How to Guides Winterize an Above Ground Pool
Main Menu
| | Print | |
|
HOW TO WINTERIZE AN ABOVE GROUND POOL CHECK LIST CHLORINE/SALT POOL (salt does not work in temperatures below 70 degrees & unit is off during winter) BALANCERS IF NEEDED i.e. alkalinity increaser/decreaser pH increaser/decreaser calcium increaser FILTER CLEANER 5 LBS SHOCK 4 LBS CHLORINE TABLETS W/FLOATER 1 QT ALGAECIDE PER 10,000 GAL 1 QT CLARIFIER PER 10,000 GAL 1 QT MINERAL STAIN OUT PER 10,000 GAL 1 QT NATURAL ENZYME TREATMENT PER 10,000 GAL 3 GALLONS ANTIFREEZE RUBBER PLUGS (#8, #9 OR #10 FOR EACH LINE) AIR PILLOW AND ROPE COVER, WINCH AND CABLE COVERSAVER PUMP BAQUACIL BALANCERS IF NEEDED i.e. alkalinity increaser/decreaser pH increaser/decreaser calcium increaser FILTER CLEANER 1 GAL SHOCK PER 10,000 GAL OF WATER 1/2 GAL SANITIZER PER 10,000 GAL 1 QT ALGAECIDE PER 10,000 GAL 1 QT CLARIFIER PER 10,000 GAL 1 METAL CONTROL PER 10,000 GAL 1 QT NATURAL ENZYME TREATMENT PER 10,000 GAL 3 GALLONS ANTIFREEZE RUBBER PLUGS (#8, #9 OR #10 FOR EACH LINE) AIR PILLOW AND ROPE COVER, WINCH AND CABLE COVERSAVER PUMP HOW TO WINTERIZE AN ABOVE GROUND POOL *************** IMPORTANT *************** IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE, READ AND DO EVERYTHING IN RED BECAUSE THIS IS A MUST!! NOTE IF YOUR POOL LOOKS BAD OR YOUR WATER IS NOT PROPERLY BALANCED WHEN YOUR READY TO CLOSE. IT WILL LOOK EVEN WORSE WHEN YOU OPEN IT, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE CHEMICAL COST, LABOR & LINER DAMAGE. CLEAN 1. VACUUM WALLS AND FLOOR. 2. BRUSH WALLS AND FLOOR. 3. BACKWASH AND RINSE FILTER. CHEMICALLY CLEAN FILTER 1. RUN A FILTER CLEANER TREATMENT THROUGH YOUR FILTER SO IT WILL BE CLEAN AND READY FOR NEXT YEAR. THIS WILL STRIP BODY OILS, SUNTAN LOTIONS, COSMETICS, TREE, PLANT, GRASS SAPS AND OTHER GREASY CONTAMINATES THAT WILL CAUSE SAND, CARTRIDGE AND DE FILTER GRIDS TO CALCIFY & SOLIDIFY FROM SITTING ALL WINTER. SO CLEAN IT NOW WHILE THESE CONTAMINATES ARE SOFT AND EASY TO BREAK-DOWN. BALANCE WATER (NOTE: TEST AND TREAT POOL IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER) 1. A. IF LOW, GOODBYE CHLORINE! (ACIDIC WATER, LINER DRYROT, FADING, PLASTER ETCHES, STAINING & CORROSION OCCURS) ADD 1.5 LBS OF ALKALINITY INCREASER FOR EVERY 10,000 GAL OF WATER TO RAISE ALKALINITY 10PPM. (example: to raise alkalinity from 80ppm to 120ppm in 20,000 gallons of water, you need to raise your alkalinity 40ppm which will take 12lbs of alkalinity increaser.) B. IF HIGH, CHLORINE WILL NOT WORK! (SCALE FORMS AND WATER CLOUDS) ADD pH/ALKALINITY DECREASER OR MURIATIC ACID IN SMALL AMOUNTS BUT FREQUENTLY 2. pH-IDEAL RANGE-(7.4-7.6ppm) A. IF LOW, GOODBYE CHLORINE! (ACIDIC WATER, LINER DRYROT, FADING, PLASTER ETCHES, STAINING & CORROSION OCCURS) ADD pH INCREASER AS PER INSTRUCTIONS. Note: There is no standard for raising or lowering pH. This depends upon too many other factors. For example if the TA (total alkalinity) is high it will take more acid to lower pH than if the TA is low. the reverse is also true. There is no standard for lowering TA. Generally though you will want to add acid in small volumes of say 1-2 pints per 10k gallons. The amount again depends upon how high the TA is when you start, if very high say above 180ppm you can add the higher dose and if lower add a smaller dose. After adding wait 