End of Summer Pool Care – Getting Ready for the Cooler Months
After a long summer of swimming, and fun in the sun, your pool’s probably ready for some TLC! But with this wonderful weather there’s plenty of swimming time left and as temperatures can remain hot throughout March we aren’t suggesting you close up shop just year. But here’s how to keep your water perfect for swimming and get it ready for autumn.
First, give your filter some attention
All that summer swimming means your filter’s been working overtime, so now is the perfect time to:
- Give your sand or glass media filter a good backwash and rinse
- If you’ve got a cartridge filter, pull it out and give it a thorough clean, we highly suggest cleaning with a soak-style cleaning solution first, such as Pool Pro Filter & Cleaner degreaser, to remove all those impurities such as sun screen and oils that stick to the filter when you hose it off.
- Check if your filter media or cartridge needs replacing – if the water’s not as crystal clear as it used to be, it might be time for a change
*Remember to always turn off your pump before cleaning any filters, and close any valves if your pool is below water level! If you’re not confident, please give us a call and we can help walk you through it or you can have us come out and give your pool a post-summer once over.
You can keep swimming!
If you’re not ready to give up the refreshing dips, we don’t blame you! Make sure your heating is working correctly and there are no leaks in the system including on the roof if you have solar. You may want to increase the temperature setting if you reduced it in mid summer. 28c is a good compromise, be careful heating the pool above 30c as this will increase the chlorine demand therefore you will need to consider increasing your chlorine production or manual additions.
If you haven’t already installed a heat pump, they’re a fantastic way to extend your swimming season.
Heat Pumps are energy-efficient and can keep your pool at the perfect temperature even when the weather isn’t perfect. Pop in and chat with us about the best options for your pool.
Pool equipment health check
Before you reduce your pool’s running hours for the cooler months, it’s worth checking that everything is working as it should:
- Look for any leaks around the pump, or if it’s getting noisier than usual
- Check your chlorinator cell for calcium build-up, make sure it’s producing chlorine gas and check for leaks
- Make sure your skimmer box and pump baskets aren’t cracked
*Taking care of small issues now can prevent bigger problems once the pool isn’t a maintenance priority over the winter months.
Consider installing a pool cover
If you haven’t installed a pool cover but want to make your autumn pool care easier (and cheaper), a pool cover is a simple choice. They’re great for:
- Keeping leaves and debris out – which means less cleaning!
- Reducing water evaporation – reduced water bills and better for the environment
- Maintaining warmer water temperatures – especially great if you’ve got that heat pump!
There are a number of different types of pool covers, so getting the right advice to select the right one for your needs and your pool is important. Come and talk to us and we’ll help find the most suitable pool cover for your needs and budget.
Maintaining the right chemical balance
Keeping your water balanced is always crucial:
- As the weather cools adjust your chlorinator running times and/or output for reduced swimming & cover usage
- Check your pH and adjust as necessary
- Keep testing your water regularly – algae can still thrive in autumn
- Add an autumn dose of long-life algaecide for extra protection, which we always highly suggest doing seasonally.
If you need help getting your pool autumn-ready or are interested in keeping the swimming season going with a heat pump?
Drop by the shop – we’re here to help you make the most of your pool all year round!
