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POOL CLOSING GUIDE

1. WATER PREPARATION A. IF YOU HAVE A HIGH METALS OR CALCIUM CONTENT (MOST WELL WATER) ADD DOUBLE YOUR NORMAL MAINTENANCE DOSE OF SEQUESTRANT (STAIN AND SCALE CONTROL). B. ADJUST THE TOTAL ALKALINITY TO 80 - 100 ppm FOR PLASTER POOLS, OR 100 - 125 ppm FOR VINYL, PAINTED, OR FIBERGLASS POOLS. C. ADJUST CALCIUM HARDNESS TO 200 - 250 ppm FOR PLASTER POOLS, AND 175 - 225 FOR ALL OTHER TYPES OF POOLS. D. SUPER CHLORINATE POOL WATER WITH 2lbs OF GRANULAR CHLORINE( DICHLORO) PER 10,000 GALS. LET CIRCULATE FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS BEFORE PROCEEDING. E. PREVENT ALGAE BY ADDING WINTER ALGAECIDE; CIRCULATE FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS BEFORE PROCEEDING. F. ADJUST pH to 7.4ppm FOR WINTER. 2. FILTRATION SYSTEMS THOROUGHLY CLEAN YOUR FILTER SYSTEM; ADD FILTER CLEANER TO SAND FILTER SYSTEMS, TURN PUMP OFF AND LET SOAK PER LABEL INSTRUCTIONS. BACKWASH FILTER UNTIL CLEAN. NEVER STORE A DIRTY FILTER! DEPOSITS AND SCALE MAY HARDEN OVER THE WINTER LEAVING YOU A TOUGH, DIRTY REPAIR JOB IN THE SPRING. CARTRIDGES (ELEMENTS) SHOULD BE REMOVED AND SOAKED IN A SOLUTION OF FILTER CLEANER FOR SEVERAL HOURS, PRESSURE WASHED AND STORED IN A PLASTIC BAG FOR WINTER. 3. NORMAL HOUSEKEEPING CHORES - BRUSH WALLS OF POOL, CLEAN WATER/TILE LINE WITH TILE AND VINYL CLEANER. CLEAN AND WASH ALL BASKETS. 4. PARTIALLY DRAIN POOL - A LEVEL OF 12 INCHES BELOW THE SKIMMER IS MOST OFTEN RECOMMENDED. 5. COMPLETE THE APPLICABLE REQUIRED TASKS AS LISTED BELOW:
----------POWER TO LIGHT, PUMP IS TURNED OFF ----------LIGHT IS REMOVED AND SECURED TO THE DECK ----------DISCONNECT AND DRAIN CHLORINATOR ----------POOL SWEEP HOSES REMOVED AND STORED ----------POOL SWEEP LINE BLOWN OUT / ANTI FREEZE ADDED ----------SLIDE LINE BLOWN OUT / ANTI FREEZE ADDED ----------FILTER TANK DRAINED / PLUG REMOVED ----------MULTI PORT VALVE IN WINTERIZE POSITION ----------DRAIN PLUG REMOVED FROM PUMP ----------HLP LID LUBED AND SECURED ----------GAS LINE IS SHUT OFF ----------HEATER GAS VALVE IS IN THE OFF POSITION ----------ALL HEATER FREEZE PLUGS REMOVED ----------DISCONNECT WATER LINE TO PRESSURE SWITCH ----------DIRECTIONAL EYEBALLS REMOVED (IN GROUND POOLS) ----------INLET LINES BLOWN OUT / ANTI FREEZE ADDED (IN GROUND POOLS ) ----------PLUGS INSTALLED IN INLET LINES (IN GROUND POOLS ) ----------BASKETS REMOVED AND STORED ----------SKIMMER LINES BLOWN OUT / ANTI FREEZE ADDED (IN GROUND POOLS) ----------GIZZMOS INSTALLED IN SKIMMERS ----------REMOVE ALL HOSES AND STORE INDOORS (ABOVE GROUND POOLS) ----------LADDERS REMOVED AND STORED ----------DIVING BOARD REMOVED AND STORED (IN GROUND POOLS) ----------SOLAR COVER CLEANED AND STORED ----------SOLAR REEL REMOVED AND STORED ----------AIR PILLOW INSTALLED / TIED IN PLACE ----------COVER INSTALLED / TIED DOWN ----------WATER TUBES INSTALLED / SECURED (IN GROUND POOLS) ---------DRAIN PLUGS, BOLTS, BASKETS, INLETS, ETC. BAGGED

