August 2010
-
The Importance of Proper Ventilation for Indoor Spas
-
Steps to Ensure A Safe, Fun-filled Pool Season
in Maintenance
-
Pool Cleaning Tips for the Summer
-
Save Money & Energy with a Solar Pool Heater
in Maintenance
-
Choose the Right Pool Cover
Subscribe to POOLlife Now!
Sign up for our monthly e-news and be entered into a drawing for a $100 certificate for use at your designated dealer. See contest rules.Click here to see this month's winners!
or
Find a Dealer
Find out where to buy our pool or spa care products near you.
Take Our Poll
Keep Your Pool Sparkling Year-Round
November 2009
by Emily Doyle
Related Articles
In warmer regions, mild winters allow pool owners to enjoy their pools year-round. But even in the sunniest climates, its important to give your pool a little extra attention during the winter. Follow these tips and tricks to keep your pool sparkling and swim-ready, even through the coldest parts of the season.
Check the Daily Forecast
As the seasons change, temperatures can rise and fall unpredictably. So, it’s a good idea to keep tabs on the weather—which determines how frequently you’ll need to use your pump and filter.
When it’s warm outside, you should run your pool’s pump and filter for 10 to 12 hours per day. But on the cooler, less swim-friendly days, you can reduce that to 6 hours per day.
However, it’s important not to shut the pump off permanently, Paul Kurke, training manager for Arch Chemicals, Inc., says. “If the temperature is forecast to go below freezing, as it can even in Florida, do not shut the pump off. Make sure that the water is kept moving through the circulating system so that it will not freeze in the exposed plumbing.”
If owners panic and shut the pump off, the plumbing above ground could freeze and cause significant damage. In the event of a cold front, always remember to keep the water moving and put the insulated cover on the pool water’s surface to prevent heat loss.
Cover Your Pool
“Even though the days might be pleasant during the winter months, the evenings may get chilly,” Kurke says. To prevent heat loss, which typically occurs through evaporation, he recommends covering your pool with a lightweight, insulated cover in the evenings.
If you have an odd shaped or free-form pool, these covers can be easily cut to fit its specific contours. And most importantly, “they’re very easy to handle,” Kurke says. “You don’t have to be any kind of a weight lifter. They easily slide off the surface of the water. You can roll or fold them, set them to the side, and they’re ready for the next time they’re needed.”
Keep Your Pool Clean
Fortunately, pool owners in warm climates don’t need to purchase special products to keep their pools clean during cooler months. “Just keep your water sanitary and balanced, and use your local Arch Pro dealer to periodically test the water,” Kurke says. “As far as your housekeeping is concerned, you’ll want to brush the walls and floors weekly, just as you would in the summertime, to prevent a buildup of dirt and algae.”
There is, however, a slight difference in how frequently you should sanitize a year-round pool compared to a seasonal pool. As the temperature drops, algae and bacteria in the water begin to reproduce less, which means you need less sanitizer. But no matter how cold it gets, you can’t stop sanitizing all together, Kurke cautions. If you have a chlorine pool, make sure there is a free available chlorine reading of 1.0 to 3.0 ppm.
For information on the regular pool maintenance that will keep your pool sparkling year-round, read “Stick to the Schedule” or contact your authorized Arch dealer.
