Antifreeze, Yes or No

[aylad]

Shock level is the level of chlorine required to kill off any existing algae bloom, and is often used to prevent algae growth over the winter. How high the chlorine needs to be raised to accomplish "shock level" depends on your CYA. See guideline here: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=365

Also, the colder the water, the the slower the algae will grow, so he's waiting until it's cold to shock it that one last time before he closes. Polyquat is also a great algae preventer, so he's protecting his pool on three different levels when closing for the winter.

As for blowing out the lines, well, that's definitely a question I can't help you with, because my pool never closes!!

Janet

[Watermom]

I don't like this time of year. Don't like talking about closing my pool for the season.

[CarlD]

Janet gave you all the answers except one.

ALL of my main plumbing from the drains to the pump, to the filter, to the returns is plumbed with removable PVC pipe, some hard, some TigerFlex. By plugging all the drains and returns I can remove ALL the plumbing, drain it, and store in my basement. I only have to worry about blowing out my solar panels, and the bridge hosing between them.

(Each solar panel is 2'x4' and I have 30 of them surrounding a 16'x40' pool. They are connected to each other by 18" long bridge hoses. 15 panels feed one warm-water return and the other 15 feed another, so I can turn them on depending on which group is in the sun.)

[aylad]

I don't like this time of year. Don't like talking about closing my pool for the season.

We're nowhere close!! Air temps back up to the 97-99 range, no rain, pool temp back up to almost 90 today, having a swim party this weekend for my oldest's birthday!! (She can't swim with a cast, but she can hang out with her friends in the lounge chairs).........

Janet

[Watermom]

We're still open here for a bit longer, too. Temps in the upper 80s and 90s. But, it won't be too long .................

[Poconos]

At 11:00 PM tonight it is 40 on my deck.
Al