Essential Winter Pool Maintenance Tips
We know that pool maintenance can be a chore at the best of times, so you probably don’t want to get out there in the middle of winter! But following these simple steps can keep your pool clean and ready for when the warmer weather returns saving precious time and money.
1. Regular Cleaning
It’s essential to remove debris such as leaves and twigs that can accumulate on the surface and at the bottom of the pool. Brush the walls and vacuum the bottom regularly to prevent algae growth and leaf staining, which is unsightly and can be hard to remove.
2. Monitor Chemical Levels
Maintaining the proper chemical balance is vital during winter. The two most important parameters are pH and Chlorine. While a low pH is not common it is undesirable as the water becomes corrosive and will cause damage.
It is more likely your pH will drift upwards reducing the effectiveness of your chlorine. Low chlorine levels can lead to cloudy water and algae buildup and high levels of chlorine are very damaging. It is very easy to over-chlorinate with an automated system such as a saltwater chlorinator. High chlorine will have the same damaging effects as a low pH causing etching of the pool surface, and a rapid deterioration of expensive equipment such as pool covers, pool cleaners, pumps and heaters.
You can get a good indication of pH & chlorine using a test strip; ideally, you should do this weekly, and bring a water sample into the shop for a full test at least once or twice over winter.
3. Protect Pool Equipment
Your pool equipment needs as much care as the pool itself. We generally recommend you run the pump for 4 hours each day to keep the water filtered and clear. Check that your pool pump, filters, and heaters are in good condition with no visible leaks.
5. Water Levels
Keep an eye on water levels. With lots of wet weather, there is the possibility of an overflowing pool likewise with long periods of no rain water levels can drop below the skimmer box opening, leading to no water flow and pump damage.
Drain excess water using the “waste” setting on your filter’s multiport valve if you have a media filter or a bypass valve if you have a cartridge filter. Many customers either can’t find their bypass valve or don’t have one fitted so don’t be shy, bring some photos of your setup into the shop and ask us for assistance if you are unsure.
6. Solar heating
Switch your solar controller to winter or standby mode. Most solar controllers have one or the other mode. This mode will turn off the system for winter but automatically run it for a few minutes each day to flush the system.
7. Regular Inspections
It’s best to inspect your pool weekly throughout the winter. Key things to look for:
- Water level
- Filter pump is work without excessive noise
- Leaves and debris
- Water clarity
- Water leaks around equipment and under the pump
Catching and addressing issues early will save considerable time and money on repairs and you will ensure your pool stays in excellent condition throughout the colder months and you won’t have a big cleanup at the start of the new swimming season.
