Once the colder weather hits, it’s time to begin closing your pool. But what exactly goes into the swim pool closing process? While swimming pool closings are best handled by professional pool companies, it never hurts to find out more about the steps that go into swimming pool closings. Here, we’ll dive into the process of winterizing your swimming pool and the steps that go into swimming pool closings.
Winterizing Your Swimming Pool
Before most swimming pool closings take place, professional pool cleaners or pool owners will usually use a phosphate remover to prevent algae blooms. A pool should be closed when the water successively remains at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. You don’t want to close a pool before this time lest you increase of risk of algae growth. It is more practical to have your pool winterized and closed versus taking care of the closing yourself, as each step can take a good deal of your time. Not only must you be detailed, you must be diligent about your pool’s care. That is why it is best to refer to a pool service – a business that can supply pool parts, repairs, and regular maintenance work.
One of the things a pool service will do before a pool closing is to brush and vacuum your pool. A pool services’ equipment is ideally made for commercial use. Pool service professionals know what it takes to brush, vacuum, and remove the debris from a pool correctly. The technicians brush the pool’s floor and sides and skim the pool’s surface water before cleaning the pump and skimmer baskets. Technicians also check out the water levels in the non-freezing and freezing pool areas. In the freezing area, the water should be about 5 inches beneath the skimmer, if vinyl-lined, or the tile line (if made of plaster). Technicians fill the non-freezing area to almost overflowing.
Adding Chemicals
You might consider pool technicians pool chemists as they balance the chemistry of the pool’s water and know the numbers that support pH and alkalinity. In this case, a pool’s alkalinity should fall between 80 and 120 ppm. The pH level should rest between the reading of 7.4 and 7.6.
Another thing pool technicians do during pool closings is to shock and chlorinate the water. Shocking kills the bad germs that can linger through winter. A pool should be shocked the night before its winter closing date. Technicians also backwash the pool filter, allowing the pump in the pool to run one cycle before backwashing the filter and chemically cleaning it.
Other winterization activities include draining the pool lines and adding antifreeze. Doing so will avoid the repairs associated with damaged or burst pipes. Most of the equipment in a pool features a drain that allows the release of water. Technicians remove the filter cartridges from the pool’s filter and fully clean them.
Covering a Pool
The last step for closing a pool for winter includes installing a winter cover. This type of concealment may also take the form of a leaf net. By having the pool winterized, you can be assured that the cover that is used will tightly hug the pool, keeping it protected until spring arrives and the pool is reopened.
Pool closings require a lot of steps to maintain the care and hygiene of a swimming pool. Therefore, closing your pool is not something to take lightly. Moreover, real estate professionals add that a swimming pool adds about 7% to the value of a home’s real estate. Therefore, the people who service your pool and winterize it can help you maintain your pool’s value and ensure its continued use. Call us today about our pool services, such as closing pools for the winter, vinyl liner replacement, opening your pool, or pool building contractor services.
