Winter has quite a snowball effect! Roughly 10.4 million residential swimming pools are spread across the United States. When winter rolls around, many of these pools close.
Yet preparing for winter means a lot of different things. You need to continue pool cleaning even if you are not using your pool. To make things simple, think about a few pool maintenance tips.
What tools should you get to protect your pool? Should you keep water in your pool, and what chemicals should you have? How do you avoid freezing?
Answer these questions, and you can master caring for your pool in no time. Here is your quick guide.
Cover Your Pool
The best thing you can do to winterize your pool is to buy a cover for it. A cover will prevent snow and debris from getting into your pool and damaging it.
Buy a cover big enough for your pool and make sure it is firmly attached to it. You can use cables and cover clips, so it stays in place.
When debris falls on your cover, you should take it off. Most roofs come with roof rakes that you can use to remove snow, twigs, and leaves. If you don’t have a roof rake, you can use a broom or a brush, but don’t scrape your cover, as it can tear.
Balance the Chemicals
You can drain your pool, but keeping the water in it can protect the pool from damage. However, you have to ensure the chemicals are balanced and the bacteria level is low.
Check your pool chemistry once every two months, if not more often. If you notice a waterline ring on your pool, you can use an enzyme to clean it off. Throw away your old chemicals and get new ones, as your old products may lose their potency between seasons.
Avoid Freezing
Frozen water can damage your pool parts and make pool maintenance extremely difficult. Check your pool liner whenever the temperature is expected to drop below freezing. If you notice a crack, you should fill it in immediately.
You should also check the pipes running into your pool. Keep them warm by wrapping them in insulation and running warm water through them.
Do not keep water in your pool pump, heater, or filter. Drain them before the winter and wrap them in covers, so they don’t fill with condensation, rainwater, or melted snow. If you think these parts have frozen, you should hire pool repair services.
Master Pool Cleaning
Pool cleaning in the winter requires a few essential steps. You must install a cover over your pool and insulate your pipes.
Keep some water in the pool, but mix in the right amounts of chemicals. Remove any algae or bacteria you see growing in and around your pool as soon as possible.
Do not let your pool freeze under any circumstances. A cover should help, but you should protect your pool liner and drain your pump.
If you need help with your pool, get it immediately. Mirage Pool Services serves the Menifee area.Contact us today.
Mirage Pool Services specializes in pool maintenance, equipment repairs and replacement, chlorine washes, draining pools, and pool startups in the Moreno Valley and Riverside, California, areas.