Last year in Dallas, TX our pump was running fine but it was sucking in ice as the top layer of the pool was forming ice. We had a freezing storm by for a few days. I'm hoping putting a solar pool cover will help or a black corrugated plastic hose in the pool will prevent icing up.
I just installed a sauna, and plan on keeping pool open all winter. We like to cold plunge after getting really hot. As of today Nov. 15, I require only one puck per week for chlorine. Perfectly clear. I have a variable speed pump and keep it at 3 of 10. I drained the fountain lines and only kept the buried lines in the circulation. Will run pump on freezing nights. Last winter we had 53 nights of below freezing nights. Live in the Toronto area.
@@MikeLousteau1 Mike, this winter was milder,and had no problems. The ice freezes the surface completely and i keep the variable speed pump running at less than half speed to circulate below the ice. Works fine. If there is a power failure, i have back up generator. The unintended benefit my wife and i really like is that we don't look at a dark covered pool all winter. We have our pool lights on .
@@SwimUniversity I treat my pools basically the same in the winter as I do in the summer except for trichlor tab usage. I switch out to liquid chlorine or cal hypo tabs so the stabilizer reading lowers in the winter. So I don’t have to fight high stabilizer in the summer then have to partially drain my pools. Also I can set the chlorine output down to 25% in my salt pools. We have a lot of trees where I have my pool route, so I still keep my pools running 8-10 hours a day to try and limit debris falling to the bottom of the pools that create stains, let the skimmers do their job. Winter here is much more physically intensive with all the trees around. Weather here is crazy too, 1 day it can be 80’s then we get a cold front and drop it down to the 40’s, too much fluctuation with the temperature.
@@SwimUniversity you should definitely mention stabilizer, extremely important especially for southern states. Here it’s swim season from April to early October.
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. Here in Delaware I never leave my pool open. We have major deep freezes here. Keep the content coming. Hope you have an amazing day
Atlanta here with 24” AGP. Rarely get below freezing. Can I winterize, close pump down but not cover. Winter temps average around 50. I can float chlorine tabs and clean with robot cause not many leaves. I just wanna look at my pool year round.
I get the concept of keeping the pool “open” through the winter and using the heater to keep it above 40°F so it won’t freeze, but what if I actually want to swim while it’s well below freezing outside? If you have an ICF pool with a 400,000 btu gas heater and an automatic cover, would that be enough to keep the water at above 72°F even if it’s, let’s say 0°F?
I am in New York, I have customers that swim In 5 degree weather [outside], we run the filter/heaters 24.7 as soon as it starts getting down into the upper 30s at night. Biggest problem is most people shut the hose spigot for the winter, when it's 20 degrees and the pool is 84 you evaporate a ton of water.
@alejandrodebasilio1606 my only other advice is if you have earth/cartridge filters clean them before it gets too cold, if you lose flow your heater won't fire. Also if it's 20 degrees with a chill, grids/fingers/cartridges will freeze as you are cleaning them.
I have not heard you discuss the alkalinity when CYA is high. When I use my test kit at home the alkalinity looks perfect, but when I take sample in to pool store, the Alkalinity is less than half what I tested and the CYA is very high.
We just got pool put in here in PA. 500k btu propane pool heater with 1000 gallon underground tank means that we are open all year. Jan and Feb I’m sure it’s going to cost 3.5k a month but we can afford it. Also added heated concrete so no shoveling required 😉
Hey my pool is frozen solid, above ground 24' x 4' tall. I fully winterized it following your videos, just checked on it, and if I tap the outside wall, all the way to the bottom its frozen solid... is that OK? Worried it is going to get damaged from ice expanding.
We’re from South Africa, currently living in North Dakota with extreme temperatures like months of snow and also blizzards from time to time where there are power outages due to the power cables breaking from the weight of the snow/ice. We’re interested in your pool and what you’d recommend us doing?
