Winterising my Swimming Pool

canavar


Joined: 09/12/2009
Posts: 30

Message Posted:
09/09/2011 16:41

I am currently having a winter cover made for the pool, the aim being to save money on cleaning and electricity, mainly electricity.



I understand that there are certain shock chemicals which can be aaded to the pool water, and once circulated the pump can be switched off and the pool covered. This should be sufficient until the pool is re-opened in the summer when more chemicals are added, and once circulated the pool is ready for use.



I do not know what chemicals are required, and in what quantities, nor do i know what the proces is to shut down the pool, does the pump need draining etc, etc. I am therefore looking for someone experienced to do this for me.



Assuming the above is possible, my question is how much does it cost to winterise (shut down), and summerise (re-open the pool). Can someone be recommended for the job



Any info appreciated !!!

yrret


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 761

Message Posted:
10/09/2011 10:03

canavar,

Covering your pool will only keep out larger sized debris. Winter cobvers are great in places like the UK where you may get loads of autumn leaves in the pool. but all you gat in Cy is dust which hoovers really easy.

A cover in Cy is better suited to the summer to stop evapouration, and retain heat around Sept/Oct time so it can be used more.

You can add som ething like HTH shock treatment, but it does little more than throwing in a full kg of chlorine.

With the cover on, you will need to run the pump, maybe only 2 hours a day, but I only run mine that long in the winter without a cover, and get away with adding Cl once a week unless it gets really hot for a week.

Actually with a cover, you will probably need to run it more as the water will be warmer, so bacteria will grow better, so it will need more circulation, and chemicals.

The cover will ned to come off at least once a mont to check the water and hoover.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
10/09/2011 10:48

So what is the best solution for people like myself , who just come out a few times a year , at the moment we get the pool sorted and filled up everytime we come out . We do have a cover but it doesn't get used .

Thanks , Simbas

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
10/09/2011 11:37

Surely Simbas, to keep refilling the pool and sorting every time must be more expensive than keeping the pool 'ticking' over?



Sounds illogical to keep refilling.... or do you mean just topping up the pool?

yrret


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 761

Message Posted:
10/09/2011 11:49

Msg 3

There is not much difference between the needs of an unused pool to those of a used pool (prodided in a used pool you don't let people in with suncreams on).

In both cases they are exposed to the elements, subshine to degrade the Cl, alkalinity changes when topped up.



The ideal I guess for anyone responsible enough would be to fill in a pool that is only used a handful of times a year, and accept that whilst the authorities don't have enough ability to access water useage in these situations, grown ups do.

Do a quick calc please Simbas, just for a laugh.

Work out how much you spent having your pool built, plus the running costs since it was first filled, then divide by approx the number of days you have spent in Cy using it. Will make interesting reading for many I am sure.



A neighbour of some friends of our did this, and worked out it had cost him over over gbp 50 a time to swim in his, and he was there a lot.

yrret


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 761

Message Posted:
10/09/2011 12:37

A quick calc:

gbp65 a month costs x 12 months = 780

780 / 28 days a year holidays (when it’s warm) = gbp27 a day to swim.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
10/09/2011 12:43

Simbas, sorry but getting your pool sorted and filled every time you come out is hardly environmentally friendly as regards water shortages is it .

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
10/09/2011 16:39

I whole heartedly agree with you , but not much i can do i'm afraid , when we arrive our water has gone !!! water fairy maybe ??.

Simbas

yrret


Joined: 17/08/2010
Posts: 761

Message Posted:
11/09/2011 10:05

when we arrive our water has gone !!!



Maybe a leak, where is the water level down to when you arrive?

canavar


Joined: 09/12/2009
Posts: 30

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 15:48

I am lead to beiieve that winterising the pool is a common practice in the USA. A strong dose of chemicals keeps the pool going throughout the winter without the need for circulation, then when the pool is required another strong dose of chemicals is added and circulated.



What else would the winterising kits be for then ?



Surely there must be some experts in TRNC, or are you all members of the pool cleaning cartel

andy2b123


Joined: 21/12/2010
Posts: 141

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 16:42

Why spend money on a cover ? Just run the pump for at least 1Hr. a day . You can add less chlorine as its not in use but enough to stop it going green.

When you want to swim again it only takes 3 to 4 days to get the pool back to crystal clear and chemical correct

Tiggy


Joined: 25/07/2007
Posts: 1994

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 17:23

Simbas,



make sure it is topped up for when I arrive next month!



LOL



Patrick

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 17:26

Simbas where does your water go to? you say its gone, gone where? leaks, stollen?...



