A whole list of new problems with an old pool

[topless]

My pool is 25 years old and over the past couple of years has begun it's really begun to show its age. The bull nose brick edge is falling apart, about 60% of the top tiles have come off, the power cover destroyed itself ( bending and breaking parts) and about a month ago the water level started dropping rapidly. The concrete around the skimmer has cracked and the next section of deck has tilted down about 2". I've contacted a pool company, they came by once but haven't been back again and we know we will have a large tree to remove as it is part of the reason for the cracking and heave.

I was going to install a new cover until the water level went down so fast I think there is a leak, so a cover wouldn't survive. The water level dropped about an inch a day until it stopped about 20" down, eliminating the skimmer as a leak. I've kept running the pool pump a couple of hours a day to keep the Mosquitos from having a home.
So, now I'm left with an open pool that won't stay filled with water and looks like it may be that way all winter.

My plan is to lower the water level several inches below the water jets, blow out the water, blow out the skimmer and put antifreeze in the main drain like usual. The leaves are going to fill the pool very soon and I guess it will survive the winter if the pool repair isn't done soon.

I just need to know if my winterizing plan is going to work?

[aylad]

By "work", if you mean keeping the water clean through the winter, then probably no....but if you mean keeping any damage from being done to the pipes, then probably yes, if you drain the filter and pump, and either remove the pressure gauge for the winter, or bring the whole pump inside.

You can probably keep the water fairly clean if you use a dose of polyquat algaecide, followed by a good shock, and then add some bleach stirred around with a broom, paddle, etc ocassionally during the winter, but you'll have to stay on top of getting the leaves and stuff out with a leaf rake.

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I meant to keep pipes from freezing. It's already got a bunch of leaves in it, but within a few days it will get a ton of leaves from a couple of trees. Usually by now I have it closed and covered from the winter, but with low water and no cover its going to get trashed this winter.