Another Season Ends... :(

As Hurricane Nicole peters out I've been TRYING to get my pool closed, with limited success. Considering we are extending the pool deck over the area where the pump and filter live, they've been in the builder's way. Plus, moving a sand filter with 200# of sand PLUS all the water (at 72?#/cubic foot) is no small task!

But...the water hasn't gotten colder, it's gotten warmer! It was down to 65 degrees then came back up to 72! It's now, with all the rain, down to 68. But I'm going to have to treat the water again before closing. Meanwhile, I've taken down everything, and the safety mesh cover is on, although the end where the building is going on is only sort of covered. Well,it's covered but the end clips aren't attached. I want the cover on before the leaves fall en masse. My solar panels are disconnected, drained and blown out, but the weather hasn't cooperated!

This has been a screw-ball season. I couldn't open because of all the rain AND all the other things taking my time, so I was late and, for the first time, had a (minor) bloom. Now I'm unable to close for similar reasons!

OK, to close, I adjust all my chems, shock my pool, then add a quart of Polyquat 60%. I wait 48 hours and boost the chlorine back to the shock level, drain the water down below the returns, then plug the returns, skimmer, and low drain, disconnect and drain all the plumbing and store it in my basement. I lube each O-ring with O-ring lube and put it in a zip-lock that I mark with a Sharpie of where it came from, pushing all the air out. I then toss all the little zip-locks into one big one and store that inside as well.

I drain the filter, tip it slightly toward the drain spigot, cover it with a contractor's garbage bag and duct tape the bag to the filter. I don't put any tape on the filter, but I use the tape BELOW the curve of the filter to hold the bag on. I do the same around the neck of the filter and all around the bag so it doesn't flap and tear in the wind. Finally, I take a cement block and cover the neck of the filter with it, so the snow and ice don't build up on the part of the bag covering the neck.

About once a month I'll check the level of the pool and if it's too high I'll stick in a syphon and drain it down. Otherwise, I'm done till Spring...Ideally I'll begin the opening process in late April with the goal of actually swimming by May 1! (Ah, the joy of solar panels). If all goes well and we have some sun, we are IN!

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Originally Posted by CarlD

As Hurricane Nicole peters out I've been TRYING to get my pool closed

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What do you mean 'get my pool closed'? What's closing a pool?
<duck>:D

(Oh the joys of living in Florida!)

YOU BETTER DUCK! :eek:

(Just kidding! ;) )

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Originally Posted by CarlD

YOU BETTER DUCK! :eek:

(Just kidding! ;) )

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Don't worry. It's getting cold here too. Soon our air temp will be below 70 and we will have to drag out the firepit so we can use the spa without freezing!:D

If you 2 are through with your bantering:D

I just had to put 5 of my 6 babies to sleep for the winter:( The only one I was able to keep active for the next 4 weeks is the 10 X 30ish indoor pool with dual water treadmills.

When I closed 300+ pools each year, it was a pleasure to get them safely bedded down for the year, now it's sad to see my 6 get covered up.

Due to pathetic communication, I wasn't able to fully and properly prepare the pools:mad: I was, however, able to raise the FC in the first 2 and totally balance the water, the others I got the cl up and got close to balanced. I had wanted another 3 days to 'do it right' - this was my first chance to close pools correctly and I'm a little 'angry' that I wasn't able to!!!!!!!!!!

Ah, well - there's always next season. And I've still got 3 days a week to check on, and adjust the pools:)

HAVE A GREAT WINTER ALL!!!!

I'll still be here when all the pools are closed, and hope y'all will also be:cool:

I do have to say that I have never closed a pool and, while I have some idea of what is required, I would probably mess it up the first time or two!

Evan, I can always count on you for support:D

As an aside, how're you doing? I've missed the 'not on topic' interactions whilst I moved and haven't fully caught up on everyone's doings :o

Ted, I'm doing great. Hope your move went well. We did miss you around here!

My comment was not really to support you. I really would mess up a closing if I ever had to do one. :eek: We just don't close pools here in Florida so I really only have a general idea of what to do. I have never seen one being done!

I would need to have CarlD come down and give me a step by step lesson to make sure I was doing it right the first time!

Ted I'm sure you're doing a great job.

Evan, we'd walk you through every baby step so you don't mess up! :D

Meanwhile, yesterday I could FINALLY close as the water was 62 deg (close enough to my 60 deg target. Meanwhile, with all the construction going on around the house, we had to redo a good bit of drainage. So I took the opportunity and had them run a back wash line across the yard. Now I don't have to run a rollable back wash line to the storm drain in the back. But I had to plumb some Tigerflex to it. Easy enough.

So, when I had lowered the water and got in the plugs in the returns I had to plug the low drain. To do this I pull of my shirt, grab a beach towel from the trunk, lie down on the deck and stick my arm in up to my shoulder. I hook my foot on the outside edge of the deck to support me. I pulled the drain cover off (the low drain fixture in the wall is just like a return but the new code fitting that screws into it isn't just a grid anymore but a screen). Then put the plug in. Just as I was tightening it, my foot slipped...and in I fell, rolling like a log!

Yow! Is 62 deg water cold! It sure woke ME up! :eek:

Since I was in there I figured I might as well finish the low drain. Had to lever myself out as the ladder and the steps are out. At least I had the beach towel handy! All I could do is laugh!:rolleyes:

So, Evan, when you do your first closing, remember that falling in is requisite!

Carl

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Originally Posted by waterbear

What do you mean 'get my pool closed'? What's closing a pool?
<duck>:D

(Oh the joys of living in Florida!)

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Or south Texas and no hurricanes.