How to Winterise a Pool
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- Posted date:
- 15-01-2019
As with caravans, swimming pools are not often used in winter, and should be properly prepared for so. The importance of doing this is to keep the pool safe from the damage that is caused by frozen water and to make sure that it is safe for use when the season is over. Protecting your pool before winter will also mean less time preparing for use again.
Make Sure your Winter Cover is Secure Using a Cable and a Winch
One of the major steps is to keep the pool covered completely. The cover keeps the pool safe from any elements that will cause damage. If the pool is not covered, you may have to go through the trouble of skimming and cleaning it through the cold season, which is not ideal.
There are various types of winter covers, and it is important to make sure you get the right one that suits your requirements. For an above ground pool, heavy duty cover are recommended; they have holes around the edge of the cover that has got metal rings also known as grommets. They'll also comes with a cable and a winch which is important to cog down the cover for a tight fit and maximum protection.
Drain Your Pump, Filters Heaters and Chlorinating Equipment
Ensure that you drain all the water from the pump, the filter and the chlorinating equipment. All these equipment have a drainage pipe which helps in draining all the water from it safely, and there is also an option of blowing the line out using a shop vacuum.
It is also important to remove the DC pool filter, or a cartridge filter and store them away during the winter season. Clean all the grids and the cartridges as well. Placing them back in may cause damage in case water gets in, so it's recommended to store them in a separate location for winter.
Protection Against Ice and Wind
It is always windy during the winter season, and this is one of the things that can damage the pool. To protect the pool from wind, it is important to add water on top of the cover. Make sure you do not add a lot of water on the cover. For tarp cover, you can use aqua bags to hold your cover down. You can always use a pump to remove excess water. The best way to deal with the ice on your cover is to let it melt. This makes it easy to pump it out with a cover pump. Trying to remove the ice directly will damage the pool cover by the sharp edges. A mesh cover would be the best to protect large ice building up, if it is not available, keep ½ water levels on top of the pool cover.
Empty Your Chemical Feeder
Chemical feeders may damage your equipment if left in the pool for the winter, so if you have one, it's best to remove it for the winter. Make sure you use goggles and gloves when doing this. Removing the chemical feeder will save you from replacing the equipment when the winter season is over.
Protection Against Trees
Overhanging tree limbs are the major cause of holes in swimming covers. The wind in this season can make these overhanging limbs to fall on the cover, therefore, causing the damage to the cover and the entire pool. To prevent this from happening, make sure you hire a professional to cut off the hanging tree limbs that could fall on the pool cover. Pool leaf net can also be helpful for this purpose.
Lower the Water Level
Use a pump to keep the water levels of the pool low. A filter pump or submersible pump is best recommended for this task. Make sure the levels are about 4†to 6†below the plumbing line. You can do this by removing the above ground pool skimmer.
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