I'm new to owning a pool (33,000 gal) and in Atlanta area. I plan on keeping pool open. Pumps have freeze protection and alternate every 15 minutes between pool and water features. My only concern is if there is a power outage. Do you think adding 1-2 gal of pool antifreeze would protect the pool if that happens? Should this even be considered?
I work in the Atlanta area. If the power goes out in a freeze, follow these steps: Turn off the breaker powering the pool equipment. Remove all drain plugs from all pumps and filter to drain. It doesn't get cold enough here to freeze below ground. Turning off the power is to protect the equipment from running dry when the power comes back. Once it does, replace the plugs and prime the pumps, and you're good to go. Hope this helps.
I have a sheer descent water feature. Do I need to leave the water on 24/7 to avoid water freezing during winter? It will be in the low teens soon! Help!
We live in NC and are debating whether to winterize or leave it open. If we decide to close it, we have to take the wedding cake steps out. It’s an above ground pool. Any advice on the best way to take the steps out? After the steps are out, I will have a heck of a time getting myself out.
Note: None of this applies to Texas. They just let it all freeze when the rare cold snap comes through and then they buy all new stuff in the spring, making parts impossible to source for the rest of us.
@@SwimUniversity As long as they have parts to do the install! My pool guy waited about 6 weeks to get me a Jandy valve, and had a similar wait for a filter for someone else. The supply house told him Texas had basically used up all the pool parts, and I'm sure the overall 2021 shortage on everything was also a contributor. Basically the cold snap Texas had in February was so unusual, they just didn't know they needed to winterize stuff. Not that I'm all that far off in my mentality being in southern AZ...
@@andrewbrown784 I moved to the Austin area a few years ago and we leave the pool open all year round. Even native Texans were totally taken by surprise by our February week of freezing temperatures. I asked friends and neighbors if they had ever seen anything like it, and all said they can’t remember ever having more than a couple of days of 20+ degrees, much less single digits for over a week. It’s not as though Texans purposely left their pools open to get damaged and then decided to buy up all the replacement parts. It is no different than the NW having 100+ degree days this summer: they weren’t prepared because no one can ever remember it happening before. I can imagine finding an air conditioning unit, or even a fan, in a store up in Washington or Oregon was almost impossible. As “baller” said above, stock up on parts. When we bought our house I immediately bought pump rebuild kits, filters, gaskets, automatic pool vacuum “robot” rebuild kits, and a small stockpile of chemicals. I ordered them online if I couldn’t get it locally from our pool supply companies and it’s nice if a part breaks or leaks I have what I need on-hand to immediately repair it. I was glad to have chemicals available when the chlorine shortage hit this summer. My neighbors and I all shared to help each other get through it. I’m not talking about hoarding, I’m talking about being prepared.
@@steveclark5206 Always a good idea to stock up on parts and share with neighbors. And hopefully folks will now know what to do to prevent the worst of the damage if they expect consistent, freezing temperatures.
@@steveclark5206 Wasn't trying to accuse anyone of maliciously spending thousands of dollars to fix their equipment. I thought I was being kinda funny, but I guess I triggered some people. As I said before, I don't treat my pool in AZ any different than the folks in Texas did, I just didn't have any freak weather thankfully. Swim University always coming through with clutch tips, but I found it humorous that this video would have been a little more helpful about 10 months ago. Apologies to anyone I offended.
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Can you keep an above ground pool open all year using these tips? I'm in the Poconos in PA.
Texas here. We leave the pool open year round. Thanks for the tips
Last year in Dallas, TX our pump was running fine but it was sucking in ice as the top layer of the pool was forming ice.
We had a freezing storm by for a few days.
I'm hoping putting a solar pool cover will help or a black corrugated plastic hose in the pool will prevent icing up.
I just installed a sauna, and plan on keeping pool open all winter. We like to cold plunge after getting really hot. As of today Nov. 15, I require only one puck per week for chlorine. Perfectly clear. I have a variable speed pump and keep it at 3 of 10. I drained the fountain lines and only kept the buried lines in the circulation. Will run pump on freezing nights. Last winter we had 53 nights of below freezing nights. Live in the Toronto area.
