To Drain or Not?

[FST FOX]

I live in Dallas, Tx and my house I got this summer has a smaller pool in it and now with winter here, do I drain or not? Never had a pool so what is the good and bad about it?

[J. T. Toad]

what type of surface is it

Fiberglass, plaster, pebbletec, vinyl, etc. or other?

[FST FOX]

it's a in ground, guess it would be cement

[392cobra]

This is Dallas,TEXAS !

Don't worry about it.
Draining could cause you problems.

[J. T. Toad]

LOL... ok.. PLANO/dallas, tx

1) your local pool co. can address your local climate

2) cement is too vague of an answer

plano/dallas doesn't seem cold enough to worry about it.

[FST FOX]

Ok, again new pool owner so just curious because I thought about redoing the top (decorative tile) and also just thought of the energy saving from the pump not running for several months. What type of problems 392?

[392cobra]

I would think that the pressure from our clay soil expanding/contracting without water in the pool to counter act those forces could lead to cracking.

The best bet would be to get expert advise from a Pool Co..They could also help with any ideas on winter care.

Pools are expensive.If not taken proper care of,year round,they can become a nightmare.

I grew up taking care of my folk's pool.I had my fill of them.

[FST FOX]

Originally Posted by 392cobra

I would think that the pressure from our clay soil expanding/contracting without water in the pool to counter act those forces could lead to cracking.

The best bet would be to get expert advise from a Pool Co..They could also help with any ideas on winter care.

Pools are expensive.If not taken proper care of,year round,they can become a nightmare.

I grew up taking care of my folk's pool.I had my fill of them.

Well it's maintained by a pool company, just again an idea and good points, just thought a pool com. wouldn't recomend it because of them lossing business for those 3-4 months

[CobraEd]

Fill it with Jello


.

[427 S/O]

Shock it and cover, instructions available from your local pool supply.

[392cobra]

Call a few Co's. you aren't doing business with.

You have to look at shut down and then start up costs on top of the cost of the water too.

Idle equipment seems to have problems later.

[hey,littlecobra]

we have NEVER drained any of our pools. In the winter, we have the pool co. maintain the chemicals weekly, and we run it for a few hours a day. On the really cold nights, we run it to keep it circulating. I would not drain it, because water left standing in the pipes would be a BIGGER problem when it all freezes.
Do call a reputable company, of course.
K
ps. in the summer, it is circulating probably 12 hours a day. In the winter, maybe 5-6 hours a day. Or less.

ps. i would assume it is a 'gunite' pool- over cement. We don't have a cover on ours.

[FST FOX]

Originally Posted by hey,littlecobra

we have NEVER drained any of our pools. In the winter, we have the pool co. maintain the chemicals weekly, and we run it for a few hours a day. On the really cold nights, we run it to keep it circulating. I would not drain it, because water left standing in the pipes would be a BIGGER problem when it all freezes.
Do call a reputable company, of course.
K
ps. in the summer, it is circulating probably 12 hours a day. In the winter, maybe 5-6 hours a day. Or less.

ps. i would assume it is a 'gunite' pool- over cement. We don't have a cover on ours.

I have a good company, just again a curiosity question, thanks for all the good advise and reasons why not to

[Buzz]

Ditto what the others are saying. If the walls and surface of your pool have pebbly-looking cement or a plaster-like finish, it is probably Diamond Brite or a similar product that really does not like to be dried out for any length of time. Treat the system and run your pump for a couple of hours every day and the relatively small operating cost will far outweigh the risk of potential problems and associated costs of draining and shutting down.

[Stentor]

A primary concern will be that your above-ground plumbing to and from your pump(s) does not freeze (my pool has a freeze protect on it that kicks the pumps on at a certain temperature).

[FST FOX]

The maintance company said I do have a freeze protection on it, but he suggected setting it on 2 hours a day for cycling, so thanks for all the advise.

[J. T. Toad]

this may seem obvious, but, if temperatures do drop excessively one night, make sure the water level is at the appropriate level (not too high or too low)

[Michael C Henry]

I live Washington State, It rains alot, My neighbors have an inground concrete pool. They keep it filled all the time with no cover and the pumps and heater cycle . With the ground water levels around here, even a concrete pool will float up if empty. Oh! it's snowing.

[imagine2frolic]

You don't live in the arctic. Just maintain it as always. An empty pool can pop out of the ground, and crack too!

[DAVID GAGNARD]

NEVER drain the pool for extended peroids of time.........in the begining, I would cover my pool for the winter, always had some problems when uncovering it in the spring....Algea problems, pump motor siezed, bearing in the pump siezed, etc.,etc.........after 2 or 3 years of this kind of aggravation, I just began running the pump on saturdays, let it run all day to keep things in good working order... If the temps were going to be below freezing for any extended time, then I let it run during that time, keeping things circulating and from freezing.........

Then,about 10 to 12 years later I came to my senses and FILLED IN THE DAMN POOL................best thing I ever did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

David