New winter record… how to close your pool in winter.
September 25th, 2008This is just some statistics that I thought you might find interesting. It is a list of the most common search terms since September that lead visitors to this site. And guess what... we have articles answering all these questions.
How to prepare inground pool for winter?
When is a good time to close a pool?
How to prepare a pool for winter?
How to prepare your pool for winter?
When is best time to close pool?
How to prepare an above ground pool for winter
How to shut down inground pool for winter?
How to close your pool for winter?
What to add to pool water for over winter?
When is the best time to close your pool?
How much antifreeze do I put in the lines for a 16x32 inground pool?
How much algaecide for a 16x32 pool?
Can I leave the pool green over winter?
How to clean your pool in winter?
How to winterize pool?
Will pool algae survive over freezing winter?
What is the best way to winterize pool?
How much shock and algecide do I need to close 7500 gal pool?
What is the perfect winter treatment for above ground pools?
What are the chemicals to close your pool for winter?
Anything else you would like to know?
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Link suggestions for everything related to swimming pools…
September 11th, 2008Since our swimming pool series semms to be quite successful, I thought I could share some favourite links with you.
Let's start with this blog - it's all about DIY-building your own pool. Any hey, a pool is cool, eh 
And another one post about pool maintenance. There's also some other interesting articles related to swimming pools in general.
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Question Answered: When is the best time to close your pool for winter?
September 11th, 2008The "perfect time" to shut your pool down for the winter month depends on where you live, when temperatures drop and the leafs beginn to fall. This short guide should help you determining the right moment.
For general information on how to prepare your pool for the winter shutdown, please read our article on that topic.
Cold Weather Climates
It's best to close your pool for winter before the leaves start falling! Plan to close your pool when the night time temperatures drop into the 40s and the daytime temps range in the 60s up to the low 70s. If you wait a little longer, you will have to deal with strong algea bloom. And in case you wait even longer, you will be busy fishing out a ton of leaves - and having fun with a strong algae bloom in spring.
Warm Weather Climates
If you plan not to use your pool during the winter months, there is not much of a schedule to follow. Basically you should just reduce your maintenance times. But don't forget maintenance at all since the temperatures will still be high enough to allow for bacteria and algaes to grow. And you certainly don't want that. Just reduce your filtering times gradually - that should be all.
You might, however, still consider buying a pool winter cover for your pool. This will definately help you to reduce your maintenance since algaes don't grow when there is no light. And good covers keep the water underneath in total darkness - perfect if you don't want bacteria or algaes to make your pool a total mess. Plus, you won't have to deal with leaves, debris and other dirt while not using the pool during the winter months.
Your filter should run for a few hours a week in order to keep the pool sanitizer level high enough to keep bacteria and algaes on a low level. It's enough to check the sanitizer level once a week.
And just in case you're looking for some great ideas for a new pool, check out this blog.
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Should I drain an outdoor pool or keep it full of water during winter?
September 10th, 2008If you have an inground pool, it needs to be drained below the skimmer level for winter. All parts that contain water (hoses, pipes) need to be drained and blown out in order to prevent them from freezing. You may also put an RV anti freeze product in these lines to prevent if from freezing.
In case you live in a region where it is likely for the water in your outdoor pool to freeze, it is a possible alternative to place a large object such as a 50 gallon drum in the pool to keep it from feezing solid when temperatures drop dramatically. Some people, however, choose to drain the pool empty.
Should you decide to leave water in the pool, before Spring arrives, you should pull your pool cover back and add an algaecide and some chlorine so that when opening time arrives, it will be easier for you to clean the pool from debris and dirt.
Read on: How to Prepare your Pool for Winter?
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How to Prepare Your Pool for Winter
September 9th, 2008Winterize your pool: Close your swimming pool for winter
While it gets cooler outside, summer reaches its end and fall approaches, it is time to think about your swimming pool and how to prepare it for the cold season. The actual preparation for the pool closure is very important - and if you follow these guidelines, your pool will be ready for the swimming season next summer.
By taking an extra day to properly get your pool ready for the cold season, you will find it much easeier re-opening your pool next summer - and your pool equipment will last much longer.
The following questions will be answered in this post:
- How to shock the pool for winter?
