[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

Mine costs about $110 per month. $100 is electricity and $10 chemicals. I am working on a plan to take the pool off grid with solar panels!

$100 a month electric just for the pool?

[JonathanLB]

Yeah that seems really high to me, especially because you wouldn't normally need to heat the pool April through September much if any right? Some heating in April of course, maybe a bit in May, I suppose, but not at all in June - August, then a bit in September. I'd probably shut the pool down for the winter by Thanksgiving and reboot it in March.

[orca17]

Originally Posted by JonathanLB

I'd probably shut the pool down for the winter by Thanksgiving and reboot it in March.

You can't just shut everything off. In order to prevent algae growth, the water needs to be circulated and filtered on a regular basis. On nights like we have had recently, you would run the risk of pipes freezing and bursting (pool pumps have a sensor that kicks them on when the temperature reaches 39 degrees or so). You also need filtration to remove the debris that inevitably lands in the pool. Once it settles to the bottom, it is harder to get out.

[WestieJeff]

+1

You can cover the pool with a full winter cover, but they tend to collect rain, dirt, leaves, etc. on top and are a mess to remove and clean later. Easier for me just to keep my pool running all winter.

That said, with the variable speed pump, I'm guessing my pool uses $10-$15/month in electricity.

Originally Posted by orca17

You can't just shut everything off. In order to prevent algae growth, the water needs to be circulated and filtered on a regular basis. On nights like we have had recently, you would run the risk of pipes freezing and bursting (pool pumps have a sensor that kicks them on when the temperature reaches 39 degrees or so). You also need filtration to remove the debris that inevitably lands in the pool. Once it settles to the bottom, it is harder to get out.

[LVAllen]

Originally Posted by orca17

You can't just shut everything off. In order to prevent algae growth, the water needs to be circulated and filtered on a regular basis. On nights like we have had recently, you would run the risk of pipes freezing and bursting (pool pumps have a sensor that kicks them on when the temperature reaches 39 degrees or so). You also need filtration to remove the debris that inevitably lands in the pool. Once it settles to the bottom, it is harder to get out.

Algae grows very, very, very slowly once water temperatures drop below 60 degrees, and is entirely dormant at 40 degrees. Bump up the chlorine level before you close the pool in late fall, and mostly shut off your pump. You aren't generally going to winterize a pool here like you would in the midwest or east, but maintenance should be pretty minimal. I agree with the dangers of freezing on the rare occasions it gets that cold.

If debris settles to the bottom, vacuum it up. Or just wait until mid-March, when the temperatures have risen enough to make pool maintenance necessary again.

[airics]

Originally Posted by WestieJeff

+1

You can cover the pool with a full winter cover, but they tend to collect rain, dirt, leaves, etc. on top and are a mess to remove and clean later. Easier for me just to keep my pool running all winter.

That said, with the variable speed pump, I'm guessing my pool uses $10-$15/month in electricity.

I second the variable speed pump. You get your money back with a year or two. Not having the variable speed pump is just idiotic