CLOSING YOUR POOL

FIRST THE W ATER MUST BE PREPARED FOR W INTERIZING: THE CHLORINE LEVEL SHOULD BE 3ppm (GRANULAR CHLORINE IS THE BEST PRODUCT FOR COOL W ATER APPLICATION), Ph SHOULD BE ADJUSTED TO 7.4 ppm , AND THE ALKALINITY SHOULD BE 100ppm . NEXT, A COMPLETE CLEANING IS IN ORDER. LEAVES OR OTHER ORGANIC MATTER IN THE POOL MAY CAUSE PERMANENT STAINS. BE SURE TO CLEAN THE W ATERLINE AND SKIMMER NOW ; W AITING UNTIL SPRING W ILL MAKE YOUR JOB MUCH MORE DIFFICULT. REMOVE ANY CHLORINE LEFT IN THE CHLORINATOR THEN TURN UP TO THE FULL FLOW POSITION TO FLUSH IT OUT. PROPER W INTER CHEMICALS ARE CRUCIAL TO A SUCCESSFUL POOL CLOSING. FOR PREVENTION OF SCALE AND MINERAL DEPOSITS, THE USE OF A STRONG STAIN AND SCALE PREVENTIVE IS RECOMMENDED. THIS W ILL ALSO PREVENT THE RING AROUND THE COLLARAT THE W ATER LEVEL. FOR ALGAE CONTROL OVER THE W INTER MONTHS, A W INTER ALGAECIDE MUST BE UTILIZED, AND FINALLY, W INTER SHOCK SHOULD BE ADDED AT A RATE OF 1 TO 2 lbs. PER 10,000 GALLONS. ADD THESE CHEMICALS PER LABEL INSTRUCTIONS AND ALLOW TO CIRCULATE AT LEAST FOUR HOURS FOR PROPER DISTRIBUTION. THIS IS THE TIME TO REMOVE LADDERS, SOLAR REELS, SLIDES, ETC . . . SO THEY MAY BE CLEANED AND STORED FOR THE W INTER. NOW THAT THE W INTER CHEMICALS ARE W ELL DISPERSED, W ELL TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE FILTER. IF YOU HAVE A CARTRIDGE FILTER, REMOVE THE CARTRIDGE AND SOAK IT IN FILTER CLEANER FOR THE TIME SPECIFIED BY THE CLEANER, THEN RINSE, DRY AND STORE FOR THE W INTER. SAND FILTERS REQUIRE A FILTER W ASH OR FILTER CLEANER. FOLLOW THE LABEL INSTRUCTION. THIS PROCEDURE W ILL NORMALLY ELIMINATE THE NEED TO CHANGE THE SAND NEXT SPRING. TIME FOR DRAINING: THE W ATER LEVEL SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY TW ELVE INCHES BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE SKIMMER ON ABOVE GROUND POOLS. FOR IN GROUND POOLS: DRAIN BELOW LIGHT OR RETURN FITTINGS (W HICHEVER IS LOW ER). OPEN THE MAIN DRAIN, AND CLOSE THE SKIMMERS. ABOVE GROUND POOLS: HOOK YOUR VACUUM HOSE UP AND DRAIN DOW N TO THE PROPER LEVEL USING THE BACKW ASH POSITION TO GIVE THE FILTER A LITTLE EXTRA RINSING ACTION. ABOVE GROUND: REMOVE W INTER DRAIN PLUGS FROM THE PUMP, HLP, FILTER, AND CHLORINATOR. STORE THE PLUGS IN A SAFE PLACE LIKE THE HAIR AND LINT POT. REMOVE AND STORE THE SKIMMER BASKET. PUT YOUR FILTER VALVE IN THE W INTERIZE POSITION. ALL HOSES SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM ABOVE GROUND POOLS. STORE ALL HOSES AS STRAIGHT AS POSSIBLE. AFTER EQUIPMENT IS DRAINED, COVER W ITH PLASTIC OR STORE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. NOTE: ALL EXPOSED THREADS AND O-RINGS SHOULD BE PROTECTED BY AN AMPLE APPLICATION OF MAGIC LUBE OR SIMILAR PRODUCT. REMOVAL OF PRESSURE GAUGE IS ALSO RECOMMENDED. IN GROUND: REMOVE THE DRAIN PLUGS FROM THE PUMP, HLP, FILTER, AND CHLORINATOR. REMOVE AND STORE THE SKIMMER BASKET(S), REMOVE EYEBALLS FROM INLETS AND BLOW W ATER FROM SKIMMER AND INLET LINES. IF YOUR FILTER VALVE HAS A W INTERIZE POSITION, PUT IT THERE. DISCONNECT AND REMOVE ANY BOOSTER PUMP HOSES AND PROTECT THREADS ON PUMPS/VALVES W ITH A LIBERAL COATING OF MAGIC LUBE. FILL ALL LINES INCLUDING MAIN DRAIN W ITH NONTOXIC ANTIFREEZE (ONE GALLON PER 12 FT. OF PIPE). NEXT, PLUG THE INLET FITTINGS AND INSTALL GIZZMOS IN SKIMMERS. GIZZMO AND PLUG THREADS SHOULD BE COATED W ITH MAGIC LUBE FOR EASY SPRING REMOVAL. MAKE SURE THE GAS IS TURNED OFF TO THE HEATER; DISCONNECT AND REMOVE THE PRESSURE SW ITCH AND REMOVE HEATER FREEZE PLUGS. REMOVE LIGHT ASSEMBLY FROM NICHE, W RAP IN PLASTIC AND SECURE TO DECK. REMOVE PRESSURE GAUGE AND SIGHT GLASS FROM FILTER. BAG ALL PLUGS AND HARDW ARE AND STORE THEM IN THE PUMP BASKET.

