November 2011
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Changing Your Hot Tub Water in 4 Simple Steps
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How to Choose the Right In-ground Pool for You
in Maintenance
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Seasonal change usually brings with it some changes around the home. The onset of fall means it’s almost time to rake leaves, children head back to school, and pool season winds down. You needn’t rush to put your swimsuit away, as warm weather and pleasant poolside evenings can persist well into the season. However, if you live in a region with a cold climate, you need to have a pool-winterization plan.
“In colder climates, if you don’t winterize your pool, you can damage water lines and equipment,” says Touraj Rowhani, research chemist for Arch Chemicals Inc.
Start by visiting your dealer with a sample of pool water, so he or she can help you put together a winterization plan specific to your climate. If you will be using the pool late into the year, you will want your water tested so you can be sure it is properly balanced.
When closing your pool down for the year, it is extremely important to balance the water correctly prior to close. If your water is out of balance, you could open your pool in the spring to find imbalanced pH, total alkalinity or hardness levels have allowed scale to build up or corrosive water to damage your pool surface.
Do everything you can to remove any organic matter that could lead to algae spores or affect your water balance over the winter. “If you have leaves sitting on the bottom of the pool all winter, they can stain your pool surface,” Rowhani says. Although algae colonies are unlikely to bloom during the colder months, they can remain dormant all winter and cause a green pool next spring.
Maximize chemicals’ effectiveness by running the filter and vacuuming to remove oxidized organic particles. Once you’re finished running the filter, be sure to follow up with the appropriate filter cleaner. Next, drain the pool to keep water from getting into your lines and damaging them during the winter. End the process by placing a tightly sealed cover over the pool to keep debris out.
Closing your pool for the winter is always a sad goodbye to the swim season. But to ensure you do it right, refer to our printable checklist for closing your pool and you’ll enjoy a much smoother, happier opening next year.
