When the leaves start to fall and temperatures drop, it’s time to wrap up your summer activities and pack away your swimming gear until spring rolls around again. But if you live in an area that regularly sees harsh winters, there are some things you can do during the cold season to keep your pool in top condition while you’re waiting to hit the warm water again next year. 

Mr. Pool Man knows that keeping your pool clean in the winter can be challenging, but it’s not impossible! Here are some tips to help you keep your pool water crystal clear through the cold months. 

The importance of maintaining your pool during the winter

Keeping your pool clean during the winter is crucial for many reasons. For one, it will allow you to swim in your pool when the warmer weather finally comes back, and you have been waiting all year for it. 

Keeping your pool clean will prevent your collection from freezing and causing damage. Lastly, pools not maintained during the winter can become a breeding ground for bacteria and parasites, which could lead to severe illnesses. 

A quick sweep of your pool once or twice per week with a pool net should suffice. If leaves and other debris have collected on the bottom of your pool, use a vacuum to remove them before they sink too far. Be sure to brush out any algae that have grown along the sides of your steps. 

Always check for ice on the inside walls of your filter baskets. If there is no ice, continue running the pump 24/7 so water will circulate these baskets at night-time when there’s no human traffic in and out of your house, preventing them from icing over altogether.

The proper way to shock your pool

The most important thing for winter pool maintenance is shock treatment. Shock treatment kills the algae and helps prevent it from coming back. We recommend shocking at a minimum of once every two weeks, but if you have heavy algae growth, we recommend shocking more often. 

It is also recommended a chlorine level of 3-4 ppm. Lower levels can lead to bacteria growth and cloudy water, while higher levels will cause dry skin or red eyes in swimmers. Remember that with lower temperatures, your pool will have less evaporation, so you’ll need to add chemicals more often than during the summer months. 

In addition, when it rains heavily, the chlorine in your pool will be washed away, so ensure you’re keeping up with your maintenance schedule and adding chlorine tablets regularly as needed!

How to properly close your pool for the winter

Winter is an excellent time for pool owners. It’s the perfect time to close your pool for the season and put it on ice for winter fun. But what about all that maintenance you were doing all summer? Don’t worry. You can take a few simple steps over the next few weeks to ensure your pool stays clean through spring. 

There are four main types of winterizing chemicals: gas, liquid or solid chlorine, calcium hypochlorite (pool shock), and sodium bicarbonate (pH increaser). These chemicals work by releasing chlorine into the water to kill any algae growth as well as prevent corrosion in metal parts of the filtration system. 

Gas pools require much more care than those with liquid or solid chlorine because they rely on heaters to keep their water warm enough to prevent algae from forming. One common myth is that gas pools don’t need any care during the winter because they’re heated-this is false! When it comes to gas pools-an ounce of prevention goes a long way.

The benefits of using a pool cover

A pool cover is a great way to protect your pool from leaves and other debris that blows in during the fall and winter. A pool cover will also help keep a shallow end of the pool warmer, which could be the difference between having an ice rink versus a place you can swim in. 

It’s also a good idea to vacuum your pool before you close it off for the season; this will help remove any leaves or other debris sitting on top of the water. It will take minutes but can go a long way toward keeping your pool clean over the winter!

Conclusion

Winter can indeed make it harder for you to keep your pool clean, but the good news is that you can do things to reduce the amount of work required. Similarly, a water heater in your home will help maintain a healthy balance between chlorine levels so as not to irritate skin or eyes during the summer months. So if you’re looking for simple ways to make your life easier this winter season, check out Mr. Pool Man’s winter maintenance tips!

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