ali-cat Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 This year, as last year, I've used the active winterising method as we are here permanently and I never really got my head around the full passive winterising routine, not to mention locating all the bits and pieces.We have a floating roller cover and the pump etc is housed in a below ground level pool room. Basically the water level stays the same; I maintain the usual chemical routine, open the pool for cleaning leaves every few weeks and have the filter running on and off throughout the coldest hours. We had absolutely no problems last year.Yesterday we woke to find a layer of ice all around the edge of the pool, not thick, but it wouldn't have thawed during the day and would have continued to build up the following night. I managed to carefully defrost it and have run the pump constantly since which has kept it ice free. The water temperature is currently just over 6 degrees. I haven't added any antifreeze and thought this might be the solution but have read on other threads that it isn't recommended as it just adds to the chemical load. I also read that the ice is unlikely to damage the liner but I'm not convinced and also wonder what would happen if it spread into the skimmer boxes and pipes.Anyone else use the active winterising method and have any suggestions?Mr Cat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 HiWe use the same method and like you, last yr we had no problems with 'thick' ice. I put polystyrene 'caps' made from sheet polystyrene, in the skimmers to offer some protection which seem to work, also I put half filled plastic bottles of water in the pool (this I was told helps with the 'ice'contractions and offers some protection for the liner, if that makes sense) and I wrap all the pipes in the pool house in bubble wrap. I also have a half filled plastic bottle in the pool house and check daily to see if frozen (if bottle frozen, then pipes would be next eek!), so far, all seems OK. Yesterday we had a very thin covering of ice which melted by tea time. and like you I run the pump during the early hours. We have actively winterised the pool for the last 2yrs and the coldest air temp was minus 10 in Jan 2007 for a couple of days and the coldest the water temp was 2 degs, and no problems, so fingers crossed for the same this yr!! Jetlag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-cat Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 Thanks for this Jetlag. A rerun of winter 2006/07 was what concerned me. Thankfully I have a barn stuffed with polystyrene and bubblewrap.BTW do you use a winter cover?Mr Cat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 A winter cover...............such luxury[:D]!!!!!! No we just use our summer one, it has been going strong for the last 3yrs, it is one of those items on the list of things to buy that keeps getting moved down to make way for other priorities[:P]. Given that it seems to do the job for now, I doubt we will buy a 'proper' winter cover, but we will see, never say never!! Have fun with the bubble wrap and here's to an ice free pool!!Jetlag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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