Don’t forget your pool needs maintenance in the winter, too!
While you and your family may not be enjoying your pool all winter long, it still needs some attention and care. By taking preventative action, you can save yourself a lot of time and money on pool repairs.
“Spending regular time making sure everything is looking good and operating well can save you the time and money on a potentially huge job later on,” explain Al Curtis from Ask the Pool Guy.
Through the seasons, especially winter when your pool is unattended, windy and stormy weather can blow leaves and dirt into your pool. If that debris is left to settle, it can be extremely difficult to remove.
Here are some tips from Ask The Pool Guy to help keep your pool in great shape this winter:
- Keep the water balanced. Your pool’s pH level need to be between 7.2 and 7.6 at all times. Taking a small sample of pool water can tell you exactly what your pH level is, and if it needs some adjusting. If you want help or simply don’t feel like doing this yourself, contact Ask The Pool Guy!
- Clean your pool. Wind and rain can bring some pretty unsightly messes to your pool, not to mention there is a possibility of algae growth. It is important to brush the walls and floor of the pool and to vacuum the pool thoroughly. Algae thrives in unclean water.
- Clean the filter. Check your filter every once in a while to make sure it’s working properly and is sparkly clean. Any grease or oil deposits will harden over winter, making your filter hard to clean and reducing its efficiency.
- Use a shock treatment. We recommend you use a regular shock treatment throughout winter. Once you add the treatment to your pool, run the pump and filter for several hours to ensure it’s evenly distributed.
- Protect against algae! Use an algaecide that is appropriate for your pool. Once algae develops in your pool, it can be really difficult to remove.
- Check chlorine levels. For best results keep your pool’s free available chlorine levels at a consistent level of 2-3 parts per million (PPM). This includes during the winter season. If you’re using a salt chlorinator and a pool blanket, remember to reduce your chlorine level to 1-2 PPM. Pool blankets trap chemicals and chlorine, sometimes causing high chlorine levels to occur. This can damage pool equipment if not monitored.
- Maintain pH and Total Alkalinity levels. Total Alkalinity is the measure of the ability of your pool to resist changes in the pH. It is the overseer that keeps the pH level where it needs to be.
- Run your filter. Your pool filter should be running three to four hours per day. If you use a timer, just adjust it to suit. Also remember… if you switch the filter on during off-peak periods, you can save money.
- Keep your pool covered. This will prevent water loss and lessens the amount of debris that can enter your pool. Make sure to purchase a good quality pool blanket or cover. If you’re not sure what cover to use, just call us at Ask The Pool Guy .
- Keep a regular maintenance schedule. Once winter rolls around and you come up with a pool maintenance routine, make sure you stick to it on a regular basis. It’s essential to keep it up in order to prevent future damage and repairs. Once a week check to make sure all your equipment is working properly and make sure to check the water level. Empty the skimmer basket, check your chlorine levels, and pH levels. If you are unsure of anything, contact Ask The Pool Guy for advice or maintenance tips.