Everything is relative dependent on where you reside in the country. Homes in sunny Southern California or Arizona are unlikely to be forced to close their pool at all during the winter. However, if you reside in a cold climate, your pool must be winterized before temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit in order to prevent water from freezing. Most pool repair experts advise to have it shut down by October, or at the very least by Thanksgiving.
If the temperature drops suddenly to 32 degrees or lower before you close, you can leave the pool pump running for a full 24 hours. It will not freeze as long as the water is circulating through the pipes.
Top 3 Reasons To Winterize Your Pool #
Just in case you’re still on the fence on whether or not you should winterize your pool and are perhaps considering not closing it this season – we’ve produced a list of nightmarish scenarios you absolutely won’t want to confront.
It Can Collapse #
An inground pool has a liner that keeps the water in and prevents it from eroding the pool’s base. Any breaks in the surface of this liner might be disastrous to your pool.
Closing your pool for the season and doing an inspection allows you to analyze any damage that may have occurred during the summer months and fix any issues as soon as possible. By closing the pool, you effectively reduce the risk posed by harsh winter conditions, which frequently result in cracking.
But let’s proceed with the idea that you’re not going to close your pool. When the temperatures drop, the unprotected water in your pool will freeze. The resulting ice and cold temperatures will either rip open new tears or cause existing ones to widen.
Assume it’s the end of spring, and you’re finally able to swim again, only to discover massive tears in your pool lining. Aside from costing a fortune to repair, it will also take a long time to fully reopen your pool, depriving you of the fun you may usually get from summer hours in your pool.
Electricity Costs #
Next, let’s go through some fundamental costs. When you close your pool, you flush the lines and pumps to ensure that no water remains in them to freeze and potentially cause damage. If you want to keep your pool open over the winter, you’ll need to run your pumps to protect the pool from freezing and inflicting structural damage.
The electricity utilized will cost you throughout the winter months, when your heating bills are already high, and if you lose power at any moment – as in the case of a big winter storm – the damage to your now-frozen pool might be extensive. Your plumbing and filtration system could freeze, causing your water temperature to plummet and shutting down your chlorine systems.
Infestation of Algae #
Say goodbye to your lovely blue pool if your chlorine system fails. Failure to winterize your pool, combined with the actions outlined above, will result in an ugly and costly to clean pool. Did you happen to see the green pools during the Olympics last month?
Aside from being an eyesore, getting rid of the algae can be a significant financial drain. When you are ready to use your pool again, you will most likely need to completely drain and replenish the water. That all adds up.
Though not a health issue in and of itself, the bacteria that feeds on algal waste can quickly accumulate, causing gastrointestinal diseases, rashes, swimmer’s ear, and respiratory infections if not properly cleaned.
Reasons To Consider Closing Your Pool #
Inclement Weather #
In many parts of the country, pool owners begin to consider closing their pools in September or October. If the weather is still great and you’re actively utilizing the pool, there’s no reason why you can’t continue to enjoy it into November while the water temperature remains warm and easy to maintain.
Are You Using It #
After Labor Day, you’ll most likely notice that you and your family aren’t using the pool as frequently. Maybe it’s because the kids are back in school. Perhaps the daytime temps haven’t been hot enough. In any case, now is probably a good time to start preparing the pool for winter.
Leaves & Debris #
Even if you don’t have mature trees on your property, you’re probably already working harder at this time of year to remove leaves from your pool. And those of you who have a lot of trees know how quickly leaf pile can become a headache. Closing your pool in the early fall alleviates this inconvenience and makes it easy to cover the pool before the leaves begin to fall.
A Sudden Cold Snap #
Freezing Temperatures Dangerous For Reasons #
1) If you haven’t properly closed the pool, freezing water can cause catastrophic damage to pool equipment. But there’s another reason:
2) Nobody wants to close a pool when it’s freezing outside! The weather is great in September and October, so it’s a good time to close the pool. Even though you don’t want to say goodbye to summer, it’s still nice to be outside and enjoy the sun. However, as the temperatures begin to drop dramatically, you’ll kick yourself for not closing the pool sooner, especially when no pool contractor wants to freeze their fingers off performing the work.
It is critical to close your pool at the conclusion of the summer season. You will be assisting in keeping the water clear over the winter, making it easier to open next year. But, more importantly, correctly closing your pool helps to extend the life of the equipment and avoid damage from harsh winter weather.
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