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Preparing Your Pool for Winter

Now that we are coming up to winter, it is time to think about how to best prepare your pool that it will survive the winter season and be ready to use when the warmer weather arrives once again.  How you winterise your pool will depend on where you live, as it may not be necessary to completely shut down and cover the pool.  Always check with a pool dealer to find out the exact steps that you will need to winterise your pool, or if you will need to do it at all.

Why Prepare the Pool for Winter?

It is important to prepare the pool for the colder weather in order to prevent problems occurring such as the build up of algae and debris such as dead leaves.  The colder weather can also affect the pool itself and it may end up being damaged by frost or snow if you have not taken adequate precautions.

How to Prepare the Pool for Winter

There are several steps that you must take in order to ensure that your pool is properly winterised.  These include:

• Balancing the Water – the pool’s pH needs to be between 7.4 and 7.6 and taking a sample of pool water for analysis will tell you exactly what the pH is. If the pH is not correct, add the appropriate treatment to bring the pool to the correct level.
  
• Clean the Pool – it is important to brush the walls and floor of the pool and then to vacuum the whole pool thoroughly.  Don’t forget to clean the skimmer baskets and the pump’s lint basket of debris.
  
• Clean the Filter – ensure that the pool’s filter is sparklingly clean, as any grease, oil or scale deposits will harden over winter and make the filter much harder to clean in the warmer winter as well as reducing its overall efficiency.
  
• Use a Shock Treatment – it is recommended to use a regular shock treatment throughout winter.  Once you have added the shock treatment appropriate for your pool, run both the pump and filter for several hours to ensure that it has been well distributed throughout the pool.
  
• Protect Against Algae – the pump and filter act to protect against algae when they are running, so if they are turned off throughout winter, it is easier for algae to develop.  Prevent this by using an algaecide that is appropriate for your pool.
  
• Cover the Pool – this final step will prevent water loss and also stop debris from entering the pool.

If You Choose to Keep the Pool Running

If you are in a warmer climate that allows you to keep using your pool, then it is a simple matter of continuing your maintenance routine as normal with a few simple adjustments.

• Test Chlorine – you will need to test the chlorine levels according to the water temperatures.  If the temperature is between 10 and 21 degrees Celsius, you will need to check chlorine levels once a month.  If the water temperature if over 21 degrees Celsius, you will need to check the water twice monthly.
  
• Maintain the pH and Total Alkalinity Levels – this is important because corrosion can occur more readily at lower temperatures.
  
• Regularly Clean the Pool – even if you are not using the pool as often, always keep it clean and free of debris.  This will prevent problems occurring in the warmer weather.
  
• Run the Filter – the pool’s filter should be run for 4 to 6 hours a day.  If you are using a timer, set it so that the timer cycle is broken into periods – for example, two periods of three hours.
  

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