24hrs and recheck pH and TA. If pH is above 7.2 and TA is still high repeat the process. Over a few days the TA will drop. Attempting to do this with large doses of acid at one time will only cause sharp drops in pH which can damage pool liners, plaster, plumbing and equipment and irritate swimmers. HOW TO WINTERIZE AN ABOVE GROUND POOL 3. A. IF LOW, CORROSIVE WATER! (ETCHES PLASTER, CORRODES METALS, WATER FOAMS, YOU FEEL SLIMY) ADD 1 LB OF CALCIUM INCREASER PER 10,000 GAL TO RAISE 10 PPM. B. IF HIGH, SCALE FORMS! (ROUGH DISCOLORED PLASTER, LIMES HEATER & PLUMBING). DRAIN OR PARTIALLY DRAIN POOL IF SOURCE WATER IS NOT HIGH IN CALCIUM THEN ADD 1 QT OF MINERAL STAIN OUT PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. SANITIZE & SHOCK 1. (CHLORINE) A. FILL FLOAT FEEDER WITH CHLORINE TABLETS & ADJUST TO THE LOWEST SETTING. B. SHOCK WITH 3 LB PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. 2. (BAQUACIL) A. 1/2 GAL SANITIZER PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. B. 1 GAL SHOCK PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. ALGAECIDES/CLARIFIERS/SEQUESTERING AGENTS 1. (CHLORINE) A. ADD 1QT OF ALGAECIDE PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. B. ADD 1 QT OF CLARIFIER PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. C. ADD 1 QT OF MINERAL STAIN OUT PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE ON WELL WATER! D. ADD 1 QT OF NATURAL ENZYME PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. 2. (BAQUACIL) A. ADD 5 1/4 OZ OF BAQUACIL ALGAECIDE PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. B. ADD 1 BOTTLE OF BAQUACIL METAL CONTROL PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE ON WELL WATER! C. ADD 1 QT CLARIFIER PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. D. ADD 1 QT NATURAL ENZYME PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. WINTERIZE PLUMBING 1. DISCONNECT HOSES FROM AUTOMATIC SKIMMER & RETURN WALL FITTING AND LET POOL DRAIN DOWN FROM THESE OPENINGS. EQUIPMENT 1. CLEAN AND REMOVE SCUM LINE FROM LINER. 2. REMOVE FREEZE PLUGS FROM PUMP & FILTER & LET DRAIN. 3. AUTOMATIC CHLORINATOR-REMOVE CHLORINE TABLETS AND DRAIN PLUG (USUALLY 1) 4. HEATER-REMOVE DRAIN PLUGS OPEN PETCOCK VALVES DISCONNECT PRESSURE SWITCH (look for 1/4” copper line located behind door up and under) TURN GAS VALVE KNOB TO OFF POSITION TURN THERMOSTAT DOWN 5. REMOVE FILTER SAND. 6. YOU MAY LEAVE EQUIPMENT OUTSIDE OR STORE INSIDE. HOW TO WINTERIZE AN ABOVE GROUND POOL ANTIFREEZE 1. TO PROTECT YOUR POOLS LINER AND STRUCTURE, TAKE 3 GALLONS OF POOL ANTIFREEZE AND POUR OUT JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW AIR IN THE TAPERED NECK PORTION ONLY SO THAT THEY WILL FLOAT IN THE WATER AT THE PROPER LEVEL. TIP-Do not pour out too much, otherwise the jugs will float too high in the water and when the water starts to freeze they will be pushed up on top of the ice which will in turn defeat the purpose. THIS PROCEDURE IS VITAL BECAUSE WHEN THE WATER FREEZES, THIS ALLOWS THE ANTIFREEZE JUGS TO TAKE THE EXPANSION OF THE ICE. THIS SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE PROCEDURE SAVES YOU MONEY AVOIDING DAMAGE TO YOUR POOL AND YOU’LL EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR POOLS LINER AND STRUCTURE. SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT BY FLOATING TIRE