Introduction
According to Mark Roemer Oakland, winterizing your pool is an essential part of your pool maintenance. We recommend you wait to start the winterization process until the swimming season is over and the temperature starts to dip consistently down to or below 65 degrees F. There are several steps you need to follow and starting too early when the weather is still warm can cause problems with algae.
The Steps
Here are the steps you can follow to winterize your pool:
- Remove pool accessories and deep clean the pool – Before starting the pool cleaning process, it’s important to remove any pool accessories or items such as ladders, solar blankets, skimmer baskets, cleaners, and more.
Then you must clean the pool by removing debris such as silt, leaves, and more to prevent the growth of mold and algae. You can use a pool vacuum and skim nets to clean your pool.
- Test and adjust the balance of the water – Next, use an at-home pool test kit or test strips to test the alkalinity, pH, and total hardness of your pool water. The pH should be between 7.2-7.6, the total alkalinity should be between 80-150 ppm, and the total hardness should be between 175-275 ppm. You can use total alkalinity increaser, hardness increaser, pH increaser, or reducer as needed.
- Drain the water and store equipment – It’s crucial to turn off all pool equipment and drain them to prevent damage from water expansion during the freezing weather. We recommend you remove all drain plugs to drain the equipment completely and remove the hoses, chlorinator, pool pump, and other equipment such as sand filter and cartridge filter.
- Shock, circulate, and add algaecide – Next, you need to add pool shock which effectively destroys bacteria, and algaecide which eliminates algae and other waste matter. Ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions, spread the chemicals evenly around your pool, and circulate your water for a few hours to ensure proper mixing.
We recommend you choose a product that helps to increase the chlorine residual and prevents increasing the pH or calcium hardness.
- Plug and cover the pool – The final step is to cover the pool. Before you cover the pool, it’s essential to reduce the water level of the pool, at least a foot below the skimmer if you want to use a mesh cover. If you want to use a solid cover, the water level should be at least half a foot below the skimmer.
Whether you choose safety covers or winter covers, ensure they are durable and feature the proper measurements for your pool to allow for a good fit. Secure the cover with winter cover clips or anchor them down.
Conclusion
Mark Roemer Oakland suggests you hire professional help if you find the process too complicated or if it’s your first time winterizing your pool. It would ensure your pool is properly winterized and you can see how a professional does the job in person.
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