The Right Way to Winterize Your Pool

You know about maintaining your pool in the summer, but are you familiar with wintertime pool care? Just because it’s the off-season doesn’t mean you can neglect it. When you winterize your pool today, you’ll prevent damage from freezing temperatures and save time and money on unnecessary pool cleaning next spring. Here’s what you need to know about pool covers, plumbing and equipment maintenance, and water chemistry during the cold season.

Pool Covers

As soon as the swimming season ends, be sure to cover your pool to protect against falling leaves, animal invasion, and snowfall. Remember these tips to keep your pool cover in good condition all winter long:

• Install the pool cover correctly by securing the water blocks or bags and putting all safety components in place.
• Remove debris and water from the pool cover. Hose off leaves, twigs, and pine needles, and then vacuum the pool cover to remove excess water.
• Remove deep, heavy snow with a roof rake to prevent damage. It’s easiest to remove the snow when it’s still fresh, and the freeze/thaw cycle hasn’t hardened it yet.

Pool Plumbing & Equipment Maintenance

The pipes, pump, filter, and heater may be out of sight, but your pool would quickly become unsafe to swim in without this equipment. Keep everything working smoothly this winter with these tips:

• Blow out the plumbing lines before the first hard freeze arrives to prevent water from freezing and bursting your pool pipes. Hire a professional to perform this job safely.
• Check all system components once or twice throughout the winter. When in doubt, contact a local pool maintenance professional for help.

Pool Water Chemistry

You might not be swimming in the winter, but as long as the pool is full of water, it needs to be chemically balanced. (In most cases, completely draining an in-ground swimming pool for the winter is not recommended.) Here’s how to address pool chemistry during the cold season:

• Check the chemistry every two months. Maintaining the proper balance helps prevent algae and bacteria, which simplifies the opening process next spring.
• Apply an enzyme product to break down non-living contamination and prevent stains at the waterline. This simple addition saves you from having to scrub the tile when you open your pool in the spring.
• Discard unused pool chemicals from last season. It’s not worth saving them because they lose their potency after several months. Ask a pool contractor about safe pool chemical disposal methods.

Take the initiative to maintain your pool this winter for an easier time opening your pool come spring. Millennium Pool Service tackles the swimming pool winterization process with customizable pool closing packages. In addition to closing your pool, we also offer maintenance visits in the late fall and early spring to test and treat the water, adjust the cover, and check the system. To learn more about our pool closing services, please contact us at 703.939.5062 in Virginia or 301.591.3750 in Maryland.