People often stay away from the pool during the winter and start using it again by spring. But that does not mean you should abandon your pool in winter. If you do not prepare for the winter, there will be a discoloration of the pool, the equipment will break down, and you will spend more money to fix it.
The best time to start preparing your swimming pool is when the temperature drops below 65°F (18°C). But this often depends on the location, exposure to sunlight, heated or non-heated pool, covered or exposed pool, and the temperature outside.
Below we together with Innovative Property Solutions share some tips on how to prepare your pool for the winter.
Clean the pool
Cleaning your pool is the first step of preparing it for winter. Here, you need to remove all the leaves and debris from the pool using filters, skimmers, and water baskets. Scrub the floor, sides, and waterline of the pool with a brush and pool cleaner. If you allow dirt and debris to stay in the pool, it will result in stubborn stains that may later be difficult to remove.
Adjust the pH level of the pool to a neutral level that is not too alkaline or acidic. We recommend a pH of between 7.2 to 7.6, and you can adjust the pH when necessary, using a pH minus or plus additive.
A chlorine shock treatment is also essential in keeping your pool clean. It would be best if you do this using the recommended dose of chlorine tablets. Add the chlorine to the filtration system and skimmers and allow it to run for 6 to 12 hours. Doing this will help to spread the chlorine to every part of the pool. Ensure to keep the chlorine levels between 6 to 10 ppm.
After the chlorine shock treatment, add a good winterizing liquid to the filtration system and run it for another 6 to 12 hours. The winterizing liquid will prevent algae or fungal growths and limescale formation in your pool during winter. The amount of winterizing liquid you add depends on the volume of water in your pool.
At the end of this process, your filter will be dirty. For this reason, you will need to backwash the filter and chemically clean it. The backwashing process depends on the type of filter you are using.
Adjust the water level
Adjusting the water level is a necessary step if you can not monitor the water level throughout winter. We recommend that you drain some water and keep the water level a little below the bottom of the skimmer after switching off the skimmer valve. Another option is to reduce the water level by 10%.
If you do this, during the winter rainfall, the level will go up without overflowing the pool. Install Gizmos or winterizing floats that will absorb pressure from the increased water volume following freezing.
You can place the Gizmos in the skimmer basket, and the winterizing floats diagonally and partially inside the water. They will absorb water expansion and protect the sides swimming pool sides if it is prone to ice formation. However, the anti-freezing precautions may not be necessary if your swimming pool is saltwater or unexposed to freezing.
As part of maintaining the water level in your pool, we recommend that you invest in a winter pool cover. A winter pool cover will keep the water level stable and prevent leaves, dust, or dirt from falling into the pool. Ensure that the winter pool cover is tight and not dangling in the water. You can also combine it with a safety cover to prevent pets or children from falling into the pool.
Prepare your pool equipment
If you do not tend to your pool equipment before winter, the water inside them will freeze, expand, and cause damage. We recommend that you drain the water from your pool heater, pump, and filter, once you are through with circulating the chemicals and adjusting the water level.
Pool equipment have drain plugs that let water out of the bottom. Remove the drain plugs and store them in the pre-filter basket to prevent them from going missing. For pool equipment that is stored inside, this wouldn’t be necessary. During the winter, you need your pool equipment to be working effectively because you will run the chlorinator, filter, and pump for at least 4 hours every day. Doing this will prevent the pool water from freezing.
Check your pumps and ensure that it is working properly and there is no calcium build-up. Always use the recommended cleaner to remove calcification if present.
Monitor the pool water and equipment
It is essential to monitor your pool regularly during the winter. By doing this, you will know the general state of the water and the pool equipment. Check the filter gauge and water chemistry once every two weeks and make adjustments when necessary.
If you prepare your pool for winter, you will protect it from damages and avoid unnecessary expenses