Swimming Tips

Posts Tagged ‘winter’

It is important to prepare the swimming pools for winter season. If you are also looking forward to prepare your swimming pool for the upcoming winters then there are certain things that you need to keep in mind. The very first thing is that you have to test the swimming pool water levels for normal pH. Run the filters for one day at least. After this, clean all the debris that may have deposited there. Use vacuum cleaner to blow the pool thoroughly.

Once you are done with all this you have to blow out the lines and evacuate any amount of water which might be lurking in those lines. This can be done with a compressor or shop- vac effectively. With the compressor you have to take one old winterizing plug. Remove center screw and push about a quarter compressor inch hose male-adapter in winterizing plug’s center.

You also have to remove the chlorinators or any plugs it has ensuring there is no water in it at all. The multi port valve is to be set between any 2 selections. It is so as this will actually hold the valves open and will prevent internal damage if any. Also, the pump must not be covered for the winters. The pump has been enabled to breathe well as there should be no room for this pump to oxidize. If you own a heater also, then the gas and gas valve have to be turned off with winterizing plug being removed under that manifold. The heater shall be covered to prevent any debris or acorns to get inside it or to reduce the chances of spontaneous fire.

You can use a vacuum to clean plumbing lines properly. For removing the ladders and the hand rails you have to lift the decorative covers simply and loosen the bolts an inch up and hammer them down. This will ease off the ladders and the handrails.

If you have concrete swimming pools, then it is pertinent that you keep the level of water below the swimming pool tiles.

Just because it’s cool doesn’t mean you should leave your pool out of the swim and in the doldrums during the colder months. Read these winter pool tips from a market leader in pool technology and equipment supplies to keep your pool simply sparkling all year round! With minimal effort you can ensure your pool is kept clean and beautiful and ready to dive into when the warm weather arrives by following these simple tips:

1. Keep it clean Giving your pool a good scrub and vacuum to get rid of any dead leaves and debris will stop your pool turning from crystal clear to green during winter. Algae thrives in unclean water so it is important to keep the skimmer basket clean and free from debris, as well as keeping the pool filter clean and degreased. Use Concentrated Filter Cleaner to keep your pool’s filter grime and debris-free with minimum effort, and add a winter long-life algaecide and phosphate remover such as Long Life Algaecide and Ultimate Phosphate Remover to kill algae and stop it from blooming. Also recommended is adding a Clear Tab once a month to the skimmer box to achieve optimum water clarity and improve filtration.

2. Check your balance Prevention is better than cure, and balanced pool water will not only keep your pool water healthy, it will also prolong your pool’s finish and prevent exposed metal and equipment from potential damage due to unbalanced water. Checking the ph and chlorine levels once a week by self testing or taking a water sample to your local pool professional will protect your pool from corrosion, scale build-up, and also from algae blooms that flourish in overheated pools. Even in winter, you should take a sample to your pool professional once a month to test for all other factors such as total alkalinity and calcium hardness.

 3. Check chlorine levels To keep your pool clean and clear it is important to keep your pool’s ‘free’ available chlorine levels at a constant level of two to three parts per million (PPM) at all times during winter. If you’re using a salt chlorine generator and a pool blanket, remember to reduce the output of the chlorinator to one to two PPM, as pool blankets trap chemicals and chlorine, and can cause high chlorine levels to occur resulting in significant damage to pool equipment if not monitored carefully.

4. Reduce your times Rather than switching off pool equipment over winter, pool owners should reduce the filter’s timer to operate 2/3 of the time to continue filtering the water, and keeping it clean and debris-free. Switch the filter on during off-peak times to save some money. A great money saving tip we’re all happy to receive!

5. Remove your pool cleaner If you don’t want to use your automatic pool cleaner over winter, remove it from the pool and store it away with the hose laid flat, ready for use in the summer. Should you decide to continue using the cleaner under a pool blanket, it is absolutely important to keep chlorine levels at a minimum; otherwise you might end up with a nasty surprise when you take your cover off when it gets warmer. Automatic Pool Cleaners can be severely damaged if left in the water, under a pool blanket over winter.

6. Keep up a maintenance schedule Once you have completed your preparation for winter it is imperative that you stick to a maintenance schedule even though it’s cold and the pool is not being used. Once a week do a quick visual inspection of your pool and make sure all of your equipment is working properly, check the water level, empty the skimmer basket and check your chlorine and pH levels. Remember, a little bit of effort to keep your pool sparkling during winter could save you time and money when the warm weather arrives.

For a comprehensive video tutorial on preparing your pool for winter and even more great tips, be sure to and tune in to the Pool School videos available.