Anyway to not open the pool this summer?

[Poconos]

Welcome to the forum Ryan. Hope you keep checking in while you're gone.
If you don't do anything it will definitely turn green. Probably deep dark green. This may be acceptable but keep the pH up. See comment below. First thing would be to get the equipment hooked up and functional so you can circulate. Next thing I would do is get the pump on a timer. If it's a 120 volt pump you can get a very decent Intermatic digital timer with battery backup at Home Depot for under $30. If it's a 240 volt pump then you're talking more $$ for a timer but still around $60 for the mechanical type I believe. If you can kick the water around for an hour a day or so that would help. Having someone come around every week or so to check the FC and pH would really help. To make it easier on this person stock up on several boxes of Borax and maybe a dozen big jugs of bleach. In any case it will take time to 'calibrate' what the pool wants to do in your absence. You don't want the pH to go acidic so before you leave bring it up to 8 or so. Some people may recommend using floaters and may have other ideas. The trees should be done dumping so there may be no concern about a skimmer basket filling and blocking. You may also want to put your filter on recirculate if you can so you don't need to be concerned about the pressure rising too high and requiring a backwash. You didn't say what kind of filter.
If you can come home periodically, every few weeks or so, that would be nice. These are some of my initial thoughts. Let's see what you and others think.
Al

[ryan44827]

Thanks for the detailed reply. My pump is a 120v unit with a sand filter. I could get everything all hooked up and setup with a timer to circulate the water. Would there be anyway to leave the winter cover on through out the summer. My backyard is terrible with the trees and anytime we get any type of wind everything seems to collect in the pool.... I have someone that can check on the pool while I am gone but I don't want to hassle them with having to get all the cleaning equipment out all the time.

[Poconos]

Yes to leaving the cover on. My thinking is that would keep the temperature a little lower maybe, keep the debris out, and keep sunlight out which should help slow algae growth. Maybe every few weeks or so it may help to have your friend shock it.
Al

[ryan44827]

Thanks again for the info. Hopefully it will work out with leaving the cover on. Alot of great information on this forum. Thanks again!

[Watermom]

The only thing about shocking it with the cover on is that the fumes may damage the cover. If it is easy, maybe they can lift up a corner of the cover for awhile after shocking to let it vent and then recover it a day or two later? (Make sure you aren't expecting stormy weather at the time the corner is peeled back so the wind won't get under it and pull it off.)

One other thing, you might want to add some Polyquat 60% algaecide. It doesn't do too much for you if you already have algae, but it is a pretty good preventative.

[Watermom]

OK. After I posted above suggesting that you use Polyquat 60% algaecide, I started thinking -- filtering will just remove the polyquat. So, I talked to Ben about your situation, and here is his recommendation for you:


I would use polyquat to maintain an unopened pool in summer. But the process I'd follow is this:

1. Hold the chlorine above 10 (if vinyl, not too far above!) for a few days with the cover partially off. After the first day or two brush the pool to make sure you have exposed any algae.
2. Let the chlorine drop to 3 and replace the pool cover.
3. Let the chlorine continue to drop to 1, and then begin adding weekly maintenance doses of of polyquat.
4. If there's a pump timer, operate for 2 hours, 2x per day.
5. Both filtration and chlorine remove polyquat. So low chlorine and low filtration extend polyquat's life.
6. If clarity drops -- use a waterproof flashlight at night -- filter full for 24 hours.
7. If there's a slimy feel to the vinyl walls, or any sign of algae, restart the process.

There are other ways, but that should work.

[ryan44827]

Thanks again for the replies. I will have to try to do this with the cover on. I realize this may not be the best solution but I will not be the one doing the work and really would hate for the person doing it to go thru all the hassle with it. The pool has the fencing kit around the whole perimeter of the pool so just undoing the cover is a pain. The plan is get the pump hooked up next week and see how bad the water is, then go from there.