spyders"!

I know! I know!

He stocks it with Yuengling Lager! As long as he doesn't get a solid freeze he always has a cold one ready and waiting. Love that fishin' shack in the background :)

Anna

[AnnaK]

Hi Anna,
[snip] and the only thing you didn't mention is draining the pump. Probably just an oversight in the post.

Oops, yes. I did forget to list draining the pump and removing the strainer basket for storage. Thanks for pointing that out.

Your pool pictures look just like ours that time of year. Probably from the same snow storm :)

I'm curious: why the ice thickness measurments? That certainly appealed to my husband. I can see another trip to HD coming up.

Anna

[Watermom]

I know! I know!

He stocks it with Yuengling Lager! :)

Anna

Anna, you don't know how right you are!

[Poconos]

Anna,
I measure the thickness periodically just for the heck of it. I put holes in the deep and shallow ends so before the last thaw I can rig an old Jacuzzi pump to circulate under the ice. No reason to but just like to get outside and play when the sun is out and weather is just starting to warm. I like the Yuengling idea. Of course anyone outside the area has no idea what that is. I feel another pic coming.
Al

My friends pup likes it too.

524

[djhop]

If there's Yuengling, I'll be there!!!!

[moriskod]

Al, you are a hoot! You guys up north are kinda lucky in that your pools freeze over for the winter.. I'm in Missouri so they freeze and thaw, freeze and thaw.. or not... who knows, so we have to live with a winter cover of some sort to keep the leaves and small children out. I have not been on the forum much this year... but do remember some nice pictures you had posted on here that I looked at in the Spring of 2005 when I was looking at Solar Panels.

This year has been so dry and in the interest of saving water at spring opening I don't plan to drop the level of the pool much and will depend on skimmer covers and jet valves to keep the water level up. Wish I could just leave it all uncovered and depend on it freezing up like you Northerners!

Joe

[AnnaK]

If there's Yuengling, I'll be there!!!!

Bring your pole 'cause it looks like you'll have to catch it, first. Or wrangle it away from Goobers :)