swimming pool over winter

jimbo


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 150

Message Posted:
01/09/2008 16:36

Hi guys what do you do with your swimming pools over winter,can you turn them of and pay for the refill of the pool next year or will this damage it in any way . I say this as i am on builders electric and the rates are extortionate

kitty1


Joined: 15/03/2007
Posts: 683

Message Posted:
01/09/2008 17:35

Apparently (but I'm open to correction), you can do a lot of damage to your pool by not keeping it filled. I'm not sure how exactly, but I have heard that from a number of sources.



Anyone got any more advice?

brandy sour


Joined: 09/04/2008
Posts: 310

Message Posted:
01/09/2008 17:36

Hi jimbo

Just for interest how long have you been on builders electric.

jimbo


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 150

Message Posted:
01/09/2008 18:02

what i am saying is keep the pool filled but switch off the electric .brandy sour i have been on builders electric for about 3 months is this too long as i am not to sure

dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
01/09/2008 18:19

I remember being told once that if you empty the pool the sun may crack the tiles and the walls could collapse from lack of pressure.

True or not I do not know but hope it helps.

brandy sour


Joined: 09/04/2008
Posts: 310

Message Posted:
01/09/2008 18:51

No jimbo our complex has been on builders electric for a year or more so 3 months is nothing really .

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
01/09/2008 19:32

Been on it over 2 years and still no sign.



Friends have been on for nearly 4 years!!!!!!!



On 3 months afraid you are just an amateur.

rtddci


Joined: 29/12/2007
Posts: 842

Message Posted:
01/09/2008 19:38

Might be worth an email to 'Mr Fixit', Nick Bointon, he writes articles in Cyprus Today re plumbing issues. email ct.mrfixit@yahoo.com

His article Aug 23rd says he likes to avoid work on pools but gives advice on a common problem re cloudiness.

jimbo


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 150

Message Posted:
01/09/2008 20:39

Not good news about the electric, thats why i ask the question about turning of the pool over winter as i will not be coming out to cyprus until next year

david123


Joined: 07/07/2008
Posts: 393

Message Posted:
01/09/2008 21:24

Hi jimbo,



depends on where your place is,but try Glenco they have the best pool team in trnc and can give good advice, the contact is Greg on 05338444722.



David

jimbo


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 150

Message Posted:
02/09/2008 00:39

Does anyone one turn off there pools over the winter to save on there electric bill

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
02/09/2008 10:05

Jimbo,



Do the sums and you will find that at normal domestic tariff the cost of the electricity you save by switching off the power in the autumn will be spent cleaning and refilling your pool next spring.

However, with the new rates and especially builders rate, the sums could work out.



Vaughan

Octopus Pools

jimbo


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 150

Message Posted:
03/09/2008 17:30

Thanks TRNCVaughan but at £100 month just to the run the pool i reckon i should turn it off but will it do any damage to the pumps/filter etc .

jessy


Joined: 04/12/2007
Posts: 289

Message Posted:
04/09/2008 17:39

The cost of cleaning your pool if emptied after the winter will be significant, you may even need it acid washed depending on the debri from winter. Plus filling your pool again could need upto 3-4 tankers. you just need to work out the costs.And you know what its like if you dont use something like your pump it might just corrode.

ataturk


Joined: 09/09/2008
Posts: 712

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 23:03

Just thought I would post this but my friend who has a house in Bellapais comes over for a month every year and when he goes back he covers the pool with a good quality tarpaulin purchased from the greek side( made to measure) and puts some winter chemicals in to last until he comes back. Then he gets it treated for around £100 cleans it himself when hes hear on holiday and then does the same again the following year.



Also a point on pools cracking when they are emptied. This is utter rubbish as the pool is empty while it is being built (mine has been empty for 6 months and it is tiled as well) Please note that the walls will not collpase as they are reinforced they didnt collapse while they were being built.



The guy I mentioned above has a brother who empties his pool every year and he has no problems at all. This is simply a rumour spread by pool cleaning companies. This is information is supplied to me by my surveyor who I built the pool with and raised all these questions with him.



Hope this helps

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 23:35

Wit due respect to Ataturk,



I would like to offer this alternative view...



I hope that Vaughan will correct any of the following that is wrong, but I offer it as being correct - In My Humble Opinion -



The problem of 'Pools cracking' when emptied is normally attributable to a very high water table in the surrounding soil - most likely because the pool had had a leak for an extended period of time. The result is that the surrounding soil becomes saturated with water - in effect you end up with Water which contains SOME Soil!



If the Pool is emptied, it becomes like an empty Boat, and tries to 'float' in the surrounding water. It will not (quite) manage this, of course, but the resultant stresses (in directions not considered by the pool designer) can cause a lot of damage.



I would not attempt, myself, to do a cost analysis vis-a-vis water replacement / restorative maintenance, and leave that to those who are better informed.



Best regards,



Keith.

perry


Joined: 27/01/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
09/09/2008 23:46

Hello Jim - We are on domestic electric and we always leave our pool full. We do, however have it covered with a good quality pool cover (this also really helps in summer with evaporation as well when we are not there). In the winter it is covered, chemicals balanced weekly, and the pump frequency turned right down to a few hours per day to keep the water turning periodically. This seemed to work very well for us over last winter.

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 10:33

Hi Ataturk,



Keith is right. Pools in high water table areas should have hydrostatic relief valves built into the main drain to prevent "boating". Chances of them being included in a TRNC pool are NIL.

There are also long term risks with leaving a pool empty in that any movement in the ground surrounding a pool could cause stresses to the pool carcass, which may lead to hairline cracking. These lead to leaks and the soil near a leak can "wash away" leaving an area of the pool unsupported, which in turn further stresses the pool.

It's all about risk/cost/benefit analysis. If you think it's OK, go ahead and let me know how you get on.

wireless


Joined: 10/08/2008
Posts: 157

Message Posted:
11/09/2008 02:04

Ataturk & Keith



With respect - a high water table in Cyprus? You are joking of course! Cyprus is currently at 17% of that is 17% of not 17% down - 17% OF water reserves - we pray for high a water tables - actually a water table at all would be good.



the reality is that if a pool is emptied and the sum gets to the tiling then the dryness will cause cracking and leaks - however a good pool cover will mitigate this



ps I am not a pool expert but I do know there is no such thing as a high water table in Cyprus anymore

jimbo


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 150

Message Posted:
14/09/2008 23:33

thanks guys for the info any one know where to get a decent pool cover and what do you do to hold them down as i am very niave in this sort of thing as in i have a pool, i know how to swim in it ,but aint got a clue how it works

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
15/09/2008 08:58

Try the upholsterer on Karaoglanoglu industrial estate.

CJtill


Joined: 02/05/2008
Posts: 836

Message Posted:
15/09/2008 09:30

Why not just leave the water in the pool until next year(running the pump for 1 hour per day to stop seizing up) and then shock it with Chlorine about April and clean in the normal way.

Michael