As another summer has finished up, it’s now time to think about maintaining your pool during the winter.
What do you mean? My pool is all closed up, shouldn’t it be fine until spring?
I would love to tell you that is the case, but winter pool maintenance is very important for the longevity of your pool.
There are many items that should be checked throughout the winter, most importantly:
- Pool water level
- Water chemistry
- Pool safety cover
- Any equipment left outdoors
Pool Water Level
We drain all of our gunite pools 18” below the tile line and vinyl liner pools we drain just below the return jets to accommodate for snow/rain during the winter. You would be surprised how quickly water levels can rise back up towards the top.
Tile and Gunite Damage in Bridgehampton, NY
Above is a photo of tile and gunite damage that can happen when a pool is neglected during the winter. This damage was caused by the water level getting too high (up to the tile or above the tile) and when the water freezes, it expands causing damage to your tile and in most cases the gunite finish.
Depending on the extent of your damages, you could be looking at replacing a few or many tiles which can be costly. If the gunite finish is damaged, your whole pool may need to be resurfaced as that damage can lead to more damage. No customer likes hearing that news, but it can be prevented if winter pool maintenance is performed.
Water Chemistry
Water chemistry should be checked as frequently as the water level. A properly balanced pool during the winter can ensure that when you open the pool, it will be ready to swim much quicker. Since your pool is sitting dormant for a few months with little to no circulation, it’s important that your chemicals are balanced to limit the damage that water can have on your pool’s finish.
Pool Safety Cover
It is important to check on the cover throughout the winter. Snow and ice can become very heavy and damage your cover and the hardware attached to your cover. A hole in the cover will negate the safety aspect and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Equipment
Any pool equipment left outdoors should be checked routinely throughout the winter. We check to see if there is any visible damage to the equipment as well as inspect the heater for any critters that may decide to make it home for the winter (heaters should be properly winterized to prevent any animals, but there is no foolproof method to accomplish this, so monitoring is necessary).
As you can see, a winter maintenance program is very important to your pools health, longevity and can ensure a quicker start up time, so your pool is ready in the spring for opening!
