Basic Guide on Winterizing Your Swimming Pool

You have invested money in building swimming pool and it has given you so much pleasure. As the season begins to get colder, you have to prepare the pool to make sure that it won't be damaged during the season change. For this purpose, you will gain lots of insights from gathering information about ways on winterizing swimming pools.

As the summer bids adieu, you must also begin saying goodbye to your pool. Here are the processes that must be followed to make sure that the pool will be ready for the colder season and will also at its tip-top shape come summertime.

1. Check the pH level of the water. This must be about 7.5 and if the results show otherwise, put dry acid on the water. Check the chlorine and use a product that is ideal for the situation to protect the pool from developing algae come winter months.

2. When the cold months come in, run the pump six hours each day. This action will also prevent algae from developing while the pool is not in use. Any kinds of leaks should be sealed. Turn off the valve of the skimmer and allow the water to drain until it is about six inches below the bottom of the skimmer. This is the preferred amount of water on the pool.

3. Before you store the summer cover, if ever you have used one, clean it through pressure washer or simply with fresh water. Keep it at a dry area and get the winter cover. When placing this on the pool, apply enough tension on the cover to prevent anything from getting beneath it once it is in place. This must be checked several days in a week to be certain that it is still tight.

Tell everybody about the cover. For everyone's safety, tell them that even pets are not allowed to go near the pool area. The cover may be able to protect the pool, but it wasn't designed to protect anyone or anything that may accidentally slip atop the material.

4. After you are done with the abovementioned procedures, it is time to drain excess water from the equipment. Water needs to be drained from the pump, heater and filter. This can be easily done by pulling the drain plug that can be found at the bottom. This part makes the whole process a lot easier.

Even if you are stuck with lots of things that are crying for your attention in preparation for the coming season, you should never forget to drain the pool from water. During winter, the water will freeze inside the area that may result to permanent damage that you certainly wouldn't want to happen.

When you are done with all these steps on winterizing your swimming pool, you can proceed with other tasks. But you have to check on the pool after several days to see if everything is okay and holding up or you need to fix some areas to be very certain that everything is going to be fine.

Basic Guide on Winterizing Your Swimming Pool

You have invested money in building swimming pool and it has given you so much pleasure. As the season begins to get colder, you have to prepare the pool to make sure that it won't be damaged during the season change. For this purpose, you will gain lots of insights from gathering information about ways on winterizing swimming pools.

As the summer bids adieu, you must also begin saying goodbye to your pool. Here are the processes that must be followed to make sure that the pool will be ready for the colder season and will also at its tip-top shape come summertime.

1. Check the pH level of the water. This must be about 7.5 and if the results show otherwise, put dry acid on the water. Check the chlorine and use a product that is ideal for the situation to protect the pool from developing algae come winter months.

2. When the cold months come in, run the pump six hours each day. This action will also prevent algae from developing while the pool is not in use. Any kinds of leaks should be sealed. Turn off the valve of the skimmer and allow the water to drain until it is about six inches below the bottom of the skimmer. This is the preferred amount of water on the pool.

3. Before you store the summer cover, if ever you have used one, clean it through pressure washer or simply with fresh water. Keep it at a dry area and get the winter cover. When placing this on the pool, apply enough tension on the cover to prevent anything from getting beneath it once it is in place. This must be checked several days in a week to be certain that it is still tight.

Tell everybody about the cover. For everyone's safety, tell them that even pets are not allowed to go near the pool area. The cover may be able to protect the pool, but it wasn't designed to protect anyone or anything that may accidentally slip atop the material.

4. After you are done with the abovementioned procedures, it is time to drain excess water from the equipment. Water needs to be drained from the pump, heater and filter. This can be easily done by pulling the drain plug that can be found at the bottom. This part makes the whole process a lot easier.

Even if you are stuck with lots of things that are crying for your attention in preparation for the coming season, you should never forget to drain the pool from water. During winter, the water will freeze inside the area that may result to permanent damage that you certainly wouldn't want to happen.

When you are done with all these steps on winterizing your swimming pool, you can proceed with other tasks. But you have to check on the pool after several days to see if everything is okay and holding up or you need to fix some areas to be very certain that everything is going to be fine.

What Is The Winterizing Process?

Winterizing or winterization is used to refer to the process of preparing for the approaching winter.  In the winterization process, there is a need to drain water from different aquatic systems like fountains, swimming pools, and other systems.  This is to remove water so that it would not freeze causing the pipes to break.  Winterizing is crucial in areas where winter and snow covers the ground and the area for a long period of time.

Winterizing should also be performed in cabins, cottages and even in standard homes to prepare for the temperature drop during winter.  Each home is different, which is why there are specific winterization strategies specific to that home or cottage.  Irrigation systems also need to be prepared for the winter.  Normally, winterization will start by the first winter freeze for irrigation systems.  The recommended time for winterization to start in irrigation systems, would when the temperature at night drops to below 32°F.

There are some local requirements by your community council, that winterization would start from October 1 to March 31.  If you are new in your area, you could ask information from a Coordinator to ask about the winterization requirements and details.

Irrigation system could normally stand about a couple of days of freezing temperature.  There are places however that are winterized.  For example, in Toronto, Canada, the Dundas Square is winterized by turning the water off in each of the pipes that supply water to 20 fountains and covering six hundred nozzles.

Aside from homes, gardens and irrigation systems, winter could also be harsh on your car.  Vehicles would also need some level of winterizing.  Low temperatures could affect its operation and physical condition. Cold temperatures could make it harder for the engine to work.  Potholes in roads could cause damage to the wheels and tires.

Boats, swimming pools and even your own diet could use a bit of winterizing and preparing for the winter. Winter could affect the boat’s engine and make it susceptible to corrosion.   With proper winterization of your boat, you could extend its life and engine. There are different tips that could ensure that your boat will run efficiently come the next spring, like keeping the fuel tank full and just leaving a little room for condensation.  Failing to fill the fuel tank, could increase the risk of condensation and lead to clogging and corrosion.

Preparing your home for the winter could be done by the a professional or you could do it on your own.  When getting somebody to do the winterizing for you, make sure that the plumber is licensed and would have sufficient experience to do so.  It is very important to winterize your home, especially if you are leaving for a vacation and will be leaving your home unoccupied over a long period of winter time.

Winterization or winterizing is not only about preparing your properties for the winter, it can also include preparing yourself and your health for the low temperatures.  Winter is not only harsh on your physical stuff, but can also pound on your health.