Jumping back into your pool for the first time after a long, cold winter season is a great feeling. It means the weather is finally warming back up, and it’s hopefully the beginning of a lot more time outdoors, enjoying the water and sunshine with your family.
Few things are more disappointing, however, than excitedly lifting the cover off your pool and discovering it was inadequately prepared for the winter. Green algae now saturates the water, a visual indication that harmful microbial life may have taken hold. Having it cleared out will be costly and time-consuming. Perhaps, even worse, the intermittent freezing and thawing of the pool water during the winter may have irreparably damaged the pump and other equipment, forcing an expensive replacement. It’s all the more disappointing knowing that all of it was preventable if only proper pool winterization measures had been taken.
The good news is you can avoid difficult and expensive pool cleaning and repair in the spring by following these five tips for top-notch pool winterization:
1. Keep Your Pool Clean and Clear
All too often, homeowners think it’s harmless to simply leave a few accessories floating in the pool, even if they take other measures to prepare for the winter weather. However, not only does this create a cluttered mess, but it also can potentially cause damage to the pool itself (as well as the items within it).
Pool accessories, particularly ones made from plastic, will degrade as they sit in the water, causing microplastics and other small particles of material to enter the pump and plumbing system. Over time, this will put a strain on the filtration system, which can be harmful to the equipment in your pool. You can avoid this problem entirely by removing all pool toys and other accessories—including larger items such as diving boards and ladders—and cleaning them with fresh water before storing them somewhere dry.
2. Prevent the Growth of Algae by Maintaining Proper Pool Chemistry
Algae, bacteria, and other microbial life can quickly take hold in a pool with improperly maintained chemistry. Not only will this turn your pool an unsightly green color, but it can also place people swimming in it at risk of catching diseases such as E. coli and even dysentery. During the summer, it’s easy to see when this growth is starting to occur, and therefore easy to remember to work to keep the pool’s chemistry balanced. During the winter, however, homeowners may not even think about pool care, leading to an insidious microbial growth that occurs underneath the pool cover.
Every two months or so, even when the pool is not in use, you should check the pH and pool chemistry. Be prepared to adjust it as needed, using chemicals from a company that supplies them, such as Strong Refuge Pool. Note that it’s not enough to simply reuse the same chemicals year after year, as they will not be as effective over time. You will need to reorder fresh ones each season.
3. Prepare for the Water to Freeze
Proper pool winterization must address the fact that, in many areas in the United States, the temperature can become cold enough to freeze the water in the winter. If adequate measures have not been taken to address this, freezing water can do a great deal of damage to the pool and the equipment within. For example, frozen water in the plumbing can cause pipes to burst, while the heaters can become cracked, and the expansion of the water near the surface can damage the grout.
There are several steps you should take to prepare for the possibility that your pool may freeze at some point during the winter months. One is to keep the water at a lower level (this will protect the grout and prevent possible hazards). Another is to ensure that any above-ground pipes are entirely clear of water (you can use compressed air to force any stagnant water out). Finally, you can also introduce a pool antifreeze to your water to limit any freezing that does occur.
4. Keep Your Pump Running
One thing that can both help to reduce the growth of microbial life and limit the chances of the water freezing is to keep the pump running during the winter. This will also help keep the equipment itself in good shape by preventing any parts from corroding due to lack of use.
How long you keep the pool pump running depends largely on the outside temperature: if it’s well below freezing, you should have the pump on constantly to help prevent the water from freezing solid. On the other hand, if the temperature isn’t quite that cold, you can get away with running your pump for only 8 to 10 hours per day.
Note: It’s important to keep in mind that pool pumps can use a great deal of power, regardless of the month. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in a more energy-efficient version if you are able to do so.
5. Call a Professional When You Need To
Regular maintenance is a critical facet of keeping your pool in good working order. This holds true not only during the active spring and summer seasons but during the off-season as well. After all, even though you are not regularly using it, all of the components that contribute to a safe, healthy, and comfortable swimming pool are still there during the winter. That’s why it’s crucial to address any problems that might occur, regardless of which season they may happen during.
If you notice a lag in your pump, damaged grout, unusual algae growth, or any other issues that may damage your pool if not addressed quickly, contact a professional. While it’s sometimes possible to fix these problems on your own, this is rarely the best way to do the job. If you can find a good contractor, they will fix the problem for you in a way that will prevent it from recurring so that once winter ends and the weather warms up, you can get back to enjoying the water without delay.
Looking for pool services, equipment, or supplies in the Pacific Northwest? Contact the experts at Strong Refuge Pool and keep your pool in good working order year-round.
