7 Tips On How To Maintain Your Pool This Winter

With the cold weather now set in, here are 7 winter pool maintenance tips that will keep your pool in good condition.

With the cold weather now set in and the fun of the pool over the summer now a dim memory, it is important that you properly care for your pool. Some consider turning off pumps and not thinking about their pool for at least 5 months! This is not a great idea and may prove more costly than you first think. Here are seven helpful winter pool maintenance tips.

        1.   Check the chlorine and pH levels every two weeks

The pool’s pH level needs to be between 7.2 and 7.6, which you can easily check by taking a water sample from elbow deep and adding the appropriate treatment to bring the pool to the correct level.

To keep your pool clean and clear, it’s important to maintain your pool’s free available chlorine at a constant level of 2-3 parts per million (PPM) throughout winter. If you’re using a salt chlorinator and a pool blanket, remember to reduce the output of the chlorinator to 1-2 PPM, as pool blankets trap chemicals and chlorine, and can cause high chlorine levels to occur – potentially damaging pool equipment if not monitored carefully.

        2.  Cover the pool completely

Roll out the pool cover when you’re not using the pool to help keep leaves and other organic material out of the water. This means less cleaning for you and less food for algae and bugs to feed on – win, win! Pool covers and blankets also help minimise chemical evaporation – saving you time and money.

        3.  Clean the skimmer box and filter regularly

Regular check on the skimmer box and filter. Empty the skimmer basket when full. Ensure that the pool’s filter is cleaned, as any grease or oil deposits will harden over winter. This can make the filter even harder to clean when the weather warms up.

        4.  Turn Pool lights on each week

Turn the pool lights on for at least 30 minutes a week to prevent build-up of moisture within the light and wiring

      5.   Reduce filter-running times

The pool’s filter should operate three to four hours each day during winter. If you’re using a timer, adjust it to suit. You can save money by switching the filter on during off-peak periods.

        6.  Check water levels

As part of your pool maintenance schedule make sure you occasionally check the water level is half way up the skimmer box opening.

        7. Remove algae as soon as you see it

When there is an algal bloom, most of the sanitiser in your pool is used trying to control and kill the algae, leaving no residual to keep pool water clean and healthy.

A small amount of work over winter will save a lot of work when the warmer months start to appear.