As a swimming pool owner, you cannot escape the reality that you needwinter pool maintenance. Swimming pools are not cheap investments; thus, you need to work to ensure your pools are properly and regularly taken care of. After all, who would want to throw away thousands of dollars spent on pool construction and accessories simply by not properly maintaining your swimming pool?
Why do you need winter pool maintenance?
If you haven’t figured it out already, you need to properly and continuously maintain your swimming pools all throughout the year, and yes, even during the winter season when no one will be using it. The primary reason for this is to prolong the life of your swimming pool and to ensure that you will not have difficulties opening it up or preparing it for use after the cold months have passed.
Aside from this, maintaining your swimming pool even through the winter season helps prevent severe and costly damages to your pool caused by the freezing temperatures and contaminated water. A lot happens to your swimming pool even when you’re not using it. Thus, it is extremely essential that you implement winter pool maintenance.
Some of the fundamental maintenance that you should consider for your Myrtle Beach swimming pool this winter includes using a pool cover, checking the parts of your swimming pool, ensuring chemically balanced pool water and freezing temperature preparations. Each are individually discussed in detail below.
Tips for using your pool cover
Covering your swimming pool during the winter season is essential to ward off leaves, debris, and any animals. There are different types of pool covers you can choose for your swimming pool. Find the most suitable cover to use based on the type, shape, and size of your swimming pool. Aside from this, there are also certain things you need to maintain your pool cover.
• Securing the attachment – When covering your swimming pool, it is important that you ensure the cover is securely attached. If you have an above ground pool, you will need to inflate the air pillow as suggested by your pool technician. You also need to ensure the cables and cover clips are tightened and secured.
If you have an inground swimming pool, check your water bags or blocks and make sure they are tightly secured. You would also need to ensure that all your safety precautions are in place. If possible, work with a pool technician for best results.
• Removing debris and excess water on the pool cover – Your work does not end in setting up the pool cover. You will need to regularly remove debris and excess water that have accumulated on top of your pool cover. If you don’t, it will add to the weight of your pool cover and might result in damaging or tearing the cover. You can use a hose to remove the debris and vacuum to eliminate the excess water on top of your pool cover.
Checking the parts of your swimming pool
The primary parts of your swimming pool that you need to check as part of your winter pool maintenance routine are your pool pump, heater, and filter. Some pool owners tend to forget that their swimming pools have parts that also need to be maintained simply because they are out of sight; and your pool pump, heater, and filter are one of them.
To properly maintain your pool parts during winter, switch them on and make sure they are running efficiently. It is also important to ensure there is no water pooling up, especially in the pipes. Any water left behind can freeze, which could potentially result in cracking or damaging your pipes. As a result, you could end up with a severe leak problem by the time you are preparing your swimming pool for use after the cold months.
Ensuring chemically balanced pool water
If you prefer not to completely drain your swimming pool during winter, you will need to ensure proper chemical balance of your pool water. This will help you to prevent algae and bacteria growth in the water especially since you will not be using your swimming pool. Chemically balanced pool water also ensures your water is clean and highly sanitized throughout the winter season; thereby, preventing waterlines and making the process of opening your swimming pool much easier.
Experts suggest checking your pool water chemistry every two months. Remember that although you’ve ensured it is balanced before covering your pool, it could get out of balance after some time. Thus, you need to check it every two months.
Make sure you don’t use last year’s pool chemicals. Always work with fresh containers of chemicals. Last year’s chemicals are not likely to have the same potency as new ones. Another trick to ensure there won’t be waterlines on your swimming pool is adding an enzyme product to your pool water. This help break down non-living contamination in the swimming pool which are causing the formation of waterlines.
Freezing temperature preparations
Sometimes, temperature can hit the freezing point which will be dangerous and risky for your swimming pools. Freezing temperature can easily freeze or crack your pool pipes and other pool parts. This could then result in leak problems. Thus, it is important that you set up alarms to inform you when to perform the necessary preparations and precautions for the freezing temperature.
As part of your winter pool maintenance, consider using digital timers with temperature sensors. This device will warn you if the temperature is nearing freezing point and alert you that you need to perform the necessary preparations.
You can also set weather channel app alerts on your smart phones. This way, you’ll have instant access to the local weather forecast and know when the next freeze will be. This will give you more time for the preparations.
For more information and tips on winter pool maintenance, call Graves Pools and Spas now.
Graves Pools and Spas
132 Leisure Ln Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 903-7665
gravespoolsandspas.com