When it comes to keeping a pool clean, closing a salt water pool is different from keeping a regular pool. It's important to note that the temperature difference between the water and the generator will affect how well the system works.
Before Closing
Low salt levels. It is important to check your salt level regularly to ensure that it is not too high. When the weather gets cooler, do not add more salt to the pool. We recommend shocking the pool a few days prior to closing it. Mix 1 lb (per 10K gallons) of pool shock into a bucket of water and spray around the pool. Since the end of the pool season is approaching, it is important to maintain a low salt level. This will help prevent the pool from staining.
Balanced Water. The second important thing to do before closing a pool is to make sure that the water is balanced. This is important to check that pH level, alkalinity and calcium hardness levels. If the calcium hardness is high, keep a pH level of 7.6 during winter. It's important to keep this level in check to prevent the formation of crystals.
Clean Pool. The 3rd most important step is to thoroughly clean and maintain the pool. This is especially important for those with large amounts of salt in their water. If your pool cover does not seem to fit properly, make a clean sweep around your pool every few weeks during winter to keep the leaves and debris out.
Stain and scale. The 4th step is to protect against scale and stains with a stain and scale preventative. Natural Chemistry has a great chemical called Metal Free. For heavy metals, use CuLator. It's a small packet that will remove these harmful minerals and metals from the water. It is important that the pool filter runs smoothly for at least 8 hours after the addition of the stain preventer and scale. This ensures that the chemicals will effectively remove the stain and keep the product fresh.
Enzymes. For solid pool covers that have a mesh cover or a drain panel, we would add WinterPill. This product is a slow-release enzyme that will keep your pool protected against winter pool stains.
After Closing
1. While the pool is closed, do not add any salt. Remove and store the salt cell indoors.
2. It is always a good idea to test the water every 6-8 weeks during the off-season to ensure the pH, alkalinity and calcium levels are OK.
3. Keep the pool cover clean. If the wind is blowing the leaves off, use a broom or a blowtorch to remove them. If you have a mesh cover, make sure the water level is at least a couple inches below the tile. You can also use pool noodles or water tubes to secure the cover.
4. A non-chlorine floating pool cleaner is great for killing algae and other harmful organisms in the water. It releases chemicals slowly into the pool to remove them.
Although chlorine generators can help keep your pool clean, they can also cause staining issues since the water coming out of the tank is usually contaminated. Generally, winterizing a pool can help prevent this issue.
This post was originally published on Un the Swim Blog
If you have any other questions about pool and spa products please do let us know - we are here to help!