As the weather gets colder, it’s important to take steps to properly winterize and maintain your pool. Cold temperatures bring unique challenges that require some specialized care to keep your pool in top shape. At Executive Blue Pools, we want to ensure your pool is ready for next summer. Here are our top tips for cold weather pool maintenance.
1. Choose the Right Pool Cover
Investing in the proper winter pool cover is crucial to shielding your pool from leaves, debris, and animals during the off months. We recommend a safety pool cover that allows rainwater to drain off without accumulating on top. This keeps the cover from sagging and filtering grime into the water. Mesh covers also prevent rapid evaporation in climates with low humidity. Be sure to weigh down the edges to keep the cover secure in windy conditions.
2. Continue a Maintenance Regimen
It’s tempting to completely close up your pool in the winter, but certain maintenance tasks remain important even in cold temps. Run your pool pump and filtration system for at least a few hours per day through the winter to keep water circulating. Configure timers to run during the warmest part of the afternoons.
Remove debris from the cover regularly to prevent large accumulations. Use a pool skimmer or leaf rake to wipe the cover clean before debris gets compacted by rain or snow. Getting a head start on spring cleaning now saves major work later.
3. Shock and Balance Chemistry
Fluctuating water chemistry threatens the integrity of your pool surface and equipment. Cold water holds more dissolved solids, making regular shock treatments essential throughout the winter. Shocking kills algae, bacteria, and fungi attempting to grow in your hibernating pool. We recommend using chlorine boosting shock once a week.
Test and balance alkalinity, pH and calcium on a monthly basis. These levels tend to drift out of the ideal ranges as pool water cools down. Add chemicals as needed to maintain proper saturation and prevent corrosion or scaling on pool walls. Invest in a complete home water analysis kit to stay on top of your water quality even in frigid conditions.
4. Use Pool Antifreeze
Sustained freezing temperatures can damage pipes, pumps and filters. Add pool antifreeze to prevent cold weather cracks. Antifreeze lowers the freezing point of pool water sitting inside equipment. Dose according to package instructions based on your pool size. Disperse the antifreeze near pump intakes to guard vulnerable parts. Replace antifreeze whenever new water enters the system after balancing chemicals. Using antifreeze keeps critical systems functional for next season.
5. Drain Water Features
Ornamental water features are difficult to insulate and heat through winter. Avoid weather damage by completely draining fountains, slides, cascades and other water accents. Blow out all standing water from pipes using compressed air to prevent ruptures. Shut off electric pumps and fountains at the circuit breaker so they cannot accidentally power on when frozen. Complete drainage sets up equipment for easy spring reactivation.
6. Maintain Water Level
As precipitation refills your covered pool, monitor water levels to prevent overfilling. Use a submersible pump to drain excess rain or melted snow. Water expands as it turns to ice, risking liner displacement or buckling of pool walls. Prevent damage by never allowing water volume to exceed halfway up skimmer openings. If properly closing an in-ground pool for winter, lower levels to beneath outlets prior to covering for maximum expansion room.
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7. Prepare Indoor Areas
Protect related pool equipment kept indoors from seasonal temperature fluctuations as well. Insulate pipes and backwash hoses residing in cold basement spaces. Drain all standing water from pumps by disconnecting intake and return hoses.
Thoroughly clean and dry each component before storage to prevent mold or algae growth. Keep electric motors covered and detached from damp concrete floors. Conducting preventative maintenance now allows everything to reboot smoothly next spring.
8. Safely Reopen Your Pool
When the weather warms again it’s time to reopen your pool for the swim season. Carefully remove all winter coverings and store neatly until next use. Reconnect hoses and electrical components to restart circulation pumps and filters.
Refill to proper levels with fresh water. Inspect equipment for damage or leaks before returning to regular usage. Shock and balance chemicals for clean, swimmable water.
Don’t Let Cold Weather Catch You Off Guard
With our tips, you can take charge of winter pool prep and upkeep. Pools require year-round care to protect your investment in clean backyard fun. Our trained technicians implement winter best practices so your pool emerges next season in pristine shape.
If you notice your pool is losing water to an undetected leak, contact us today at +1 469 340 2757 or email info@executivebluepools.com to schedule our professional pool services. We assist with any repairs or opener pool servicing after your DIY winterization efforts.
Stay ahead of falling temperatures by scheduling winter maintenance plans customized for your pool. Our team is here to help with all your pool’s cold weather preparation and upkeep needs!