Swimming Pool Maintenance Tips for Winter

Now that the weather is cooling down, it's time to consider readying your pool for the winter. Doing this now will ensure that it is clean, safe and doesn't require hours of expensive maintenance when summer rolls around again. Keeping a pool blue is certainly easier than bringing it back from green. Follow these simple tips to get your pool in tip top shape:

1. Start scrubbing. Most likely your pool won't be swum in all through winter, so get it as clean as possible to avoid a build up of algae. Scrub the tiles, getting down into the grout and in any corners and cracks. Your automatic cleaner will have certainly picked up much of the debris and algae through the summer, but giving it an extra clean will mean less trouble down the road. Pay extra attention to any part your cleaner might not get to normally.

1. Shock the water. When you shock a pool by adding a high dose of chlorine it kills anything in the pool currently, and keeps the water cleaner for longer while not in use. Your local pool shop can advise you on how much to put in, and give you the appropriate products that you will need. After the pool is thoroughly chlorinated, a couple of hours with the pump running will even the product throughout the water.

1. Clean your swimming pool equipment. Clean your filters, skimmers, automatic cleaner and any other cleaning equipment involved with your pool. This will help in the long run and stop any algae or debris from settling in the equipment and festering in disuse. Any scum on the filter after winter will be very hard to remove, so clean with a filter cleaner and degreaser from the pool store.

1. Get the tarp out. A pool cover or blanket will stop leaves falling onto the surface of the pool and greatly reduce the amount of work needed to maintain the water. Leaves may seem innocent enough to be allowed to fall in, but they are the most common causes of pool imbalances and problems. The cover will also reduce water evaporation so less topping up. Be sure to let some air in occasionally though, as algae can grow faster if the pool is always covered.

1. Get the pump running. Even if the pool is not in use, the pool filters and cleaning system should be run at an optimum four hours a day, and the skimmer should be checked occasionally and emptied when nearing fullness. Doing this will reduce cleaning later, and will check that all your equipment is running normally.

1. Check your water. Before sitting back and resting after the hard work, check your pH, alkaline and of course, your chlorine levels. You should ensure the levels are all normal, taking into account the shocking of the pool. Ask your local pool store about a test kit and be sure to ask for your correct levels to make sure everything is as it should be. Do this routinely every two weeks or so.

1. General upkeep. Lastly, through the winter months there are a few things to double check while doing your bi-weekly maintenance. Check your water level against your skimmer box, it should be halfway up. Check the pressure gauge on your filter doesn't say 'backwash' and if you have pool lights, turn them on for half an hour or so to avoid any moisture in the fittings.

Follow all these steps and consult Oz Pool Supplies for advice, and your pool will be up and running in no time in summer.

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