WINTER COVERS
THERE ARE BASICALLY THREE TYPES OF WINTER COVERS. THE FIRST IS THE REINFORCED POLY. THESE ARE THE MOST COMMON COVERS IN USE AT THIS TIME. THERE ARE MANY GRADES OF THESE COVERS. THE DIFFERENCE BEING THE NUMBER OF REINFORCING FIBERS PER SQUARE INCH, OR W EAVES. THE BEST HAS A W EAVE OF 12x12, OR 12 FIBERS GOING EACH DIRECTION PER SQUARE INCH. ON ABOVE GROUND POOLS, THESE COVERS HAVE TRADITIONALLY HAD AN AIR PILLOW IN THE CENTER OF THE POOL TO SUPPORT THE COVER. A CABLE AND W INCH ASSEMBLY IS EMPLOYED TO SECURE THE COVER TO THE OUTSIDE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE POOL. IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THIS ARRANGEMENT W ORKS W ELL, HOW EVER, HERE IN THE MIDW EST, W E EXPERIENCE A FAIR AMOUNT OF HIGH W INDS, W HICH OFTEN DAMAGES THE COVER. AN ALTERNATE METHOD IS TO USE A COVER THAT IS ONE SIZE LARGER THAN NORMALLY REQUIRED. LET THE COVER HANG DOW N THE SIDES OF THE POOL AND LAY FLAT ON THE W ATER, THEN PUT A 1.5ft OR SO OF W ATER ON TOP OF THE COVER, AND TIGHTEN DOW N W ITH THE W INCH AND CABLE. THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS PROVEN TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE AND MAXIMIZE POOL SEALING. IN GROUND POOLS MAY USE A SIMILAR ARRANGEMENT, EXCEPT THEY USE WATER BAGS SECURED BY LOOPS BUILT INTO THE COVER TO HOLD IT IN PLACE ON THE DECK. SOLID VINYL COVERS ARE STILL AVAILABLE BUT NOT CONSIDERED VERY PRACTICAL FOR USE IN THE MIDW ESTERN CLIMATES. BY FAR THE BEST COVER FOR IN GROUND POOLS AND ABOVE GROUND POOLS W ITH FULL DECKS IS THE SAFETY COVER. THIS COVER IS MADE OF AN EXTREMELY TOUGH MATERIAL THAT W ITHSTANDS A LARGE AMOUNT OF STRESS, AND THEREFORE MAY BE STRETCHED TAUGHT ACROSS THE POOL, ELIMINATING THE NORMAL UNSIGHTLY ACCUMULATION OF LEAVES AND DEBRIS THAT IS COMMON TO MOST OTHER TYPES OF COVER INSTALLATIONS. IT IS SECURED BY HIGH STRENGTH STRAPS ATTACHED TO FASTENERS THAT ARE SECURED TO THE DECK. THESE COVERS EASILY SUPPORT THE W EIGHT OF A SMALL CHILD OR FAMILY PET IN THE EVENT THAT THEY W ANDER INTO THE POOL AREA. TAKING CARE OF YOUR COVER IN ITS OFF SEASON IS CRITICAL TO ITS LONGEVITY. THE EASIEST W AY TO DO THIS IS TO TAKE A LARGE TRASH CAN AND FILL IT W ITH A SOLUTION OF W ATER AND QUAT ALGAECIDE. IN THE W ARM WEATHER, LEAVE THE W INTER COVER IN THE COVERED CAN. THEN IN THE W INTER, USE THE SAME SOLUTION TO STORE YOUR SOLAR COVER. THIS SYSTEM WILL KEEP THE COVERS SUPPLE, SANITARY AND FREE OF RODENTS. BEFORE STORING ANY COVER, CLEAN IT COMPLETELY!!

CHEMICALS, EQUIPMENT, AND TOOLS NEEDED FOR POOL CLOSING

ITEM AG IG NOTES

OXIDIZER (WINTER SHOCK) WINTER ALGAECIDE STAIN AND SCALE PREVENT TILE AND VINYL CLEANER FILTER CLEANER (PH Minus works well) ANTI FREEZE GIZZMOS MAGIC LUBE PLUGS FOR RETURN LINES POOL COVER WINCH AND CABLE AIR PILLOWS WATER TUBES TWINE FOR LIGHT PLIERS FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER WET/DRY VAC, OR AIR COMPRESSOR LEAF VACUUM GARDEN HOSE (NON-TOXIC)

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