Regardless of where you live, it is important to shut your pool down and care for it properly during the winter season. Living in the Northeast presents a few unique issues for pool owners, though, because the area is subject to a deep freeze. That doesn’t mean that the process has to be difficult; by following a few simple tips, it is possible to ensure that your pool stays safe until it is time to re-open it in the summer.
Leave Water In
This piece of advice is a little confusing; why shouldn’t you drain the pool entirely, especially since it gets so cold and the water is likely to freeze? The short answer is that some water in the pool helps to keep it safe, although you do have to make sure to add the right chemicals to the water.
If there is no water in the pool, the liner is much more likely to be damaged during the winter season. It is subject to tears and cracking and could even shrink. A little bit of water protects the pool, although how much you keep in depends on your pool cover.
To treat the water, it is important to put in stain prevention, algaecide and chlorine shock. Chemicals like these keep the water in good condition so that the pool is ready to go when you want to use it again. Best of all, you won’t have to worry about your liner getting destroyed as a result of the harsh winter weather.
Cover Your Pool
A cover helps shield the pool from anything that could potentially harm it. If you choose not to put a cover on, you’ll have to work a lot harder to keep the pool clean and in good working order. With temperatures dipping below freezing, most people would rather be inside their homes than outside by the pool.
In order for the cover to do its job, there has to be water in the pool. The water level should be between three and twelve inches below the skimmer opening. Check on the pool periodically to ensure that there isn’t a leak that necessitates the addition of water; you must maintain this level of water to keep everything working properly.
Let Ice Thaw
Frozen ice can cause damage to your pool cover if you try and take it off without allowing it to thaw. Instead, wait until it melts and then get rid of the water with a pump. A siphon will do the trick as well. Depending on the type of pool cover you have, it may be a good idea to put approximately half an inch of water on top of it. That will keep too much ice from accumulating.