Surely the pool wouldn't need filling up every visit?

carian


Joined: 13/03/2009
Posts: 336

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 17:31

At this time of year the water evaporates rapidly we were told about 2 tons a week. In winter my husband does the same as message 13.

carian


Joined: 13/03/2009
Posts: 336

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 17:32

Sorry that should read message 11 !!!!

ginty


Joined: 11/03/2009
Posts: 228

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 18:22

I have a pool in the uk and i shock it in the autumn, put the winter cover on and leave it until the spring, it does take about 3 days to come crystal clear but saves a lot of money

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 19:02

Msg 12 , everything will be sorted

Simbas

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 19:09

Msg 13 , no leaks , the 1st couple of years , it was retained and covered , then when you left i think they use to take the water to fill someone elses pool , now i think the security man , empties some of it , and uses the rest to water the plants around the site . Won't swear to it though .

Simbas

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 19:40

Flipping eck, what goings on... .... Would have a word with that so called security man if I were you...

So what you are saying is the site you are on is having its gardens watered off your good nature and your money....Nice one ....

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 19:59

I'm a kind soul i am This time i have Spanish Pools coming to sort it out and maintain it for us , he will be able to tell me how to go about retaining the water I'm sure.

Simbas

dizzycows


Joined: 12/05/2009
Posts: 2736

Message Posted:
12/09/2011 20:58

All the best then, ..... nothing worse than others taking advantage of being kind...

canavar


Joined: 09/12/2009
Posts: 30

Message Posted:
15/09/2011 16:28

Message 16 - that's what I am talking about, thanks Ginty.



All other comments seem to be off thread, I guess the experts are away, or not willing to comment, or probably as mentioned earlier are members of the pool cleaners cartel.



As mentioned before these winterising kits are available for sale in the UK, and I guess in TRNC, it's also common practice in the USA.



Does nobody in TRNC shut down thier pool in this way ???

ginty


Joined: 11/03/2009
Posts: 228

Message Posted:
15/09/2011 16:42

i think the problem in cyprus is that is is so hot, the algae will grow a lot quicker than UK ,so be prepared for a very green pool in the spring, but saying that is will soon go clear with treatment. Why dont you get a pool man to treat it perhaps once a fortnight and run the pump for an hour a day . they cannot charge too much for that especially if they going to your next door neighbour

austrnc


Joined: 15/09/2011
Posts: 38

Message Posted:
15/09/2011 17:22

on a similar note... can anyone suggest the correct amount of time to run the filter for over the winter months?

coffer


Joined: 13/02/2007
Posts: 292

Message Posted:
15/09/2011 17:48

canavar, We finish swimming around the end of Nov each year. Give the pool a final clean and put in 2 bottles of Zeroclor. The cover goes on and we leave it until end of april normally. We do nothing else other than ensure the over flow for the balance tank is kept clear during periods of heavy rain. Never had a problem since we introduced closing down 2 years ago. In april it takes about 2 weeks to get the pool back to sparkling clean! A good scrub down followed by several backwashes does the trick!

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
15/09/2011 19:00

Combined with monitoring balance tank levels in the winter to avoid a flooded pump room in the event of heavy, sustained, winter rain the simplicity and economy of cost and effort as detailed at post 11 has, thankfully, work perfectly for us for 7 years.

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
15/09/2011 20:20

message 22.



Not members of the pool cleaning cartel,were all IT Analysts sit at a desk all day !



Message 25 says it all and it could not be easier.



I was hoping and waiting for some one to come along and say what me and david was thinking.



Why did we not comment !



Because theres always some smart ass who would say that it will not work,the people who use the product that way for Winterising know it does work.Better to come from a customer than us.



Happy chlorine free swimming folks



http:www.zerochlor.co.uk

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
15/09/2011 20:30

Msg25

Thanks for the thumbs up Robert on how easy it is to Winterise your pool using zerochlor.



happy chlorine free swimming folks



http://www.zerochlor.co.uk

zerochlor


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 4024

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 08:06

Sounds like a great offer .



Winterise your swimming pool for £44.



It works for message 25 and others.



Happy chlorine free swimming folks



http://www.zerochlor.co.uk

Salamisboy


Joined: 20/03/2011
Posts: 54

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 09:07

AFAICS there is no indication on the zerochlor website of either cost or where available.

0maintenance


Joined: 22/09/2010
Posts: 2179

Message Posted:
16/09/2011 09:10

salamisboy



05338305302



please give us a call.