Tips for Off-Season Pool Maintenance

Keep the Pool Clean

Though there will be less organic matter getting into your pool during the winter, it’s still necessary to vacuum and brush your pool to keep the surfaces of the pool from becoming stained. 

Make Sure the Water is Balanced

Though you’ll need a lot less chlorine in your pool during the winter than the summer, you should keep on top of your water balance. Monitoring the pH, alkalinity and calcium levels on a regular basis will keep your pool healthy and reduce staining and scaling. 

Leave Valves Open and Pumps Running

Heating a pool isn’t necessary during the winter months to keep pipes from freezing, as long as all of the pipes are running and all of the valves are at least partially open when the temperature dips below that 32 degree mark. As long as water is moving through the entire system, your plumbing shouldn’t freeze,  even if the surface of the pool does. 

Invest in Freeze Protection

To make sure that your pumps are running when they need to, you can program a freeze sensor or timer to trigger the pumps to come on when the air or water reaches a certain temperature. This will eliminate the chances of water freezing in your plumbing and equipment. 

Keep Up with Your Pool Service 

You may think that because you’re not using your pool that you can slack off on service, but that’s not the case. You can decrease the frequency of service to every other week after the fall leaves have all left the trees, but it’s still important to schedule routine pool maintenance throughout the winter months to keep on top of debris removal and repairs. 

If you prefer to winterize and close your pool each year, it’s important to note that you can’t just cover a pool and let it sit for six months. There is still work that needs to be done each month. 

Continue Pool Service

Our technicians can conduct a pool closing service if you decide you’d like to close your pool. And with our monthly cover service, we will take care of your covered pool by taking the leaves off the cover, lowering the water levels and balancing the chemicals. 

Close Late, Open Early

We also recommend that our customers who decide to close their pools wait until water temperature drops below 65 degrees and all of the leaves have fallen. Opening the pool early, normally in March/April, is also recommended so that the water doesn’t get warm enough to promote growth of algae and bacteria. 

Use a Safety Cover 

Pool safety covers can also be used in the winter to protect your pool from debris and other substances. The proper pool safety cover will fit correctly and won’t slip into the pool. Throughout the winter, check your safety cover to make sure it is free of debris and fits correctly. If debris and other materials fall into your pool, it will create bacteria and algae growth.

Pool Deck

Think about keep your pool deck maintained as well. Consider use a cool pool deck coating to keep the family and friends from burning their feet next summer.

If you find that you don’t have the time to keep up with your pool throughout the winter, you should hire a pool professional. Pinnacle Pool Services has been serving Atlanta pool owners since 1996.