Summer in Florida is always an amazing season, with its balmy temperatures and almost non-stop sunshine. It’s hardly surprising that many people choose to spend a lot of the time out in their swimming pools, soaking up the sun whilst cooling off at the same time.
However, now that summer is drawing to a close, it’s time to start looking forward to the cooler months, and also time to start planning a schedule to get the pool primed and in peak condition for the spring.
The last thing you want to do is close the pool off for the entire time, as there is always the odd day in December or January when the sun beats hard enough for a quick dip to be a pleasurable experience, so it’s important to figure out just how you’re going to prepare your pool for the cooler months, without too much disruption.
Preparing your Pool for Winter
It seems a strange thing to start preparing a pool for cooler months, when in fact, in Florida, temperatures seldom ever dip that low. However, the fact of the matter is, the temperature can drop to freezing temperatures at times, and if you’re not prepared, you may find that your swimming pool pipes will freeze, which can cause significant problems says Dave Hahmann, owner of Bay Area Pool Service.
Also, you don’t want to keep running your pool on optimum, as this is simply money down the drain. Instead, you want to arrange a system where you are saving on utility bills, chemical supplies and maintenance costs, without it being detrimental to your pool.
Top Tips for Preparing Your Pool for Winter
Have a good clean out. Hire a team of expert swimming pool cleaners, and get them to remove all the debris from your skimmer baskets. It’s also highly advisable to arrange for your filter to be thoroughly cleaned.
Check the chemical levels. Again, this is a job that we highly recommend leaving to the experts. Call on a knowledgeable swimming pool maintenance company in Tampa Bay to check the pH levels of the water, and also check the calcium hardness. They may advise, after balancing, to shock the pool with a chlorine shock. The good news is that your pool will receive a lot less sunlight whilst its winter, so you don’t need to worry about chemical treatment quite so much, as algae will be less prevalent.
Examine the pump. An expert swimming pool maintenance company will examine your pool pump thoroughly, checking that it is in full working order and that there are no major issues. It’s not totally necessary, but you may want to consider investing in a freeze sensor, which will alert you if the water temperature drops to sub-zero levels.
Getting the Job Done Correctly for Winter
You can conduct these checks yourself, but it’s recommended to seek the assistance of a professional team, who will be able to guarantee that the job is done properly. They'll also assess your equipment to make sure it’s not damaged, which is something that is notoriously difficult for a layperson to do.
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