How To Maintain Your Pool In Winter
Backyard pools add value to your home and improve its aesthetics. However, pools are a lot of work and require regular maintenance year-round.
Failing take proper care of your pool in the winter will put you on the hook for large, time-consuming repairs or replacements.
Freezing temperatures can cause much damage to your pool. To ensure you maintain your investment, consider these recommendations:
Reduce Water, but Do Not Completely Drain it
Most homeowners ask if they should completely drain their pools in the winter because they think the water will freeze and damage their pool. The answer is no, do not drain your pool.
Keeping water in your pool will prevent the liner from drying out, shrinking, and cracking.
Reduce the water levels in the winter, ideally, about two to six inches below the skimmer before covering it to protect it from the harsh winter conditions. This will help protect your pump.
However, if your environment doesn’t experience freezing temperatures, your pool water should almost be filled to the top during the winter.
Clean the Pool and Filter
Next, clean the pool. Brush the walls and the floor. Vacuum the entire pool every couple of weeks, to avoid the formation of unpleasant algae.
Also, clean the pool’s filter regularly, to prevent any hardening of grease or oil deposits in winter that can make it even harder to clean in the warmer months.
Add a Pool Cover
Acorns, leaves, and other debris that falls into your pool will stain the bottom and sides if not removed quickly.
Covering your pool in winter will add an extra layer of protection against these stains and also any algae growth.
A pool cover lessens the possibility of freezing temperatures cracking the pool.
There are pool covers made specifically for winter weather.
Throughout the winter, continue to check for any debris, water, or snow and remove them from the cover. Gently, use a pool brush to do this.
Check on your Pool Equipment
When you’re not using your pool, it is important to store pool equipment, like ladders and other accessories in a shed or garage.
You will also need to check on the pool pump, filter, and heater periodically, to ensure they haven’t been damaged by winter weather.
When the forecast predicts freezing temperatures, set alarms on your phone to remind yourself to check pipes and equipment for cracks or leaks. This will help avoid expensive repair and replacement costs in the long run.
Check your Pool Chemistry
Since it is not recommended to completely drain your pool for winter, chemically balancing the water is mandatory to prevent algae, bacteria, waterlines, and decontamination making the opening process much easier for pool owners.
Scooping leaves and sucking up dirt from your pool isn’t enough, you must also invest in chemicals for water treatment: an algaecide, a pool clarifier and chlorine, in particular.
An algaecide will help to prevent growth of algae in your pool, and it’s a good idea to pour it in two days before covering your pool as a way to quash any chances of algae growth.
A clarifier, on the other hand, will help your filter get rid of the cloudy appearance in your water.
Chlorine is a necessity for your pool’s health- it keeps the water clean until summer.
Just remember to read the labels on the back to make sure you’re using the correct treatment product and administering the right dosage for your pool.
Conclusion
The cold winter months are no excuse to skip pool maintenance. Use these tips to keep your pool in good condition throughout the winter.
Also, remember that algae and bacteria have higher chances to thrive if you leave the pool covered for long. So, don’t wait for the warm weather before you take the cover off. Instead, start the prep even while the weather is still a little chilly to save yourself from extra pool cleaning work.
If you’re unsure about any of these suggestions, call Sun Valley and a pool specialist will help you keep your pool in great condition throughout the winter season.
Thank you for sharing such helpful information! Also, remember to winterize skimmer and pool lines. If you skip this crucial step, you’ll be faced with a hefty bill for expensive repairs for cracked pipes. To winterize your saltwater pool’s skimmer and pool lines, you should:
1. Remove the skimmer from the basket, as well as all fittings from return lines;
2. Use an air compressor to push out all the water from the intake and return lines;
3. Plug your skimmer with a guard and plug your return lines with expansion plugs or pool plugs;
4. Turn off the air compressor once the above steps are complete.