How To Get your pool Ready For Cold Season

Fall Pool Maintenance Tips

Did you know that there has been a 50% increase in swimming pool permits in Ontario? This number is on the rise and that’s because swimming is a great activity to keep healthy and have fun!

Once summer is over, it is important that you prepare your pool for the cold season. You might not know how to close a pool, so this article is here to explain everything you need to know.

First, we will cover why winterizing is important. Then we will move on to the practical aspects of caring for your backyard pool. This includes cleaning, chemicals, and pool accessories. Let’s dive into it!

Why Is Winterizing Important?

Preparing your pool for the cold season, or winterizing, is a key step in keeping your pool in good condition. Winterizing prevents damage to the interior and equipment.

Leaving it open without cover and cleaning leaves your pool open to freezing. It will also cost you a lot more once summer comes again to get it back into working order. This could lead to expensive repairs and an extended period where you can’t use the pool.

Protecting Your Pool From Winter Weather

It is important that you get the timing right when it comes to fall pool maintenance. Try and perform maintenance before temperatures dip to 65°F or below. Here are the different stages of cleaning and preparation.

Clean Up Your Yard (Leaves, toys, dirt, etc.)

The first step of preparing your pool is to clean it thoroughly. Make sure you clean the outer areas. This includes the tiles surrounding the pool and leaf piles that could blow into the pool area. Collect pool toys and tidy them away, ensuring that you wipe them down beforehand.

When cleaning the interior of the pool, don’t forget to scrub the bottom of the pool as well as the sides. Use a net to collect any debris like leaves or sticks from the water.

You should also store all your pool cleaning equipment, hoses, etc in a dry place. This prevents bacteria from building up on them and keeps your pool area decluttered.

Cleaning Filters & Check Chemicals

As well as cleaning the water, you should also clean out the filters, pump, and skimmer basket. Backwashing is an important process for clearing the filters, and preventing pressure buildup. If you do this once before covering your pool, you should not have to do it throughout the winter season.

You will also need to check and balance your pool chemicals. You will need to ensure that you have the right water pH, chlorine, calcium, and total alkalinity. This will keep your water clean and clear when you aren’t using it.

In some cases, you may need to shock your pool if the levels are not right. This process is where you raise the chlorine levels so that bacteria gets eliminated.

Pool shocking can mean that your pool isn’t safe to swim in for over 24 hours. So try and wait until you are definitely not going to use the pool anymore before doing it.

Prepare Your Pool Heater

If you are using a pool heater, then it is important to perform the right maintenance on it before winter. The most crucial step is closing the gas valve(s) on the heater.

This step is essential because if there is gas leaking into the heater over time, pressure will build up. If left unchecked, it could cause an explosion.

If you decide to leave it on to prevent freezing, then make sure that you give it regular checks.

Get a Pool Cover

Using a pool cover is an essential accessory for any pool during the cold season. This will prevent debris from getting into the clean water. It also stops snow or excess rain from filling up your pool and prevents freezing.

If snow starts to build up on the cover, make sure you clear it as often as possible. This stops the cover from getting damaged by too much weight.

Prepare for Freezing

To help prevent the water from freezing, you can add pool anti-freeze. This can work alongside your other chemicals such as algaecide. It is important that you don’t put too much in otherwise this could make the water unsafe once spring comes.

If in doubt, you can hire a professional pool company to do a water analysis and chemical balancing.

Lower Water Level

It is important that you lower the water level during the winter months. You should lower it to below the skimmer. But make sure that you don’t drain it completely.

This can leave the interior exposed and more likely to get damaged by the winter weather. If you sustain damage, consider renovating your pool or performing repairs.

Prepare Your Pool for the Cold Season

Swimming pools are a wonderful place to relax and enjoy with your family. Now that the cold season is on its way, make sure that you perform fall pool maintenance. This will keep your pool in great shape, so you are ready to jump back in once the warm weather comes back!

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