Prepare your pool for the winter

At the end of the summer and, with it, the hot season, the time has come to condition your pool for the winter. Whether you decide to conserve the water or not, you must take a series of basic measures to ensure that your pool continues to be in optimum condition next year.

There are several questions that should be asked and that we at Pool Fun will clarify for you:

Should the pool be covered?

Covering the pool during the winter, without emptying its contents, is the best option, since on the one hand it achieves a more stable temperature, which means that the cost of maintenance products is lower, and on the other hand it protects the pool from the fall of earth, leaves and other agents that contribute to the process of water decomposition.

Could the pool be left uncovered and treated with special products?

It is possible, but it is not the most recommendable option, as it would require continuous maintenance and that the purifier is working for a longer period of time, in addition to requiring a greater quantity of maintenance products, with the consequent accumulation of residues.

What is the best way to cover the pool during the winter?

The best alternative is that offered by PVC fabric covers, as they are resistant to tearing and traction. These covers have a double purpose:

- To protect people and pets from possible falls.

- To conserve the water of the swimming pool, containing the leaves that may fall in autumn and, at the same time, preventing the sun from coming into contact with the water and causing the proliferation of organic matter.

What tasks are essential in preparing the pool for the winter?

The first step is to carry out a thorough cleaning, which includes brushing the walls of the pool, thoroughly cleaning the pool and checking that the pump basket and suction nozzles are free of leaves and debris.

It is also necessary to check that the water's pH values are between 7.2 and 7.5. If this is not the case, use pH regulators until these parameters are reached.

In order to prepare the swimming pool well for the winter you should also carry out a shock chlorination, treatment that consists of pouring a greater quantity of chlorine into the water than normal. This amount will ultimately depend on the size of your pool, but is usually between two and four times the usual amount.

The cleaning of the filters is also fundamental and must be done with properly approved products.

Once the appropriate pH values have been established and the correct operation of the filter has been verified, it is time to add the winterising product for water maintenance, using the dosage recommended by the manufacturer. It is important to distribute it well throughout the pool, for which it is necessary for the filter to be working, as this will ensure that the distribution of the product is homogeneous throughout the water. Depending on the weather conditions, it is advisable to proceed with a second application of the winterising product in January or February.

Go to Pool Fun and find everything you need for your pool, both greenhouses and chlorine and any other maintenance product.

What is the essential running time of the pool purifier in winter?

It is recommended that the purification equipment works for about 15 to 30 minutes a day, as this prevents the electronic equipment from having problems with humidity. 

On the other hand, if there is no cover for the pool, it is necessary to periodically remove any objects that may have fallen into the water, as well as to pass the pool cleaner regularly.

Other Pool fun tips

If you decide not to empty the water in the pool, it is very important that the temperature of the water is below 15ºC.

In the case of particularly cold climates, it is advisable to lower the water level below the skimmers, as well as to place some floating object on the surface of the pool to act as a buffer against possible ice pressure.

In temperate climates, it is advisable to operate the filter periodically when possible.

If you follow these Pool Fun tips, when the summer season arrives again, your pool will be in perfect working condition.

That said, go to Pool Fun and find everything you need for your pool.