In the fall, we get a lot of questions from our friends who live in the colder climates. Some have in-ground pools and many have above-ground pools. Some people do it themselves and others hire a professional. In most cases, preparing a pool for sub-zero temperatures involves adding a few chemicals, draining the equipment, and partially draining the pool. In all cases, the goal is to have a pool that, come spring, doesn’t look like a scene from a Scary Movie.
If you’re lucky enough to have a saltwater pool, here’s the short version of what we recommend: Start with a clean filter and a clear pool with well-balanced water. Timing is important and the idea is to minimize the idle pool’s exposure to sunlight and warm temperatures. Close it too early or open it too late and the algae will settle. For this reason, an opaque cover is preferable to a net. Cover your pool immediately after closing it and do not remove the cover until the sanitizer is working again.
Two to three days before closing, turn on your salt chlorinator at 100% and run your pump 24 hours a day. If you use algaecide, add a double dose on the last day. Drain the pool to a point below the jets and, if using, add antifreeze according to directions. If afternoon temperatures are still above 70, add a disposable chlorine float with only two or three of the holes drilled. Drain equipment and cover pool.
In the spring, as soon as the afternoon temps hit the sixties, pop the lid and toss in a new disposable chlorine float with three or four holes punched in it. Replace the cover. When the air temperature is consistently reaching the seventies, it’s time to open the pool, regardless of when it will be used for the first time. Dont wait!
These tips are provided by Don Uhle, president of PoolBids.com, a Houston-based company that has helped more than ten thousand homeowners become happy pool owners.