How'd it work out for you this winter? I want to do this next winter in Southeast PA, and if you can do it in ON, I think I can pull it off!
@@MikeLousteau1 Mike, this winter was milder,and had no problems. The ice freezes the surface completely and i keep the variable speed pump running at less than half speed to circulate below the ice. Works fine. If there is a power failure, i have back up generator. The unintended benefit my wife and i really like is that we don't look at a dark covered pool all winter. We have our pool lights on .
In louisiana it’s a must to keep it open all year round.
Do you have any tips for what you do in your area?
@@SwimUniversity I treat my pools basically the same in the winter as I do in the summer except for trichlor tab usage. I switch out to liquid chlorine or cal hypo tabs so the stabilizer reading lowers in the winter. So I don’t have to fight high stabilizer in the summer then have to partially drain my pools. Also I can set the chlorine output down to 25% in my salt pools. We have a lot of trees where I have my pool route, so I still keep my pools running 8-10 hours a day to try and limit debris falling to the bottom of the pools that create stains, let the skimmers do their job. Winter here is much more physically intensive with all the trees around. Weather here is crazy too, 1 day it can be 80’s then we get a cold front and drop it down to the 40’s, too much fluctuation with the temperature.
@@SwimUniversity you should definitely mention stabilizer, extremely important especially for southern states. Here it’s swim season from April to early October.
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. Here in Delaware I never leave my pool open. We have major deep freezes here. Keep the content coming. Hope you have an amazing day
Atlanta here with 24” AGP. Rarely get below freezing. Can I winterize, close pump down but not cover. Winter temps average around 50.
I can float chlorine tabs and clean with robot cause not many leaves. I just wanna look at my pool year round.
Hey Lauretta! Did you learn how to maintain in the winter? I’m moving to Atlanta and looking for tips
I'm thinking of not closing it after so many years.
I get the concept of keeping the pool “open” through the winter and using the heater to keep it above 40°F so it won’t freeze, but what if I actually want to swim while it’s well below freezing outside? If you have an ICF pool with a 400,000 btu gas heater and an automatic cover, would that be enough to keep the water at above 72°F even if it’s, let’s say 0°F?
I am in New York, I have customers that swim In 5 degree weather [outside], we run the filter/heaters 24.7 as soon as it starts getting down into the upper 30s at night. Biggest problem is most people shut the hose spigot for the winter, when it's 20 degrees and the pool is 84 you evaporate a ton of water.
@@poolknot3842 Thanks! So as long as the spigot is protected and can’t be left on it should be able to keep up with that evaporation.
@alejandrodebasilio1606 my only other advice is if you have earth/cartridge filters clean them before it gets too cold, if you lose flow your heater won't fire. Also if it's 20 degrees with a chill, grids/fingers/cartridges will freeze as you are cleaning them.
Rich people problems, lol@@poolknot3842
I have not heard you discuss the alkalinity when CYA is high. When I use my test kit at home the alkalinity looks perfect, but when I take sample in to pool store, the Alkalinity is less than half what I tested and the CYA is very high.
We just got pool put in here in PA. 500k btu propane pool heater with 1000 gallon underground tank means that we are open all year. Jan and Feb I’m sure it’s going to cost 3.5k a month but we can afford it. Also added heated concrete so no shoveling required 😉
Does the pump still need to run during freezing temperatures even if there’s a cover?
Well yea you need water moving to stop from freezing
Hey my pool is frozen solid, above ground 24' x 4' tall. I fully winterized it following your videos, just checked on it, and if I tap the outside wall, all the way to the bottom its frozen solid... is that OK? Worried it is going to get damaged from ice expanding.
I put the tarp on myself and leslies wants to charge me 450$ to pump air into the lines :/
We’re from South Africa, currently living in North Dakota with extreme temperatures like months of snow and also blizzards from time to time where there are power outages due to the power cables breaking from the weight of the snow/ice.
We’re interested in your pool and what you’d recommend us doing?
