Need MORE info than STICKY has PLEASE on closing AGpool

I live on Long Island..The pool co where I purchased my AG pool is advising me to NOT lower the pool water BUT use a metal skimmer cover, a return plug, winter chemicals, an equalizer pillow and solid winter cover.. I have been reading many posts where people LOWER their water and so I am very confused...I would also like to use bleach and polyquot 60 instead of their kit. From my Taylor test kit, My CYA is 35, FC ranges from 3-5 and TA about 110, PH 7.4..
PLEASE ADVISE what do I do with the water level and chemicals?? Want to close in two weeks.
I always have received WONDERFUL help on this forum guiding me through my first year but I seem to be floundering alone on this.

Just found 'instructions' from Brothers 3.."If the pool water is left too low over the winter, too much rainwater will gather on the cover and rip the grommets out of the cover. Pool water should be left high to also protect the liner"
BUT wont water leak through the skimmer plate??? and HOW do I get it on with water in the pool??
PERHAPS BigDave in NJ can advise since similar climates???????????

Last year I closed by:
Waiting for the water temp to get down to 60 deg F.
Removed the ladder.
Bring the FC to shock level.
Lowering the water level below the return.
Removed the eyeball and used a plug in the return.
No skimmer plate but I did put a "gizmo" in the skimmer.
Removed the inlet and return hoses.
Removed the pump, drained / dried it and stored it indoors.
Drained the sand filter.
Removed the pressure guage and stored it in the heatedpart of the house.
Removed the multiport valve and stored it indoors.
Covered the top of the sand filter where the multiport goes with a frisbee.
Covered the entire sand filter with a large garbage bag and put duct tape on the bag below the widest part of the filter to keep the bag on.
Blew out the underground lines and solar panels with a shopvac.
Covered the automatic valve for the solar with a garbage bag and duct taped to secure.
Removed, cleaned, and lubed each O ring and stored in a zip lock bag numbered to indicate it's proper location.(thanks CarlD)
Covered each open union with a platic grocery bag taped on the bag to secure and added an X of duct tape over the opening to keep the critters out.
Opened the breakers for the pool.
Put in a large pillow to keep the cover up (compensates for lowered water and make it easier to pump the water off the cover).
Covered the pool with a solid cover.

Throughout the winter, I inspected the pool regularly and pumped the water off the cover to 3/4" (so it doesn't blow around in the wind).

I opened to a clear pool.
Covering the pool is pretty much essential for me because the pool is surrounded by full-grown Pin Oaks that never seem to drop all thier leaves until January.
My method my seem like alot but I'm pretty A-retentive and generally prefer to err on the side of safety.

Thanks for quick reply..as always..: )
Do you use clips or wraps with your pool cover? Polyquat 60 and bleach?
AND most importantly WHY is pool co. insisting I leave water level up or liner,and cover will be damaged??? They told me gizmos are for in-ground pools and skimmer covers for AG...
Are you in Northern NJ? We do get freezing days here..
Marcy

I think the logic of NOT lowering the pool is to prevent danger of collapse from the weight of snow on the cover. The water is a structural element.
With an above ground, if you plug the return(s), low drains if you have them, and use either an Aquador or Gizmo in your skimmer, you don't really need to lower the water.
Additionally the floating pillow becomes the support for the ice and snow on the cover, again, reducing pressure on the walls so the winter cover doesn't pull in on the walls.

Thanks so much Carl..Any views on Aquador vs stainless steel plate. Where I bought the pool they advise only stainless plate..Leslies told me only Aquador. If we do the later this year we have to lower water to install backing and then raise..
Also do you just use bleach??
Thanks SO MUCH.

Either way the weir and the basket come out of the skimmer. I use the Aquador myself, but I either leave the bottom of the skimmer open as I remove the flex attached to it, or put in the Gizmo as well. Poconos stuffs lots of foam rubber in his so any ice forming has expansion room.

WOW..You answered before I finished editing...Thanks..
Lastly...Need to also know if use only bleach and if I should buy clips for cover?? Does get mighty windy here..By water...

I close pretty much the same way as Big Dave. I don't use a pillow as I use a safety mesh cover. I used to use pillows but haven't for several years with no problem--but my AG pool is more like an IG structurally and not usual SOP for MOST AGs. I also do one more thing.
I raise the pool to shock level, add 1 quart of Polyquat 60%, wait 48 hours, raise to shock level again, and close.

I do use clips - sorry I forgot that step. I couldn't find a metal skimmer cover last year although I have heard about it - it seems valid and you don't have to replace the skimmer face to install it. As I understand (haven't done it) you remove every other screw from the skimmer face plate and put them through the metal cover.

I see no reason not to keep the water level and use a metal plate (with o-ring or gasket) and a sealed plug in the return. It's not how I did it but I would.

CarlD's pool is much stronger than a traditional AG and can use a mesh safety cover. On a traditional AG, a large weight (my bigness) on a cover supported only by the pool walls would probably cause the walls to fail.

All I used last year was bleach - I did close after the water was 60-55 F and opened early in April. Polyquat should give you an earlier close and later open. but... if you do go green, you know what to do

Also:
There are gizmo devices for AG skimmers.
I did remove the weir and the skimmer basket.
Aquadoor requires that you remove your skimmer front plate (and your skimmer) to install which requires lowering water level below your skimmer and you run the risk of the liner slipping awat from the skimmer - Low risk but possible.
If you use a solid cover, you will need a cover pump and you wil neded to monitor / maintain the water level on the cover throughout the winter.

Ok guys I think I'm set in my mind what to do when I finally do it!! Will shock and use polyquat but wont run filter once polyquat in..right?..Have my son or DH put plate on so can leave level up like Brothers 3 suggested. Hayward DE filter apparently came with return plug with inside pool which we will remove eyeball and install. Have them..tie pillow to middle, put on winter cover and use wind guard 5" cover clips all around. I guess filter needs to be drained, the cloth in it cleaned, hoses disassembled. Will keep tank in garage and perhaps motor in house. I will have the 'men' check values and do all that mechanical stuff...lol...And I should be fine!!! Oh also buying a submersible cover pump...
BUT like you said Dave, if I open to green, I do know what to do!!!
THANKS

Why wouldn't you run the filter after you add the polyquat? I do.

OH I thought I read here somewhere that you shouldn't??????????????Would filter it out????
OK then I can, I guess...easier

You should put the filter or recirculate after the polyquat is added or it will be filtered out.

I didn't know my filter has a recirculate mode..I will check it out...Thanks

We have a rectangular AG vinyl pool also. This is our first year to close. My husband wants to use a vinyl tarp to cover it, will this work? We can't find a rectangular pool cover. What is the mesh cover you are using and where did you get it? Also, do you have a skimmer? We don't but we sure do need one. Could we install one? Thanks so much.

Grammy, you'll have more luck getting answers to your questions if you will start a new thread with your questions rather than tack onto the end of this one, which isn't likely to get many more views....

I don't have any answers to your questions, because my climate doesn't require closing the pool, and mine is not covered...but hopefully somebody else will be able to offer you some good advice.