Pool opening on the way!

[simsjim]

Hi CarlD

Sorry to hear about your back, hope you get well soon.

Just curious, you mentioned no filling required. Do you lower the water in the winter below the skimmers? I always do that because the first year I was in this home (and the first time I owned an i/g pool) I hired a pool service company to close. (knowing I was going to watch very carefully and do it myself in subsequent years) Anyway, they explained that lowering the water and blowing the water out of the plumbing lines is recommended here in PA to avoid possible leaks from water expanding into ice and bursting joins and such in the plumbing.

So, is that all just malarke? Do I not have to drain my pool to below the skimmers/preasure side outlets when I close? It seems a waste to just drain so much of that water that we spend a week superchorinationg and balancing to close.

Curious to hear from you. You are someone whose posts I often read closely...

Thanks,
James

[CarlD]

Hi CarlD
Curious to hear from you. You are someone whose posts I often read closely...

Well, Thank You! It's always nice to hear that--we all try very hard to help each other.

Not malarkey at all. Ice expands and breaks pipes. He's telling you the honest truth.

That is, if you haven't removed them, drained them and placed them in the basement, as I do. I have a lot of TigerFlex so I roll it all up. My pool, in the winter has plugs in the returns and drains, an Aquador over the skimmer, and a Gizmo in the skimmer. But no pipes.

Not everybody can do that so they have to blow out in-ground pipes and put in safe anti-freeze to protect them.

I DO have solar panels connected by flexible hoses. I pull strategic ones and blow out the panels. Those hoses have a lot of give in case water gets in them.

As for the pool--I lower the water below the returns and skimmer--about 2" below the lowest (but not my low drain). I have a mesh safefty cover so the water goes through it into the pool. I check it every month or so and, if necessary, syphon off extra water. This winter I didn't need to, and the rain filled it nicely. But remember: When I do that the water has no pipes to flow into where it can freeze.

[simsjim]

Well, I have a lot of TigerFlex so I roll it all up.

Not everybody can do that so they have to blow out in-ground pipes and put in safe anti-freeze to protect them.

As for the pool--I lower the water below the returns and skimmer--about 2" below the lowest (but not my low drain).

Thanks for the reply....now that makes perfect sense! I dont have that option as I have an I/G and my pipes are, well, in the ground....

I have been blowing out the lines and capping the pipes and using gizmos, but just wanted to make sure.

Thanks Again!
James

[CarlD]

Glad to help!

We get SO much nonsense from pool stores and pool "professionals" it's hard to know when they are dead-on correct and when they are full of it.

The pros who are members here are the Good Guys, or learn to become Good Guys, or they leave --either voluntarily or involutarily.

The ones that last are full of both knowledge and interesting insights from the industry side.

There are SO many ways to waste money on your pool, so we work hard to help people figure out what is valid, and what isn't. Plus, what is valid for one person isn't for another. It depends on your pool, your budget, your level of experience and expertise, and your personal preferences for convenience and expenditure.