It is getting cold and going for a swim is probably one of the last things you want to do (unless you have a pool heater!).
The most common mistake we see people make is ignoring their pool over winter and the colder months. Your local pool shop LOVES IT when you do this, as you will be coming back in Spring and buying a heap of pool chemicals and worse still perhaps you even need an expert to do a green pool recovery if it gets real bad!
Although “winterising your pool” is now a common term used and unfortunately often associated with little to no care over the winter and colder months.
The good news is that your swimming pool will not need as much pool servicing, care and attention over the colder months – a small amount of regular attention over those months will save you a bigger job (potential green pool recovery) and ensure you have the pool ready when you do want to swim.
Here are our top 8 tips on simple things to do to keep your pool healthy all year round:
1. Clean Your Pool
Regularly skim all leaves and debris from the surface, empty your skimmer and pump baskets and clean your filter. Letting anything sit on the bottom of the swimming pool can stain the surface and be difficult to clean and cost a lot in pool chemicals.
2. Balance your pool water
Don’t just test your water, you need water management. Getting professional advice will see you needing less frequent advice (and less costs) at any time of year as everything becomes more efficient with properly balanced water (and your pool equipment lasts longer).
3. Reduce filter running times
You are using your pool less (unless you have pool heating) and therefore reducing what we call a bather load on the pool. Your pool equipment therefore needs to run less and produce less chlorine (if you have an automatic chlorinator), saving you money.
4. pH and Chlorine are important but, not the end of the story
Something we find most pool technicians miss is testing for phosphates either because a lack of awareness or not having the equipment to test for it. Phosphates are a food source for algae and in winter phosphates can build up as a result of less pool servicing and maintenance. No phosphates, equals no algae.
5. Keep debris out of your pool
Having a pool blanket and roller is the best way to stop leaves and other debris entering the pool, which also in turn stops phosphates entering your pool as well – Saving you from skimming and vacuuming the pool when it’s freezing outside!
6. Filter clean
This is more than just hosing out the cartridge or backwashing the media filter. A deep filter clean will help make your filter more efficient by allowing a better water flow through the pool filter, keep your pool cleaner, healthier and reduce the load and therefore lifespan of your pool pump. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get more information on how to properly maintain and clean your filter.
7. Keep an eye on your pool
Nothing beats regularly checking your pool. This could be as simple as looking to see that the pool is looking clear, the pool equipment is working as it should, the pool water level is correct and using a dipstick to check on the basics (pH and Chlorine). Set a reminder in your calendar to get a water test done by a professional every 4 weeks either taking a sample to them OR getting them to come out to service your pool. If you would like to come and see us or have one of our mobile pool servicing technicians do a pool service, we can be found here.
8. Turn down your Chlorinator
The reduced bather load on your pool as well as a lower UV index, means you will need to input less chlorine in your pool, so turn your chlorinator down. This is important, especially if you have a pool blanket as chlorine will build up under the blanket.