- How much shock for pool winterization?
- Can I leave the pool green for winter?
- What is the perfect winter pool treatment?
- ...and overall: How to get the pool ready for winter?
The Last Cleaning
Okay, this might not be the best way to spend a weekend day afternoon, but at least you can be sure it will be the last and final cleaning of your swimming pool this season.
As a first step, make sure that besides any other debris you remove sticks, leaves and insects from your skimmer basket and the filters. Utilising a pool vacuum cleaner, spring-clean the entire pool floor to remove any debris from the bottom. Make sure that you maintain a strong enough level of vacuum pressure to remove all remainings of persistant debris. If there is any algae growth visible, make sure to wipe the sides as well. The skimmer basket needs to be emptied several times during the cleaning process. This allows for the water to flow smoothly back into the pool.
Once you have finished cleaning and your pool looks clean, take some time to check that even fine pieces of debris have been removed from the filter.
Chemical Treatment
In order for your pool to be ready for the next season, you have to apply some last chemicals to the water to preserve it for the winter.
Add a winterizing chemical kit from to the pool water. They typically already contain a shock, algacide and a sequestering agent.
Absolutely necessary is a chemical shock treatment to avoid any algae growth on warm winter days. A small dose of algaecide is also helpful to stop algaes from growing in early spring.
Important is the chlorine level. You should raise the level of chlorine to a value between 6 to 10 ppm.
Now check the water one last time to be sure that all chemicals are balanced before finally closing your pool.
You need to take care of the water as a first thing. Check your your water's pH level. It should be at around 7.5. If it isn't, simply add some dry acid or soda ash - depending on wether the pH level is higher or lower.
After the chemical treatment, you should leave your pump running for about 12 hours. This is to be sure the winterizing products are completely distributed throughout the water.
Store your Accessories on Time
Before you can relax, knowing that your pool will survive winter, it should be your next step to clear the pool area of all unnecessary accessories such as inflatable toys or life-preservers.
Your kids' Inflatable pool toys should be cleaned of any dirt, dried and then deflated for storage during winter. Vinyl, latex and spongy toys should be stored at a warm and dry place such as a heated garage, or in the basement so they don't embrittle because of any sudden changes in temperature. A careful handling of your pool toys guarantees that they will be ready for use next summer.
All hoses and detachable tubes should be detached from pool vacuums, the filter devices and the skimmer. To be thored, they need to be completely dry so that when in storage, residual water doesn't freeze - that could cause avoidable tears and cracks.
Your pool filter should have a "winterize" setting. Make sure that the switch it is set to that position and also remove the drainage cap or plug so that any water can exit the filter while it is not in use. If water remains and freezes, it might cause cracks in the base - and you certainly do not want this to happen.
Finally, clean and remove all remaining cleaning utensils and poles and store them at a warm and dry place as well.
Final touches - placing your winter pool cover
You don't want any wall damage - so better make sure that you place something in the pool such as emtpy chemical containers half filled with water. This should absorb the expansion.
When fitting the winter cover, you should make sure it is tight enough so that nothing can get underneath. During winter, you should check the winter pool cover every couple of weeks or so to make sure that it is still tight.
There are so many different kinds of pool winter covers - enough for an own article. Be sure to aquire support by a professional when choosing the appropriate pool winter cover.
Your winter pool cover exists to keep leaves, sticks and dirt out of the water. It is not strong enough to hold a person's weight. Advise small children that the pool is now closed and that they should stay away from it.
Everything done?
Are you sure you have done everything necessary to prepare your pool for the winter? Is the winter pool cover in position?
Make sure you go through is step-by-step check list once again:
- Turn off the heater.
- Adjust the water to the appropriate pH value using your usual chemicals.
- Make sure that you brush and vacuum the pool carefully.
- Shock the pool water using an a winterizing kit.
- Make sure that a long lasting algaecide is part of your winterizing kit, if not: add it separately to the water.
- Clean out and disconnect the pump and skimmer baskets and the pool filter.
- Add a pool antifreezer to the skimmer and the return tubes.
- Collect up any accessories and store them away at a dry and warm place.
- Make sure you have an appropriate pool winter cover and secure it firmly. It has to be completely tight!
Learn more about leaving water in your pool over winter.
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