Shutting down your swimming pool properly over winter is vital for an easy reopening in the spring. Not only can you save time by preparing for next season, but you can also save money when it comes to using your pool again. These maintenance tips should be started as soon as you stop using your pool and definitely by the time the temperature takes a real drop. There are some simple things you can do to make sure your swimming pool is being maintained effectively during the months you aren’t using it.
1. Measure pH Levels & Adjust Alkalinity Before Closing
- Before closing your pool down for the winter months you need to make sure your pH/alkalinity levels are balanced.
- Adjust your pH levels to between 7.2 and 7.6 as this is a balanced level that will keep your water safe during the winter.
- To reduce the pH level add pool acid (at no more than 500mls at a time).
- To increase the pH level add soda ash or pH increaser.
- To increase the alkalinity add sodium bicarbonate or alkalinity increaser.
- The alkalinity levels can be lowered by increasing the pH levels.
You can adjust the pH levels by using a water balancer.
2. Shock Dose With Chlorine to Keep Water Clean & Safe
- Shock dosing your pool with chlorine will get your water ready for the winter.
- The recommended amount of chlorine for a shock dose is usually 3 to 6 times more than the usual dose.
- Keep your pump running for 6 to 12 hours after you distribute the chlorine.
- Swimmers and bathers should not enter the water until the level of chlorine has dropped to 3 ppm or less.
- Breakpoint chlorination must be reached in order for total oxidation to take place. This shock rips apart the molecular combinations and destroys chloramines.
Keep contaminates down using specially designed ‘shock’ chlorine.
3. Use Diluted Algaecide to Prevent Algae Growth
- Using chemicals such as algaecide will help you to preserve the water in your swimming pool so it is ready to use in the summer.
- You want to keep the water looking clear and blue so that while you aren’t using the pool the area stays as clean as possible.
- Long life algaecide is a one-treatment solution to preventing algae from growing.
- You can buy algaecide with copper which works well on getting algae out of the walls.
- Most algaecides need to be diluted and you can use the scale on the side of the bottle to mix the right amount of the chemical with water.
You should use a copper free algaecide to prevent winter growth.
4. Use Testing Kits to Keep Calcium Hardrness at 200-400ppm
- When minerals such as calcium, sodium, and magnesium are dissolved, the measure of these minerals is called calcium hardness.
- To test the calcium hardness of the pool, take a sample of your pool water and use a test kit that includes a calcium buffer, calcium indicator, and calcium titrant solutions.
- Each test kit is different so follow the instructions on the back of the bottle, but most tests will require you to count the number of drops of titrant that you put into your water sample before it turns blue.
- The recommended level of calcium hardness is between 200 and 400 ppm.
Keep calcium levels between 200-400ppm using calcium hardness increaser.
5. Drain Water to 4-6″ Below Skimmer Valve To Prevent Damage
- Before draining the water from your pool, ensure that you have no leaks and that all water is contained within the structure. Once this has been done, you can start to drain the area.
- Switch off your skimmer valve and drain the water level to around 4 to 6 inches below the bottom of the skimmer.
- Draining some of the water from your pool for winter means that your skimmers won’t freeze up when the temperature lowers; something that could cause a lot of damage to your pool.
Catch any debris while draining your pool using a swimming pool skimmer.
Featured image: Flickr – Chloe Hague