The harsh elements of winter can damage different parts of the house, and the pool in the garden is no exception. If you plan to turn off your pool equipment in the winter to save on electricity and chemical costs, think again. Not only is there a risk of damaging expensive filtration and plumbing systems, but it can also damage the design of the pool. Here are some tricks to take care of your pool in winter.
Clean the pool: Brush the walls and floor and vacuum the entire pool every few weeks to prevent the formation of annoying algae. Clean the skimmer baskets and the pump`s lint basket of leaves to also ensure the filtration system works efficiently.
Balance pool water: 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 winter pool chemicals to the correct level.
Clean the filter: Ensure that the pool`s filter is regularly cleaned, as any grease or oil deposits will harden over winter and make the filter even harder to clean in the warmer months. Winter pool
With a little winter maintenance, everything looks great for the summer, which is full of pool slopes.
Check the chlorine level: To keep the pool clean and tidy, it is important to keep the chlorine available in the pool at a constant level of 23 ppm during the winter. If you are using a salt chlorinator and pool cover, don’t forget to reduce the chlorine generator output to 12 ppM. Pool covers trap chemicals and chlorine and can cause high chlorine levels. If not carefully monitored, it can damage pool equipment.
Use shock treatment: Regularly “shocking” the pool will help remove organic and inorganic waste (called chloramines) such as sweat, sunscreen, bird droppings, and dead insects.
Remove algae as soon as you find them: In the event of an algae outbreak, most of the disinfectants in the pool are used to control and kill the algae without leaving a residue, in order to keep the pool water clean and healthy
Reduce filter execution time: The pool filter should be run 3-4 hours a day in winter. If you use a timer, set it accordingly. You can save money by turning on the filter during off-peak hours.
Set the solar heater to “winter mode”: If your solar pool heater doesn’t have an automatic controller, manually switch to winter mode or turn it off completely when you leave town.
Use the pool cover: Spread the pool cover when not in use to prevent leaves and other organic matter.
Different tips and tricks for pool maintenance in winter
Doing a little work once a week can save you a lot of hassle and allow you to get back on track as soon as it gets warm. As a general rule, weekly pool cleaning and above ground pool maintenance in winter tasks should include:
- The pH should be between 7.4 and 7.6.
- Maintain proper pH levels by adjusting the pool’s hydro chemicals as needed.
- It also tests the levels of freely available chlorine.
- A good range is 1.0 to 3.0 parts per million (PPM).
- The skimmer basket should be emptied after each skimming.
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