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It is best to close your pool when the temperature of the water is consistently below 60 degrees. Once the water temperature drops below 60 degrees, microorganisms and algae cannot grow and become dormant for the winter season.
When should I close my above ground pool?
When to Winterize Your Above Ground Pool Depending on where you live, your closing times will vary. But as a rule, if temperatures typically drop, and stay, below 65°F (18°C) during the off season, wait until the temperature falls below that point to close.
Is it OK to leave a pool uncovered in winter?
People often avoid covering their pool for the winter because pool covers are an additional cost. However, an uncovered pool will cost you far more over the span of a few short years than a simple pool cover. For one thing, an uncovered pool will become a catch-all for leaves and debris.
Can you close a pool too early?
We recommend waiting to close your pool until the water temperature is consistently below 65 degrees. Closing too early will run the risk of algae growth.
What month should I open my pool?
The month of March is the BEST time to open your swimming pool. If you wait any longer for the temperature to rise higher than 65 degrees algae and other organics will start to grow.
When should I winterize my pool?
Most experts recommend waiting at least until temperature drops below 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) to winterize your pool. However, if you can wait longer until your pool is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), you will have a much lower risk of problems occurring.
Can I close my pool while its green?
If your pool has been green all season you’re probably super excited to close it. While it seems like the easiest option – it’s not! It’s much smarter to close your pool as clean as possible. Algae can grow in water as cold as 50 degrees.
What happens if you don’t winterize your pool?
If your pool equipment isn’t winterized, water can freeze inside of your pump, filter or heater damaging these components so it’s important to keep water flowing through your pool’s system the entire time the temperature is freezing. There are things you can do to prevent costly repairs and replacement: 1.
Can I close my pool with leaves in it?
Closing a pool with leaves or acorns in the bottom will likely lead to a stained pool bottom. Winterizing the Equipment and Piping-It is imperative that the equipment be properly winterized. Failing to winterize the pump and filter will likely lead to freeze damage resulting in costly repairs.
At what temperature does algae grow in pool water?
As I previously mentioned in my list of pool care essentials, having a thermometer to track your pool temperature is important because algae loves to grow in hotter temperatures––generally 85 degrees or above.
Do pools need chlorine in winter?
You do not need as much pool shock during winter as you normally would to achieve the same effect. The National Institutes of Health found that at normal summer water temperatures, the efficacy of chlorine was 2-3 times less than for water temperatures around 50 degrees. Your pool water pH level is important.
What temperature should I keep my pool at?
What Is the Perfect Temperature? Pool water temperatures typically run between 78 and 82 degrees. Any cooler than 78 and you will feel chilled when you exit the pool. Any warmer than 82 and the pool will feel like bath water.
How soon can you swim after opening pool?
Swim only after the floc has settled to the bottom of the pool and been vacuumed to waste. Depending on how much you have added and the size of your pool, it is generally safe to wait about 4 hours after adding liquid chlorine or until levels reach 5 ppm or lower.
What’s the coldest water you can swim in?
Fresh: This cold water range falls between 12 to 16 degrees and is considered to be the minimum temperature level to swim in safely.
How do I prepare my pool for winter?
Follow the steps below to prep your pool for the winter months. Step 1: Remove pool accessories. Step 2: Deep clean the pool. Step 3: Adjust the water chemistry. Step 4: Lower the water level. Step 5: Drain and store the equipment. Step 6: Add shock and algaecide. Step 7: Cover the pool.
Is a pool pillow necessary?
Pool air pillows are an essential part of winterizing an above-ground pool, especially if you live in a frosty climate. Without the pool pillow, the expanding ice will put pressure on the walls of your pool causing damage to the sides, the liner, and the cover.
What is pool closing?
Closing your pool means that your pool is not currently being used, but could be used again soon. When you close your pool you’re most likely not that concerned about freezing temperatures or about water staying behind in your lines or vessels (for example: pump, filter, heater, chlorinator, etc.).
Does leaving a pool cover on cause algae?
So while a solar cover won’t actually ‘turn your pool green’, it will warm your water by up to 8 degrees, so if the other conditions are right, adding a solar cover can easily accelerate algae growth, very rapidly. This will remove the phosphate build up, (the algae food), and thus, the algae starves.
Does algae grow in pool in winter?
Algae growth is stopped at temperatures below 40° F, but some algae can continue to survive, and like weeds in a lawn, can go dormant over the winter, coming back to life in early spring, weeks before you open the pool.
Can you use bleach in your pool instead of chlorine?
Short answer: yes. Longer answer: it depends on the formulation. The label on every bleach bottle should tell you the ratio of sodium hypochlorite (and available chlorine) in the bottle to everything else. A higher percentage is generally better, as you’ll need to use less bleach to treat your pool.
What happens if pool water freezes?
Mild climate pools often freeze across the surface overnight. However, if the ice sheet becomes thicker than ¼” to ½”, it will put pressure on your pool tile and skimmers as the ice expands. Ice can crack tile or loosen the grout, letting small pieces of tile come loose.
