Whether it’s snowing outside or you are in suntan city, caring for your pool in winter is important. Winter pool maintenance can save you money once you decide to open your pool again in the spring. This will also prevent any damage due to contaminated water or freezing temperatures. So, protect your swimming pool from winter damage to maintain your investment. For this reason, you can contact our professional pool builders in Montgomery for assistance.
This guide will address the importance of covering pools in winter, maintaining your investment, and balancing chemicals during the frosty weather.
Balance Chemicals In Your Pool In Winter
Many people ask what chemicals should be put in a pool for winter. Here are the experts’ recommendations for water balance during the cold season:
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Chlorine
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pH Levels
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Alkalinity
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Calcium Hardness
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Stabilizer
We often get asked about the adequate number of chlorine tablets. You should use 1 chlorine tablet for every 5,000 gallons of water in your pool. During winters, use enough tablets and set your chlorinator to a low setting (2-4 ppm). This will equip your pool with a consistent amount of chlorine.
You should maintain your pool’s pH level at around 7.4. Low pH is corrosive to most pool equipment and surfaces, while very high pH can promote scale buildup.
Alkalinity acts as a buffer, inhibiting changes in pH. Therefore, maintain your pool’s alkalinity in the 80-20 ppm range.
It’s so important to protect the surfaces and finishes of your pool in winter. Low calcium levels can result in etching and staining, while too high can lead to deposits and stains. So, maintain calcium hardness around 200 ppm.
During winters, the sun is not as strong as in summers. So maintain a conditioner at 40 ppm or more to reduce UV degradation of chlorine.
Salt Cell During The Winter
Your salt cell will likely shut automatically when the temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In winters, salt cells reduce the amount of chlorine your pool needs to keep clean. This is because it’s difficult for bacteria to grow in cold temperatures. Therefore, if you wish to turn off the cell yourself, you need to keep one or more chlorine tablets in the chlorinator to maintain the level.
Algae Growth Rate In Winter Pools
Algae growth rate slows down during colder temperatures. However, the experts still recommend keeping the free chlorine level between 2 and 4 ppm. You never know when the temperature rises, giving algae a chance to grow. So don’t risk it.
Automatic Pool Cleaner In The Winter
Many people ask what to do with the automatic pool cleaner in winter. Keep it running for around 4 hours each day to help your pool look great and balanced even if you aren’t swimming. You can also cover your pool or place a leaf net instead.
Cover Your Pool In Winter
Placing a pool cover is important to protect your pool from debris, snow, and animals. If you have a pool cover, you can save energy by giving your automatic pool cleaner a rest during winters. Besides saving energy, pool covers can conserve water by 30 to 50 percent and chemical consumption by 35 to 60 percent. You can also save cleaning time by keeping debris and dirt out of your pool.
If you have more questions or are looking for a winterizing kit for your pool, call Towns and Country Pools of Texas.