Are you in the deep freeze? Many areas of the country are finding themselves buried in snow and dealing with sub-zero temperatures. If that is your fate right now. You may not be paying any attention to the care and maintenance of your swimming pool. Truly, who can blame you?! But, if you look out the window and notice that your back yard is drifted over with snow or ice and you can hardly even see the swimming pool, guess what? You’re going to have to put on your boots, winter hat, coat and grab a shovel and make your way to the pool. It’s time for some winter pool care.
Swimming pool ownership is a year-round responsibility – even in the winter!
Winter Swimming Pool Care Tips
Performing periodic swimming pool checks and inspections during the winter is crucial because snow and ice build-up can cause damage to the pool, the pool cover and the pool equipment.
What do you need to do to care for your pool in the winter?
Don’t let ice and snow and standing water build up on the cover. This could cause it is pull loose of the moorings and to sink into the water and/or damage the cover itself. Also, if the cover falls into the pool it will introduce all of the dirty, standing water into the winterized pool. If there is a warm-up and the ice and snow melt you will want to grab a cover pump and get the water off of there. Resist the urge to pull chunks of ice off the cover the sharp edges could rip the cover and if you drop it, you will damage the cover.
After a storm has passed through and if it brings howling winds with it, it can blow the cover off the pool. If this happens the snow and rain and debris will fall into the pool. Check the cover to make certain it’s still tightly attached after a storm.
Check the cover at least weekly to make certain it is secure.
Keep branches cut back from the pool. This makes sense year-round, but especially in the winter. If snow or ice weighs down the branches they can not only drop the snow and ice into the pool but if a branch breaks it can damage the pool. A pool cover is an ideal barrier from twigs and leaves but is no match for heavy, snow-laden branches.
Your pool contractor will have lowered the water levels before he closed the swimming pool for the winter. If you have had a lot of snow or rain you will want to check and make sure the pool water levels aren’t getting to overflow status.
The pool water chemicals will have been tested, balanced and in some cases amped up to protect the water during the months when the pool is not in use. Over-winter chemicals keep algae growth at bay and prevent bacteria growth; this makes the spring pool opening move more smoothly.
Check the pool equipment to make certain it remains safely covered and protected from the elements. If there is a drift of snow on top of any equipment, carefully remove it to take the weight of the snow off of it. Don’t attack it with a shovel because if you can’t see the equipment, you run the risk of damaging it.