How to Winterize your Swimming Pool
Every pool owner needs to close their pool for winter. During winter, there are harsh climatic conditions that could damage open pools. So, a good percentage of homeowners often winterize their pools just before winter. Fortunately, winterizing your pool is not as complex as most people think. In this article, we look at how to winterize your swimming pool.
When should you start to winterize your swimming pool?
Typically, it would be best if you started to winterize your swimming pool once the temperatures start getting down to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid winterizing your pool very early; since you risk having algae problems.
A detailed procedure for swimming pool winterization
- The first thing to do when winterizing your swimming pool is to remove your pool accessories. Pull out your pool steps, skimmer baskets, ladders, and cleaning equipment from the pool. Additionally, get rid of all dirt particles from the pool, including algae.
- Next, deep clean the pool. Use a skimmer net to get rid of all floating debris. Also, use a quality pool vacuum to get rid of the dirt inside the pool. During this stage, it would be best to brush all the pool’s surfaces gently. Deep cleaning the pool helps you balance the water chemistry as well as prevent the growth of algae. Once you finish cleaning the pool, cover it to protect it from dirt.
- Afterward, balance the water chemistry. Your pool should have a neutral pH of approximately 7.2 to 7.6. So, use a test kit to identify the pool pH and adjust it accordingly. If your pool is too alkaline, add muriatic acid to lower the Ph. On the other hand, if your pool is too acidic, use sodium bicarbonate to achieve a neutral pH. Also, check the calcium hardness levels in the pool. Generally, calcium hardness should measure between 175 to 225ppm. Moreover, ensure the pool has the correct chlorine levels. Balanced water chemistry helps you avoid common pool problems.
- The next thing to do is to reduce the water levels in the pool. The water level in the pool should be slightly below the skimmer. There are many ways to drain water from the pool. Consider using a hose. Draining a pool takes approximately one to two days.
- After lowering the water level in the pool, drain your pool equipment. Failure to drain the pool equipment before closing them for winter can lead to severe damage, especially when temperatures drop to freezing point. Drain your pool filters, pumps among other equipment. Then, let the pool equipment dry and store them in a safe place for winter.
- Once you complete draining your pool equipment, conduct a pool shock. Shocking the pool gets rid of algae and all harmful microorganisms present in the pool. More often than not, pool owners prefer using a chlorine pool shock. They add excess chlorine to the pool for maximum disinfection. If you decide to conduct a chlorine shock, ensure you wear protective garments to reduce skin irritation.
- Use a quality automatic pool cover or winter cover to cover the pool. Doing this keeps the pool safe throughout the entire winter. However, note that winter covers do not offer a lot of protection like safety covers. Safety covers protect the pool from dirt more effectively. But they are likely to fall into the pool after some time accidentally. On the other hand, winter covers stay intact during the entire winter.
Winterizing an Aboveground Pool
The process of winterizing an aboveground pool is similar to that of an inground pool. The only difference comes in when draining the pool lines. During this step, you’ll have to unplug the hoses and use the outlets for draining. Also, when covering an aboveground pool, put up an air pillow in the middle. The air pillow is responsible for regulating the pressure coming from snow and ice. Thus, it protects the pool from damage.
Why should you winterize your pool?
Winterizing your pool protects your pool equipment from damage. During winter, pool equipment becomes more susceptible to ice and snow; hence they can freeze. You definitely don’t want to spend thousands on pool equipment repairs and replacements the following summer.
Another reason why you should winterize your swimming pool is to keep the pool in good condition. It is impossible to conduct weekly pool maintenance procedures during winter. So, it would be best to close your pool for winter once and for all.
Need help to winterize your swimming pool? Hire the best pool professionals
It is essential to winterize your swimming pool before winter. This process keeps the pool in good shape throughout the entire winter. The steps involved in pool winterization are not as complicated as most people think. Nevertheless, it would be best to hire a pool professional to conduct the winterization process for you. At Fox Pools, we have the best pool contractors who are highly experienced in pool winterization. So, do not hesitate to contact us if you need any pool winterization services.