polyquat

[hannadock]

Where do I buy polyquat and do I need it? In ground pool 20X40. I cover in the winter but have a automatic timer for the pump to come on if it gets below freezing. That hasn't happened much here. East Tenn. Thanks

[aylad]

If you are able to add bleach (it won't take as much in the cooler water as it does in warm weather) under the cover, then you don't necessarily need polyquat--you just maintain your minimum chlorine level. Those that close their pools and don't do any chlorine maintenance during the winter use polyquat to slow down the algae growth through the wintertime.

If you use it, though, be aware that it will deplete your chlorine, so you dose the pool with polyquat and then shock again before you close. You can get it online or at the pool stores--just make sure you read the active ingredient labels before you buy to make sure polyquat 60% is what you have.

Janet