October 4th, 2011 
admin The nights are getting longer and colder, and leaves are beginning to fall from the trees. With summer officially over, many swimming pool owners are getting a head start on winterizing their pools.
Closing a swimming pool can be a chore, but it is essential to do during the off-season to prevent damage during the cold winter days. Winterizing your swimming pool also simplifies your tasks when you open your pool come spring time.
The process of winterizing is a long and tedious one. So make sure you have you have your winter pool supplies ready and get started on winterizing. Here are some tips to get you started:
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Balance water chemistry. Checking for water balance should be done approximately three to seven days before closing. Ideally, the pH level in the pool water should be anywhere between 7.2 and 7.6. For alkalinity, it should be 80 to 120 ppm and 180 to 220 ppm for calcium hardness.
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Remove all pool accessories. Wall fittings, diving boards, ladders, solar cover or blankets, cleaners and skimmer baskets should be cleaned and placed in a safe place during the winter season.
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Lower the water level in your pool. Water expands when it freezes and it makes your swimming pool susceptible to cracking. To prevent damaging your entire pool, lower the water level to 12- 18 inches below the skimmer.
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Drain pool plumbing and filtering system. Similarly, the plumbing and filtering system of your pool can get damaged if water is not completely removed from them. Blow out trapped water in your pool system by using a shop vac, which you need to plug at the pool end. Clean the systems thoroughly after draining.
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Remove dirt and debris from the water. Leaving your swimming pool with all the leaves and debris in it means having to work extra hard cleaning your pool when you open it in the spring. A leaf rake helps in taking out bigger particles from the water. Your pool filtering system should take care of the smaller ones, which are difficult to remove manually.
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Use pool winterizing kits. A winterizing kit treats the water and makes it sparkling clean when you open your pool in spring. You’d usually find an algaecide, rust and scale remover and a pool shock chemical which you should use before closing your swimming pool.
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Cover your pool. Pool covers are designed to keep dirt from entering the pool. Make sure that there are no holes or gaps in your pool cover so that your swimming pool will remain clean the whole season through.
Winterizing prolongs the life of your swimming pool by protecting it from the harsh elements during the cold season. Spring is just a couple of months away and you’ll soon be opening your swimming pool before you know it. In the meantime, why don’t you sit in a home sauna to chase the winter blues away?
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