September 26th, 2009
How To Winterize Your Swimming Pool
If you want to build your own pool, but don’t have an indoor pool or a swimming pool heater in your mind, one day in September, October or November it is time for you to winterize your swimming pool. How this is done depends highly on the type of swimming pool you own. But there are some steps common to all pools.
The first step is to check the water. The PH level should be somewhere between 7 and 7.5. If it isn’t, fill in some acid to lower it or some base, if it is too low.
You should also check the chlorine level and you should use a winterizing product to prevent algae from growing in your swimming pool. After all, you won’t be swimming for a few months and depending on your cover and the winters at your place you may not be able to do anything in your pool.
If it is cold enough for freeze at your location, you should not operate the pump during the winter. Let the water drain to around 30cm depth. If you have installed a lighting system, you should drain the water at least 10cm below the lights. This way you have the correct amount of water in your pool. Don’t empty your pool as there has to be some water in it. This stabilizes the pool so that it won’t move due to ice pressure or water at the side wall or the ground.
If you are using a roofing or coping, clean it using a pressure washer. If the cover is clean, algae will not easily settle in. If you are using a special summer cover, change it and install a winter cover. There should be plenty of tension on the cover so that nothing can get under it.
Even if there is a lot of tension on the cover at the beginning, you should check every week or so to make sure that everything is OK. Also you should make sure, that no person or a pet will tread the cover. If in the winter snow is covering your pool cover, install a safety fence and tell your visitors about the danger. This is advisable even if you own a safety cover.
The next step is to take care of the other equipment. The water has to be drained from the pump, the filter, the tubes and every other part that is flown through. Each one should have a drain plug at the bottom to let the water drain off. This is vital because in the winter water can turn to ice in your equipment. During this process the ice expands and can destroy some swimming pool parts. So never forget this step.
Now your swimming pool is ready for the winter and you can be sure that nothing can happen to your pool. However, you should check once a week, if everything is all right. Once it is warm again, you can get your swimming pool ready in no time and enjoy another summer with your own pool.
September 27th, 2009
Robert Says :
With Winter coming up, this is good info. to have.