As the weather slowly begins to cool, you and your family are undoubtedly finding that your pool time is beginning to dwindle. There is a certain thrill in those last few chilly dips, even as the outside air is breezy and crisp!
But we all know that pool season will come to a close sooner than later, and that comes along with certain important steps to take.
If you are trying to prepare your pool for fall, you must follow certain protocols before the mid-fall hits around October, and certainly before winter sets in.
People manage their gardens and homes according to the fall. They equip them with supplies to counter the effects of the changing seasons and their variable qualities.
However, they often pay no heed to the pool. Pools are not functional during late fall and winter. In fact, Off-Season Care for Texas Pools can be a tricky thing to gauge, since our mid-season weather can be unpredictably hot or cold at times.
With summer ending, your hectic routine begins, and nobody has a moment to spare for the pool any longer. Or even if you do, you may or may not know how drastic the differences are between summer and autumn pool care techniques.
As winter sets in, the cold weather also keeps you away from the pool vicinity. Regardless of the temperature outside, you still have to take care of your pool in order to keep it functional and well-maintained for the warmer seasons.
Cleaning the Pool
In the fall season, leaves break away from the branches and land on the ground.
Pools usually have a high population of fallen leaves. These fallen leaves accompanied by the pool water can decompose, giving rise to pool algae.
These organisms can severely impact pool water and walls. They can even render pools contaminated and useless upon the arrival of summer.
This is especially true if decomposing organic matter is left unattended for 4-6 months during the cooler seasons. While your pool water may retain some residual chlorine and algaecide, it’s no match for the amount of organic debris your pool is susceptible to.
Thus, you must thoroughly clean your pool at the end of the season. Take out the rotting leaves and debris from the water.
Debris can also get stuck to the pool floor if the pool is left dirty for prolonged periods. You will need to use the appropriate tools to clean both the water and pool floor.
There are multiple styles of vacuums you can use to clean the pool floor. This will collect the accumulated and sunken waste in the pool, so that it won’t continue to decompose.
Pool Covers
Pool covers are definitely the #1 preventive measure when it comes to preparing your pool for fall and winter.
Adding an appropriate cover to your pool will ensure that no junk and leaves can get into the pool after cleaning. Use plastic or polyester for covering as they can prevent external contamination in the pool.
Securely place the covers on the pool so that your family avoids the pool area during the cold season. Make sure that small children understand that the pool cover is not a safe and sturdy walking surface.
Lift the plastic sheets once or twice every few weeks to keep the water odorless.
Maintaining the Water
It is essential to maintain the chemical contents of pool water. This is a bit of a moving target, as pool use, heat, and sun exposure all affect the rate at which chlorine is broken down in your pool.
Slight changes in the temperature can also change the water pH, turning it more acidic or basic (alkalinic) than the desired levels for swimming. These levels need to be monitored to some degree even when the pool is not in use, to avoid needing to correct a severe imbalance come springtime. .
Adjust the pH of the water once or twice a month.
Use decontamination agents and chemicals to keep water free from developing bacterial colonies and microbial cultures. Add salts of calcium and chlorinating agents to neutralize the pH of the water.
If you are needing more instruction on how to maintain the appropriate levels, check out our Pool Chemical Guide: Summer and Autumn Pool Care.
Filtration System
Clean the pool filters before you cover the pool. Filters contain debris and waste that can clog them. Additionally, if said waste remains exposed to pool water, the organic matter will further offset the pools pH and chemical levels.
Once the filters are blocked, reviving them becomes difficult and expensive. Check your filtration system and filter pumps thoroughly before covering your pool with a cover.
Conclusion
To prepare your pool for fall, you must follow all the above-mentioned steps.
- Cleaning the pool
- Adding a pool cover
- Maintaining the water
- Filtration system
If pool maintenance seems challenging, then you can contact Sun Valley Pool Care and rely on their expertise to clean and prepare your pool for the coming season.