As summer winds down and we move into the colder months, many of us will be turning our attention to the pool in our backyards and taking measures to ensure it’s ready to go when spring rolls around again.
Whether you own an above-ground or in-ground pool, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your water clean and your pump running smoothly all winter long, but most people don’t know where to start or what precautions to take. Here are a few tips to help you keep your pool in shape during the cold winter months.
Add Shock Treatments And Brush The Water’s Surface Before Adding Chlorine Tablets
Adding shock treatments and brushing the water’s surface before adding chlorine tablets during the winter helps maintain your pool and keep it in tip-top shape. By shocking the pool, you are helping to kill any bacteria that may be present. Brushing the surface of the water helps remove any dirt or debris that may have accumulated over time. Adding chlorine tablets helps keep the water clean and clear.
Add 2–3 times as much shock treatment as you would normally use at any other time to shock your pool. You can usually find chlorine tablets at your local pool supply store. Adding two tablets per 10,000 gallons of water will help keep your pool clean and clear during winter. Brush up and down using a back-and-forth motion with a brush with long bristles.
Clean only a small section at a time, so you do not damage the liner or cause dirt and debris to be pushed through cracks. Once your pool is clean, fill it with water from an outside source treated with chlorine or buy fresh water from a local supplier who uses chlorination in their water supply.
Use An Algaecide Every Other Week or As Needed
One of the most important things you can do to maintain your pool during the winter is to use an algaecide every other week or as needed. Algae can grow quickly in the winter, so it’s important to keep up with treatment.
Adding an algaecide to your pool will help kill any algae that might be growing and prevent it from coming back. Plus, it will also help keep your pool looking clean and clear. So don’t forget to add an algaecide to your pool care routine this winter!
If you don’t have an algaecide, it’s okay! There are plenty of ways to keep your pool clean and algae-free without one. Here are a few ideas: You can vacuum or brush your pool if there is no heavy growth, but if it’s out of control, you’ll need to add some chlorine.
Adding chlorine once per week will usually be enough for most pools, so make sure you adjust accordingly if you live in an area with very hard water (which is more likely to produce algae). In addition, adding a little salt can help kill off pesky winter algae. If you use salt routinely throughout the year (and your water chemistry is balanced), add about a quarter cup of salt for every 10 feet of water as soon as temperatures dip below 65 degrees F.
Keep Your Pool Safe
If you live in an area where the temperature dips below freezing during winter, it’s important to take steps to protect your pool. Otherwise, you could end up with a cracked liner or worse. Here are some tips to keep your pool safe this winter:
- Bring any toys or floats inside. These can act as expansion joints and cause cracking if the water freezes around them.
- Remove ladders and diving boards. Any metal should be removed from the pool area to prevent rusting and staining of the liner.
- Cover the pool with a tarp or bubble wrap. This will insulate the water and help prevent it from freezing over.
- Add antifreeze to the water.