With the temperatures cooling down across Australia, it’s time to start preparing your pool for winter. Before you reach for the pool cover, make sure you know how to winterise a pool to ensure your pool – and equipment – stay healthy during hibernation. After all, you don’t want to take the pool cover off to a bright green mess when it warms up next summer, do you!?
Here is a step by step guide to maintaining a healthy pool in winter.
1. Balance the water
Balancing your pool water is always important, and that includes when you’re putting it to sleep for winter.
When the pool pH level is right, it wards off algae and allows the chlorine to do its job of keeping the water clean properly.
Take a test strip and gauge where the pH level is at. The pH level needs to be between 7.2 and 7.6, so if it’s too low, add the correct dosage of pool acid to bring it back up.
Total Alkalinity is the measure of your pool’s ability to resist pH changes, so it helps your pool water stay at the right pH. When alkalinity is low, the pH can swing dramatically from high to low, increasing the risk of problems with algae and sanitation.
Use your test strip to gauge the alkalinity level, and add the correct dosage of Buffer.
- Chemical phosphate remover
Phosphate is also known as ‘algae food’ in the pool world! Any debris, like leaves and dirt, that’s been left to break down at the bottom of your pool, will turn into phosphates. That’s why it’s important to use a chemical phosphate remover to make sure there aren’t tiny particles waiting to turn your pool green over winter.
2. Clean the pool and filter
Next, it’s time to get out your cleaning equipment and get rid of any leaves, debris or residue.
Brush the walls and floor of your pool before vacuuming the whole thing. Don’t forget to empty any debris from the skimmer and pump baskets!
Keeping the pool’s filter sparkling-clean is the best way to ensure it can do its job properly all year. It’ll need a good hose-down to remove any grease or oil deposits, too.
3. Put a pool cover on
Now, it’s time to put a pool cover on. A cover can save you thousands of litres of water that may otherwise get evaporated from your pool in winter, which is good for the planet and good for you. Pool covers can also extend your swim season, reduce pool heating costs and help the water stay better balanced for longer.
Don’t have time to prepare your pool for winter? Don’t worry – that’s what we’re here for! Get in touch with one of our friendly team members to schedule a quick and convenient pool service and clean today.
