Creating A More Beautiful Pool Area

Steps To Winterizing Your Pool

10 April 2017

Adrian Spencer

Autumn is a busy time of year as you get your home ready for the cold winter months ahead. Your weekends may be spent raking leaves, cleaning gutters, and putting in storm window. One chore you don't want to put off is winterizing your pool. It needs to be done before freezing weather sets in or you could face costly repairs in the spring. If you're too busy to tend to your pool, or if you're not sure how to go about it, then you can call a pool winterizing service to do it for you. Here are some of the things that need to be done.

Clean The Pool

The pool should be cleaned one last time so it doesn't have leaves and bugs floating in it when the cover is put on. This also includes brushing the sides of the pool to remove body oil and sunscreen products. If you get weekly pool service, or if you're good at cleaning your pool yourself, this should be a fairly easy job. Your pool may still accumulate some debris over the winter, but if it's clean when you close it, it will be easier to get in shape when you open it in the spring.

Adjust The Chemicals

Your pool needs one last adjustment of the chemicals, just as you would during a weekly treatment. This controls water quality and keeps algae from taking over when the water heats up on warm days. Your pool service may also recommend installing a floating slow-release chemical pill that will treat the water all winter. If you keep debris out of the pool and control the chemicals in the water, you may be greeted by clear water when you remove the cover in the spring rather than a mess of green scum and algae that is a lot of work to clean.

Drain The Lines

The outdoor plumbing needs to be ready for freezing temperatures. This involves blowing water out of all the lines so there is none in there to freeze, expand, and burst the pipes. Depending on your climate, the pool service may add some antifreeze to the plumbing to further protect it. If you have an above ground pool, draining the lines could be as simple as allowing the water to drain out through gravity. If the pool is in the ground, the water must be blown out to clear the lines.

Apply The Cover

The final step is to apply the cover. The cover keeps people and animals from getting in the pool, and it also keeps leaves and debris out. You should invest in a good winter cover that doesn't have any gaps in it and is strong enough to support the weight of someone walking on it. It should be secured tightly so winter winds can't lift it. The cover should also be made of mesh so water can seep through. If it is solid, you'll probably need a pump to keep rain off the top. Heavy rain or snow will put a lot of weight on the cover that should be removed if it can't drain off.

By taking the time to get your pool winterized properly, it will be much easier and quicker to get your pool going again in the spring. Then, you won't be disappointed when you remove the cover and are greeted with fouled water and a dirty pool that delays your first swim of the season.

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