The Best Tips for Winter Pool Maintenance

The warm, beautiful, and fun summer days have slowly faded away, leaving you with chillier weather and a lot less pool usage. You shouldn’t overlook your pool just because you aren’t using it as much as it still needs your attention. 

While you may not need to close the pool for winter, you do need to follow a few maintenance guidelines to ensure your pool is well taken care of during the off-season. Not only will this keep your pool operating efficiently and effectively, but it will also make for a better season opener come springtime. 

Read on for the best tips for winter pool maintenance.

Lower the Water Level

It’s advisable to lower your pool’s water level before closing it down for the season. 

• Ensure you lower the water level to a few inches below the lowest intake point. Lowering the water level ensures no water circulates into your pool pumping system and freezes.
• Ensure the water in the pool is free of dirt, debris, and other foreign materials to allow for efficient water chemical balancing and prevent the growth of mold and algae.

Get the Water Chemistry Right

Water chemistry refers to your pool’s water composition in terms of PH, alkalinity, calcium, and cyanuric acid levels.

Before winterizing your pool, it’s advisable to get the water chemistry right. Here are a few tips on how to get your pool’s water chemistry right.

• Increase the PH level to between 7.6-7.8. The PH level naturally decreases in stagnant water over extended periods of time, such as when you leave your pool closed during winter. Increasing PH offsets natural decrease and counters effects of low PH such as damage and staining of your pool’s service or liner.
• Raise the alkalinity to between 150-175 ppm because, like PH, it decreases over time in stagnant water. Raising alkalinity prevents staining of your pool’s liners.
• Increase the calcium levels to above 200 ppm to prevent the erosion and weakening of your pool’s coating during winterization.
• Maintain the chlorine levels between 1-3 ppm to kill germs and bacteria that thrive in freezing conditions.
• Add a sufficient amount of algaecide to prevent the growth of algae when the pool is closed. Depending on the history of algae outbreaks in your pool, you may need to put additional algaecide.

Pool Equipment

Here’s what you should do to your pool equipment as you prepare for pool winterization.

• Remove pool equipment and accessories such as ladders, handrails, steps, skimmers, ducks, etc. This’s to reduce temperature and weather-related damage to your essential pool equipment and accessories.
• Wash all the equipment and allow them to air dry before storing them away for the season.
• Conduct a thorough visual inspection of the remaining equipment and ensure there are no cracks and openings that could be worsened by ice during winter. In case you notice any cracks or gaps, repair them before closing your pool.
• Ensure pool equipment is well-drained and don’t seal the drain plugs to allow for any residual drainage.
• Don’t put pool antifreeze in pool equipment as it can damage the seals and gaskets.
• Inspect to ensure that no rodents have nested on your pool’s equipment, especially the pool heaters.
• Ensure the power breaker remains off to keep it from turning on when the plumbing lines are empty. If it turns on, it can lead to the melting of the pump components.

Pool Cover

• Get a cover that perfectly fits your pool without leaving any spaces.
• Ensure you keep the pool cover’s surface clean, especially mesh pool covers, to prevent the entry of foreign material into the pool.
• Ensure the automatic cover pump remains in stable working condition and is free of debris to avoid pool cover damages.
• Don’t adjust your pool cover with a large weight load (ice) or sharp-edged ice on top because doing so can cause injuries.

In Case of a Winter Freeze

We experienced unprecedented frigid temperatures last year that wreaked havoc on pool owners throughout the state. With cold temperatures predicted yet again this year, it’s important to be prepared for a winter freeze. Minimize potential issues by following the four simple steps below prior to freezing temperatures hitting your area.

• Check your freeze protection. It can be a manual dial or part of your pool pump or pool automation. However, as the temperature drops, ensure that your freeze protection is working to prevent any fractured or damaged equipment.
• Cut the running time of the filter in half and reduce the run time of the pump. If necessary, set the runtime to the evening when it is coldest so that when your freeze security is enabled, it also counts against the amount of time required to filter the pool. This results in a small amount of cost savings that can add up if done correctly.
• Keep the pH level between 7.2-7.8 and test frequently to keep the available chlorine-free between 1.0 and 3.0 ppm.
• Follow the manufacturer’s directions for the proper care and maintenance of your pool equipment, even during this period of reduced use. Consider hibernating additional pool features that you might have, such as slides and other accessories, to prevent damage.
• If you do not cover your swimming pool, clean the skimmer regularly, keep the filter as instructed by the manufacturer, and vacuum as needed.
• Covering the pool will keep the debris out and reduce the need for chlorine. Until coating, shock treatment of the water according to the direction of the chemical manufacturer.

For further information about protecting your pool in frigid temperatures, be sure to read the following blog post:

Protect Your Pool in the Freezing Weather

Your Dallas Pool Care Experts

As the winter approaches, don’t forget to take care of your pool. A perfect pool winterization ensures your pool remains in a sound state and lets you avoid expensive repairs. The tips highlighted above give you the best pool winterization insights to use come winter. Be sure to contact the pool care experts at Hobert Pools & Spas for all of your pool service and maintenance needs. 

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Hobert Pools is a Dallas pool builder proudly serving Rockwall, Frisco & surrounding areas. Family-owned and operated since 1975, Hobert Pools specializes in new pool & spa construction, outdoor living design, natural pools, and fire & water feature aesthetics. Hobert Pools is uniquely qualified to build your backyard retreat.

For more Dallas pool design tips, subscribe to their blog and YouTube Channel or ‘Like’ them on Facebook. For pool design photos and inspiration, visit the gallery on their website, and see what Hobert Pools’ client recommended pool design and construction team can do for you. Ready to get started on your own backyard oasis? Contact the Dallas pool builders and pool renovation experts at Hobert Pools today!