Taking Care of Your Pool in the Fall
The warm, beautiful, and fun summer days have slowly faded away, leaving you with chillier weather and a lot less pool usage. You shouldn’t overlook your pool just because you aren’t using it as much as it still needs your attention.
When preparing your pool for less usage in the fall and winter months, you do need to follow a few maintenance guidelines to ensure your pool is well taken care of during the off-season. This will keep your pool operating efficiently and effectively.
Read on for the best tips for winter pool maintenance.
Get the Water Chemistry Right
Water chemistry refers to your pool’s water composition in terms of chlorine, pH, alkalinity, calcium, and cyanuric acid levels. Properly maintaining your water chemistry throughout the cooler months is imperative, especially when the pool is not seeing a lot of action.
If the pump is running throughout the winter:
- Maintain the chlorine level between 1-3 ppm to kill germs and bacteria. Chlorine is recommended to be added via Cal-Hypo shock to reduce cyanuric acid buildup in chlorine pools, and via tablets or di-chlor shock in saltwater pools.
- Maintain the pH level between 7.2 and 7.6. The pH level when too low can cause damage to the pool finish, and when too high can cause staining/scaling and decreased chlorine activity. Adding Cal-Hypo shock and tap water to the pool increases the pH level.
- Maintain the alkalinity level between 80-120 ppm, within that range it is buffering the pH correctly.
- Maintain the calcium level between 200-400 ppm. The calcium level when too low can cause erosion and weakening of the pool’s finish, and when too high can lead to dangerous levels of calcium scale.
If the pump is off and the pool is winterized:
- Maintain the chlorine levels between 1-3 ppm to kill germs and bacteria. Chlorine can be added via shock or tablets in a chlorine floater.
- Maintain the pH level between 7.2 and 7.6. The pH level when too low can cause damage to the pool finish, and when too high can cause staining/scaling and decreased chlorine activity. The pH level in stagnant water decreases slightly over time, however adding Cal-Hypo shock increases the pH.
- Maintain the alkalinity between 100-120 ppm. The alkalinity level in stagnant water decreases over time and a higher level is needed to correctly buffer the pH.
- Maintain the calcium level between 200-400 ppm. The calcium level when too low can cause erosion and weakening of the pool’s finish, and when too high can lead to dangerous levels of calcium scale.
- Add a Polyquat 30 or 60 algaecide as needed to prevent the growth of algae.
- Brush the pool a minimum of twice a week, or anytime chemicals are added. In stagnant water, most chemicals sink to the bottom of the pool because they are heavier than water. Brushing the pool is the only way to ensure the chemicals mix thoroughly and don’t sit on the pool finish.
Check Your Pool Equipment
Typically, pools are used less during the fall and winter months. This is a great time to conduct a thorough visual inspection of all your equipment to make sure there are no visible cracks or signs of wear. If any equipment needs any repairs, it’s important to get that done prior to swim season. While you’re inspecting your equipment, be sure to check all gaskets and seals to make sure they are in proper working order, as well.
It’s also a great time to look at your pool’s finish to ensure there is no visible cracking or damage. Over time a cracked pool finish, if left untreated, can become a major problem. Not all cracks spell trouble, so give your pool a solid once over and call your local pool repair company to help determine if a crack is a cause for concern.
Keep Your Pool Clean
It is important to keep your pool clean during the off-season. Continued cleanings help prevent algae, stains and clogged pumps. Be sure to also continue skimming your pool’s surface for any debris that may get in the pool while not in use, and regular vacuuming the pool’s surface. Don’t forget to empty those skimmer baskets as anything you may have missed in your regular pool cleanings could get stuck in there.
Your Dallas Pool Care Experts
When it comes to keeping your pool in the best condition during the off-season, the pool care experts at Riverbend Sandler Pools are here to help. We offer weekly pool service throughout Dallas, Frisco and surrounding areas, as well as professional pool winterization. Give us a call to learn more about our pool cleaning & repair services or to speak with one of our professional service technicians today.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Riverbend Sandler is a Dallas pool builder, remodel and service provider, serving Plano, Dallas, Frisco, Allen, McKinney, Celina, Highland Park, Park City, University Park, Prosper and surrounding areas for over 30 years. Riverbend Sandler is an award-winning pool builder providing quality construction and excellent customer service for over 30 years.
With the mission of “Creating Lifetime Pools for Lifetime Customers”, Riverbend Sandler Pools remains a family-run company dedicated to the ideals that only a personal commitment can uphold. Through award-winning design, high-tech construction processes, conscientious customer care and ongoing support, we pride ourselves on keeping customers for life!
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