Can a Pool be Kept Open 12-months a Year?

Mack has had it with the job of opening and closing his pool each year and wonders if he can just leave it open year-round. Find out the pros and cons.

LESLIE: Mack in Missouri is on the line and has a question about a pool. What can we do for you?

MACK: Well, every year I seem to open my pool up in the spring and it’s always green. I would have to drain it and clean it out and all that stuff. So, I had this brilliant idea to just leave it going all winter long: just put the cover on it, put it on timer and just keep it open and have it come on every day for – you know, every 15 minutes every couple hours or something so it doesn’t freeze. What do you think about that crazy idea?

LESLIE: I’ve got to tell you. We have a pool, Mack, at my family – like my parents own a summer house out on the North Fork of Long Island. Every spring, we take off that cover. That pool is the nastiest, green-looking thing you’ve ever seen. We have never drained the water. You use a whole sort of chemicals, which is sad, but you shock that water, you get the system up and running and it goes right back to beautiful, crystal blue and we’re swimming in it in no time.

MACK: Yeah, I know. It takes a lot of chemicals to do that.

LESLIE: I know. But the other option is – I mean I wouldn’t leave things running all winter long. I feel like it’s going to put pressure on the system, it’s going to overload. You’re not probably getting the proper amount of air and things into it that it needs because the pool is covered. But if you’re so frustrated with it and the chemicals, why not think about a salt-water pool?

MACK: Because I’m cheap.

TOM: At least you’re honest about it.

MACK: Well, I know you guys like honesty, so I’ll probably go against all conventional advice and try it.

TOM: Alright. Well, good luck. Let us know how you make out. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.