If you’re a proud owner of a swimming pool, unless you like filming those ice-bathing videos they do a lot of in Finland, you’re going to need some sort of protection for it, so that cold weather and various debris can’t spoil the chemistry of water.
The thing about swimming pools is that filling them is not as simple as just filling a hole in the ground with water.
To ensure that the water is safe for you to bathe in, you have to add such substances as chlorine and perhaps some antialgae solution to prevent these pesky microorganisms from destroying the quality of the water you’re going to be using.
In this article, we’re going to talk about what steps you can take to prevent your swimming pool from suffering damage during the fall and winter months. As you will see, it’s all about proper maintenance and regular checkups.
Here’s the deal.
Mind the Water Chemistry
When it comes to maintaining the water quality in your swimming pool over the cold part of the year, when you aren’t using it as much, you have to ensure that the chemical balance in the water is preserved at all times.
This is achieved by adding various chemicals to the water so that it doesn’t become too acidic or too alkaline.
The thing is that algae, bacteria, and other unwanted guests in your swimming pool are all like a different type of chemical disbalance in the water. So, by simply making sure that the chemical balance of the water in the swimming pool is alright, you will have prevented these nasty intruders from pestering you once and for all.
Check the Equipment
Every swimming pool comes with a certain amount of equipment.
Now, the sort of equipment you have depends on where you live and what sort of swimming pool ‘experience’ you want to achieve.
For example, if you live somewhere hot, you may not need a heater to be able to enjoy your time in the swimming pool. On the other hand, if you live in a colder climate, a swimming pool heater would be a must even though you’re only using it in summer.
Some of the common parts of a swimming pool, no matter where you live, though, would include a pump, filters, cleaners, as well as a chlorine generator.
Before you cover your pool for the upcoming autumn and winter season, first, make sure to check if all of the pieces of your swimming pool equipment work well.
You don’t want to uncover your swimming pool first thing when the spring comes only to find out that your pump is as dead as a doornail and that buying one is going to cost you a fortune.
Get Rid of Any Debris
… before you pull the cover over the swimming pool.
The thing is that if you fail to do this and whatever leaves, plants, or small animals remain trapped underneath that cover – the rancid smells that these plants and animal corpses can produce can be appalling once you finally remove the cover.
To get rid of any unwanted debris from your swimming pool, you may want to ‘rake’ the surface of the water itself first. After that, you need to check the different pumps, cleaner bags, and containers, as well as to empty the skimmer baskets before you do anything else.
Closely Monitor the Water Level
… so that the water doesn’t freeze above the swimming pool top level.
The thing is, if you live in a hot climate, the water level of your swimming pool shouldn’t be that much of an issue all year round.
That said, if you live in a cold environment, where the water will freeze during the winter, what you will need to do is to leave about 5-6 inches below the edge of the pool, so that when the water does freeze, the ice itself won’t go over the level of the skimmer.
Check if the Safety Cover is On Properly
Once the cold weather slowly but surely starts creeping into your neighborhood, it’s time you whip out that cover from the shed and place it over the swimming pool. If you have had a swimming pool renovation recently, you may want to get a new cover, in case you have changed the size of the pool itself.
When they are covered properly, being able to control the chemical balance of the water below is much simpler than if the water in the pool was constantly exposed to the elements.
All in all, taking good care of your swimming pool during the cold autumn and winter months is a matter of cleaning its parts thoroughly, adjusting the chemical balance of the water, and then covering it all. Therefore, the arrangements you’ve made don’t get ruined during the cold seasons. If you can do these three main tasks, chances are – your swimming pool will be as good as new and nice in spring.
