Install ic40 chlorine generator before i close the pool or after the winter?

[Shai]

Main question
I bought a new pentair ic40 chlorine generator and controller.
Should i install it before i close the pool or after the winter?
Is there a downside to running water through it, I guess takes some time to put salt in and figure out the ideal levels, then emptying the lines? Or just wait till spring?

Second question (related)
It's into our 2nd winter, last winter I ran the pump 24/7 all winter, and left it uncovered with a net on, it looked pretty but I guess I paid for it in electricity, although, pool closing cost is $650 which I avoided so I'm not sure I lost that much money.
It's leaving the pool open all winter (water froze on top, we're in nj) a risky thing? Or not so silly and it's done?

 

[PoolStored]

Should i install it before i close the pool or after the winter?
Is there a downside to running water through it, I guess takes some time to put salt in and figure out the ideal levels, then emptying the lines? Or just wait till spring?

It doesn't matter. No downside to running water through it. If you startup in the fall, you will lose some salt over the winter due to rain/snow.

It's leaving the pool open all winter (water froze on top, we're in nj) a risky thing? Or not so silly and it's done?

It is not done by many in northern climates. I've only seen 1 or 2 even talk about it.

Also depends if you think we will have an easy winter with little snow accumulation or a hard winter with lots of freezing temperatures and snow accumulations of a few feet.

Do you have a backup generator to keep your pump running if your house loses power during a freeze? What is your contingency plan if your pump fails during a freeze?

If you have a gas heater, the heater is not to be run with water temperatures maintained at under 68F. You can go from a temperature lower than 68F, but you must heat up the water to above 68F. Read your manual.

I suggest you read Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

I would close the pool and not need to deal with it over the winter.

 

[wireform]

Don't know your thinking process but there's lots that can go wrong over a winter. $650 is the price call it insurance that you won't have nightmarish experience and a guarantee to open up without any surprises. No gain but lots too lose here in my opinion.

 

[ajw22]

Winter 2024 was exceptionally warm and raining rather then snow. It depends if you believe that is the new normal for NJ winters from climate change or believe in mean reversion and NJ will have colder snowey winters in the coming years. You never know until January and February which way it is going.

Here is the way my NJ pool looked a few years ago…

 

[Newdude]

+1. I got a brand spanky new snowblower a couple years ago but it's officially not new anymore so the harsh winters will be back eventually.

Also +1 to not adding the salt yet. I have lost as much as 60% of my salt with a mesh safety cover on the wet years. Salt is cheap and all in the grand scheme of things but why throw away up to 15 bags @ $8 each ?

You could also install the cell now and immediately swap it for a dummy pipe for the winter. That way it's all set for the spring and a 5 min swap to screw it back in.

Make sure you add a k1766 to your test kit and test your baseline before adding. You'll likely be surprised how much you already have. Then only add 75% of the salt to reach your target and creep up the rest from there once it's mixed.

 

[Bperry]

Main question
I bought a new pentair ic40 chlorine generator and controller.
Should i install it before i close the pool or after the winter?
Is there a downside to running water through it, I guess takes some time to put salt in and figure out the ideal levels, then emptying the lines? Or just wait till spring?

Second question (related)
It's into our 2nd winter, last winter I ran the pump 24/7 all winter, and left it uncovered with a net on, it looked pretty but I guess I paid for it in electricity, although, pool closing cost is $650 which I avoided so I'm not sure I lost that much money.
It's leaving the pool open all winter (water froze on top, we're in nj) a risky thing? Or not so silly and it's done?

If the water in the pipes freezes and expand, the pipe can fracture. The same can happen to your skimmers. That’s generally why pool pipes get blown out and sealed so water isn’t able to freeze inside.