Why Is It Important To Winterize A Pool & When Is The Best Time To Do It
Across Canada, each province runs on its own unique time frame. The rainy fall season may begin on the west coast, while the east is already experiencing winter temperatures. In either case, it is important to treat your pool according to the season and the unique requirements of your region. Waiting too long to close your pool leads to frozen pumps and a whole lot of damage, while doing it too early leads to algae growth and other associated issues.
As enjoyable as pools may be, they require a ton of upkeep. You might have spent a lot of time balancing water, skimming surfaces and scrubbing out pool sides and flooring, but when it comes to a seasonal shift, it is always better to contact a professional, to get great results. Despite being built tough to withstand shifting temperatures, pools won’t survive a harsh winter without a bit of help. Calling a professional to prepare your pool for winter means alleviating stress on your part, improving both the look and function of your system and can help to prolong lifespans, saving money in the process.
Timing Your Service: Avoid Freezing Temperatures
When closing down a system, there are commonly two types of pool owners: the procrastinator, and the pre-emptive strike. As great as it might be to be ahead of the curve in some cases, winterizing too early comes along with its own issues. The ideal time to close down your pool is based more on temperature than it is on your calendar. When the average temperature is 15C (59F), or below, it is the ideal time to shut your system down.
When you treat and cover the pool during warmer weather, it sets the stage for algae growth. Trapping warm weather in a damp and covered environment is a recipe for disaster, bacteria and invasive growth. Waiting too long to close down your swimming pool leads to frozen water, which is known to destroy liners, weaken plastic, and cause widespread damage to the inner workings of your system.
Getting a pool winter ready means focusing on more than just the structural makeup of your system, but the mechanisms and components that keep it running. When there is water left behind in pool lines, it will freeze and expand, causing damage for filters and pumps. Along with standard practices, like taking time to blow out the lines, there are additional chemical treatments that can be added, such as pool antifreeze, depending on your region.
Closing Your Pool For Winter: Simple Steps, Excellent Results
No matter how you look at it, winter and freezing temperatures are a danger to your pool. Heavy rainfall will upset chemical levels, where a drop in temperature will freeze water, both in the pool and within the mechanisms themselves. Dropping water levels in an inground pool protects jets, while it is not necessary to drain above ground pools. It is important to understand the needs of your unique system, but this can take years of practice and learning. Instead of filling your evenings and weekends with pool care articles and brochures, let our Puddle Pros handle the heavy lifting for you.
You might be able to clean your pool on your own throughout the summer, but when it comes to serious seasonal care, it is always better to leave the more in-depth services, to the professionals. Taking the time to close your system down properly not only prolongs the lifespan of your system but it also makes it more simple and quicker to get your pool open in spring.
It is easy to pop over to a pool supply store to pick up a simple chemical kit or winter cover, but this does not mean that your closing is a piece of cake. Draining water, for example, is a complicated process. An amateur approach to drainage can quickly lead to drowned lawns, flooding basements, rotten construction materials and a whole lot of water damage. Avoid a DIY disaster by calling a Puddle technician today!