Good video! Ty.
I'm new to owning a pool (33,000 gal) and in Atlanta area. I plan on keeping pool open. Pumps have freeze protection and alternate every 15 minutes between pool and water features. My only concern is if there is a power outage. Do you think adding 1-2 gal of pool antifreeze would protect the pool if that happens? Should this even be considered?
I work in the Atlanta area. If the power goes out in a freeze, follow these steps:
Turn off the breaker powering the pool equipment.
Remove all drain plugs from all pumps and filter to drain.
It doesn't get cold enough here to freeze below ground. Turning off the power is to protect the equipment from running dry when the power comes back. Once it does, replace the plugs and prime the pumps, and you're good to go. Hope this helps.
What about above ground pools?
Who in bccanada keeps their pool open all winter? And if so at what temp and do u swim?
Would love to hear if other Canadians have tips for keeping their pool open in the winter 👍
Great video!
I have a sheer descent water feature. Do I need to leave the water on 24/7 to avoid water freezing during winter? It will be in the low teens soon! Help!
I think our heater would die, even though it’s on its first season . Bettendorf Iowa.
We live in NC and are debating whether to winterize or leave it open. If we decide to close it, we have to take the wedding cake steps out. It’s an above ground pool. Any advice on the best way to take the steps out? After the steps are out, I will have a heck of a time getting myself out.
40° freezing is 32?????
This will work In Mediterranean climate like Perth & L.A. 🤓
Note: None of this applies to Texas. They just let it all freeze when the rare cold snap comes through and then they buy all new stuff in the spring, making parts impossible to source for the rest of us.
Oh wow, that's good for the pool companies!
@@SwimUniversity As long as they have parts to do the install! My pool guy waited about 6 weeks to get me a Jandy valve, and had a similar wait for a filter for someone else. The supply house told him Texas had basically used up all the pool parts, and I'm sure the overall 2021 shortage on everything was also a contributor. Basically the cold snap Texas had in February was so unusual, they just didn't know they needed to winterize stuff. Not that I'm all that far off in my mentality being in southern AZ...
@@andrewbrown784 I moved to the Austin area a few years ago and we leave the pool open all year round. Even native Texans were totally taken by surprise by our February week of freezing temperatures. I asked friends and neighbors if they had ever seen anything like it, and all said they can’t remember ever having more than a couple of days of 20+ degrees, much less single digits for over a week. It’s not as though Texans purposely left their pools open to get damaged and then decided to buy up all the replacement parts. It is no different than the NW having 100+ degree days this summer: they weren’t prepared because no one can ever remember it happening before. I can imagine finding an air conditioning unit, or even a fan, in a store up in Washington or Oregon was almost impossible. As “baller” said above, stock up on parts. When we bought our house I immediately bought pump rebuild kits, filters, gaskets, automatic pool vacuum “robot” rebuild kits, and a small stockpile of chemicals. I ordered them online if I couldn’t get it locally from our pool supply companies and it’s nice if a part breaks or leaks I have what I need on-hand to immediately repair it. I was glad to have chemicals available when the chlorine shortage hit this summer. My neighbors and I all shared to help each other get through it. I’m not talking about hoarding, I’m talking about being prepared.
@@steveclark5206 Always a good idea to stock up on parts and share with neighbors. And hopefully folks will now know what to do to prevent the worst of the damage if they expect consistent, freezing temperatures.
@@steveclark5206 Wasn't trying to accuse anyone of maliciously spending thousands of dollars to fix their equipment. I thought I was being kinda funny, but I guess I triggered some people. As I said before, I don't treat my pool in AZ any different than the folks in Texas did, I just didn't have any freak weather thankfully. Swim University always coming through with clutch tips, but I found it humorous that this video would have been a little more helpful about 10 months ago. Apologies to anyone I offended.
If it doesn’t freeze where you live, there is no need to “winterize” it.
More cons than pros. I’ll close it, no brainer. Only costs $300 to close it if I pay a company.