A GUIDE TO PREPPING YOUR POOL FOR WINTER

Although it seems like the weather just turned from blistering warm days to crisp fall temperatures, winter will be here before you know it. Now is the best time to get a few steps ahead and prepare your pool for the long winter. When winterizing your pool, you really are protecting your investment from the elements and setting yourself up for a successful pool opening come spring and summer. Here are the critical steps you should follow to preserve your pool:

• The first step is to make sure your pool water is sparkling and clean. This means removing all dirt and debris.
• Next, you should check your water chemistry and balance your pH, Total Alkalinity, and Calcium Hardness to protect your pool against staining. Remember, this means that your pH should fall within the 7.2-7.6 range!
• Adding a winterizing chemical kit to your water is the next step in the equation. Give us a call for more information on these kits! Typically a winterizing product includes a long life algicide to keep your pool clear of algae all winter.
• One key step many unassuming pool owners make is throwing extra chlorine tablets or a strong oxidizer like bromine into the water to try and ensure clear water through winter. However, we do not advise this step since the tablets can sink and stick to the pool finish causing problems to the structural integrity of your pool’s surface.
• The next step is to reduce the water level in your pool. This is to protect against freezing temperatures, when water expands, and can cause damage to your pool equipment. A good rule of thumb is to lower the water level to just below the mouth of your skimmer.
• Then you will want to purge the water from your plumbing lines and plug them to prevent water from getting into your filter system.
• After this step, check for dirt and debris one last time before covering your pool for the season. The cover should tightly lay over your pool. You want to avoid any excess bunching or draping or corners falling into your pool.
• Lastly, you will need to drain all of the water from your filters, the pump, and heater if applicable. Each of these items should have a drain plug at the bottom. We recommend double checking to make sure that all water is out to avoid damage.

At Aqua Pool, we are here to help you through any stage of this process. In fact, we also make custom winter pool covers! Give us a call or visit our website to learn more about our services.