Are you looking for tips on how to handle your pool in the wintertime? Is this your first wintertime with a pool and you’re unsure of how to properly care for it? If so, then you need to read up on a winter pool maintenance trick to do things the right way.
This can give you valuable information on how to care for your pool whenever it becomes too cold outside. You’ll have a better understanding of the “why” behind winter pool maintenance.
See below for several tips and tricks that you can use to learn more about winter pool care.
1. Maintain a Clean Pool Cover
Whenever you decide to winterize your pool, you need to dedicate a day or two to winterizing it the right way. That includes balancing the pH levels, cleaning the water, removing any debris, and draining about one foot off of the pool.
After all of that is taken care of, you will place an air pillow on the water, then cover it with a pool cover. The air pillow protects your pool from ice.
However, many pool owners make the mistake of covering their pool for the winter, then thinking to themselves “see you next spring!”. They don’t pay any attention to it all winter long, then are potentially greeted with an unwanted surprise when opening it back up in the spring.
First off, if you don’t have a pool cover and air pillow, you need to buy one right away. Second, you need to prioritize keeping the pool cover clean throughout the winter months.
Lastly, you should check the pool cover every few days to make sure the cover is secure and has no leaks. If you notice any puddling on the cover, you might want to readjust the cover to ensure a tighter fit.
2. Check All Necessary Parts
During the winter, it’s easy to forget about your pool. It comes with the adage of “out of sight, out of mind”. However, to make sure your pool comes through the winter unscathed, you need to check the condition of essential parts before shutting the pool down.
You will want to make a mental note of checking the water heater, pool filter, and pool pump. Does everything seem to be working as normal? If so, then you can start the process of draining the water out of each pool part to prevent freezing water.
If you leave your parts with pool water in them during the winter, then the water inside will freeze if the temperature reaches below 32-degrees Fahrenheit. Freezing water is taxing on your pipes and can quickly lead to a cracked or leaking pipe.
For those of you that don’t know what to look for, be sure to schedule an all-around pool inspection from a professional pool maintenance company. They’ll use their experience and know-how to assess your pool’s condition and any potential issues that need to be fixed.
If there are any issues, the service can also recommend whether the problem needs to be addressed before you winterize it or if it can wait until next spring.
3. Add Chlorine
Ideally, once you place the cover on your pool, you won’t be opening it back up until the water gets warm enough to reopen it in the spring. That’s a longer span of time than most Katy Texas residents realize.
The cool season lasts around 3 months, typically from late November to late February. During this time, temperatures range from 40-degrees to 60-degrees Fahrenheit. It can occasionally reach below freezing (32-degrees) during the winter nights.
However, you won’t likely be reopening your pool as soon as March arrives. You’ll still probably wait a month or more for it to warm up a bit more for you and your guests to enjoy the water.
That’s why it’s important to add chlorine to your pool before you cover it. This can help keep the water clean until you reopen in the spring. Be sure not to overdo it, though. Higher chlorine levels can bleach the walls inside your inground pool.
4. Add Algaecide
Perhaps the biggest threat to your pool this winter (or any water that’s stagnant for long periods of time) is algae growth.
Fortunately, that can be prevented by adding algaecide to your pool water and running your pump for a full 24 hours. Once that’s done, you can continue with your pool winterizing tasks.
Thanks to algaecide, you will find it easier to open the pool back up in the spring. Less cleaning involved and no heartbreaking surprises when you uncover the pool.
5. Monitor Freezing Days
Fortunately for Katy Texas residents, freezing days are few and far between. The temperature would rarely drop below 32-degrees for an extended period of time.
For that reason, you should figure out a way to monitor the weather this winter. Download a winter app that can alert you when the temp outside reaches below freezing.
That way, you can be extra attentive to your pool during that stretch. Look for any sides of the pool cover being infiltrated, pipes having leaks, and so on.
Find a Winter Pool Service That You Can Trust
Now that you have seen this in-depth guide to winter pool care, it’s clear that you need to join forces with trusted pool service in Katy.
Be sure to read this page to learn all about the Sahara team and why we’re the best fit for all your pool needs in the Katy Texas area.
For more inquiries, please be sure to reach out via our contact us page and we will be happy to assist you further.
