Winterizing and your Pool

What did they say I could do to keep my pool cleaner with my LOOP LOC cover? Oh yeah . . . add PRISTINE BLUE! Add Pristine Blue upon closing and again as soon as the ice thaws (that's the one people usually forget).

Do not overdose. If you currently use Pristine Blue, add it according to your test kit. If you don't use Pristine Blue routinely, add a half bottle at closing and add the rest in March prior to opening. Gunite pool owners should try Poly 60, one bottle in the Fall and one in the early Spring.

Don't forget . . .store your leftover Pristine Blue where it won't freeze. Of course, if you know how to make jewelry, you can leave it outside and you'll be left with some beautiful bright blue stones in which to work with (in case you're interested in jewelry, see examples on display at Family Pools). Your pool should be tested and balanced prior to closing to prevent any unnecessary staining. Gunite pool owners should make sure all leaves are removed from the pool and add Metal Muscle followed by Proteam Supreme or Poly 60 to help prevent staining and algae over the winter.

Forget how far down to drain the water? Gunite pools should be drained to 6" below the tile. Vinyl pools don't have to be drained at all unless you have a safety cover. Loop Loc recommends that pools be pumped down not more than 18" from the top of the deck. An automatic pump may be used to maintain the water level prior to freezing. You should not allow the pool to overflow. You should double check the level then remove your pump late Nov. or early Dec. Curious where to find a good quality pump? Where else silly . . . Family Pools. Please stop in and ask us which pump we think is right for you.

Is your safety pool cover beginning to wear around the edges? If so, pick up some inexpensive carpeting, cut it into 2ft strips, and place it under your cover once the cover is on the pool to protect it.

Make sure you clean your filter this Fall. All Diatomaceous Earth and Cartridge filters should be cleaned yearly. Cleaning is easier in the Fall than tackling ground-in stubborn dirt in the Spring. If you plan to clean your filter yourself, elect to clean it on your driveway rather ..............than your lawn. The cleaning solutions are acidic and will kill lawns and other plantings. If you have a Diatomaceous Earth filter you may soak the filter or use the spray-on Filter Cleaner available in our store. Simply hose down your filter, spray Filter Cleaner on full strength, let it sit for twenty minutes, then hose it down thoroughly. If you prefer, follow the directions on the bottle for soaking. Cartridge filters come cleaner if soaked in Muriatic Acid and water. Fill a bucket with water then add Muriatic Acid to make a ten percent solution of acid. Let the filter soak for twenty-four hours. Finally rinse the filter thoroughly. The price for having us clean your filter at our store is $45.00.

Where should you store your filter cartridges or DE elements for the winter? Let me tell you. Outside is NOT the best place. Outside, in the filter housing, or anywhere little critters roam are NOT your best choices. Also, if you store it in a garbage bag, please don't throw it away!

Lastly, keep that pool cover in tact! You know the possibilities. Rain, leaves, & snow all want to force your cover into the pool. If you have a regular cover, keep your cover cleaned & pumped off as much as possible before the freeze. Under one foot of water, simply pump the water off your cover. Over one foot of water, pump the water under the cover or add water to fill the pool as you pump off the top. Having water tube trouble? Stop in and see our AquaBloks, a water tube alternative or try cutting your water tubes in half and filling them with sand. Whatever you do, don't use concrete blocks unless, of course, you haven't met Tim the diver yet and you wish to. He is a very nice guy and he'll be glad to retrieve any fallen blocks for you for a reasonable fee. Hmmm...what would be reasonable to get into water that temperature? Brrrrr.

This notice doesn't mean stop swimming yet! Enjoy the rest of your summer!