INNER TUBES, FIRE WOOD LOGS AND OTHER INFLATABLES, THAT THEY ARE DOING BASICALLY THE SAME THING. NO!! IT IS NOT THE SAME THING! INFLATABLES FLOAT ON TOP OF THE WATER AND WOOD WILL NOT GIVE BECAUSE IT IS A SOLID OBJECT. YOU GET ABSOLUTELY NO BENEFIT FROM EITHER ONE OF THESE ITEMS. NOTE: DO NOT USE AUTOMOBILE ANTIFREEZE BECAUSE IT IS VERY TOXIC AND PETROLEUM BASED AND WILL RUIN YOUR LINER, PLASTER AND EQUIPMENT! COVER 1. BEFORE COVERING POOL, TIE 4’ x 4’ OR 4’ X 8’ AIR PILLOW IN TO SUSPEND COVER SO THAT WATER AND DEBRIS WILL STAY CLOSE TO PERIMETER OF POOLS EDGE MAKING IT EASIER TO DRAIN OFF EXCESS WATER AND DEBRIS REMOVAL. 2. COVER POOL & SECURE WITH CABLE & WRENCH , YOU MAY TIE JUGS PARTICALLY FILLED WITH SAND OR DIRT TO COVER GROMMETS FROM OUTSIDE FOR ADDED SECURITY. 3. ADD 2 INCHES OF WATER ON TOP OF COVER TO KEEP IT DOWN SO THAT WIND WILL NOT CATCH IT. 4. YOU WILL NEED A COVER SAVER PUMP TO REMOVE EXCESS WATER FROM COVER THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS. THIS WILL EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE COVER. *************** IMPORTANT *************** DO NOT LET MORE THAN 4” TO 6” OF WATER ACCUMULATE ON YOUR COVER OR IT WILL FALL IN FROM THE EXTREME WEIGHT DUMPING DEBRIS IN YOUR CLEAN POOL CAUSING A LOT OF WORK LATER PLUS CAUSING STRESS AND WEAR ON COVER, RESULTING IN TEARS AND HOLES WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. DO NOT LET DEBRIS SET ON COVER LONG ENOUGH TO BREAK DOWN AND DECAY. THIS WILL DETERIORATE THE COVER WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, PLUS THIS WINTER BOOSTER TREATMENT TO INSURE LESS WORK AND A CLEANER, CLEARER POOL WHEN OPENING THE FOLLOWING SPRING, YOU’LL NEED TO GIVE YOUR POOL A BOOSTER TREATMENT. YOU SEE, YOUR POOL LIES DORMANT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN BACTERIA AND ALGAE CAN’T GROW. BUT AS WE HEAD INTO SPRING, THE DAYS ARE GETTING LONGER THUS, SUBJECTING YOUR POOL TO MORE SUNLIGHT AND WARMER TEMPERATURES WHICH PROMOTES BACTERIA AND ALGAE GROWTH. ALSO SPRING WEATHER BRINGS SPORES AND POLLENS FROM BUDDING TREES, PLANTS AND GRASSES NOT TO MENTION MOLDS AS A RESULT FROM THE SPRING RAINS WHICH BECOME AIR BORN AND FURTHER CONTAMINATE YOUR POOLS WATER AND DILUTE ANY TRACE CHEMICALS THAT MAY BE LEFT. IF YOU WERE TO LOOK UNDER YOUR POOLS COVER IN FEBRUARY, THE WATER IS PROBABLY STILL CLEAR BUT THE NEXT 60 DAYS ARE CRITICAL BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN YOUR POOL WILL GO THROUGH A METAMORPHOSIS CHANGING FROM CLEAN TO GREEN, COSTING YOU MORE MONEY AND TIME TO CORRECT. TRUST US, THIS SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE TREATMENT REALLY WORKS! CHLORINE POOL BAQUACIL POOL ADD: 2 QTS ALGAECIDE ADD: 1 QT ALGAECIDE 2 QTS CLARIFIER 2 QTS CLARIFIER 2 QTS STAIN & SCALE 2 METALCONTROL 5 LBS SHOCK 2 GAL SHOCK FILL FLOAT FEEDER WITH CHLORINE TABLETS 2 SANITIZERS STIR WITH POOL BRUSH STIR WITH POOL BRUSH REMEMBER, THE BETTER INFORMED AND EDUCATED YOU ARE, THE MORE YOU’LL LOVE YOUR SWIMMING POOL AND WE’LL HAVE A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE. RESPECTFULLY, THE SWIMMING POOL PEOPLE CRYSTAL CLEAR POOLS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT
911 E. MacArthur * ph 405.214.7665 fax 405.273.2933 e-mail
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
website crystalclearpoolsspas.com |
