The summer is gradually on its way out and it is time to think about how to protect your swimming pool over the winter or, in other words, to prepare it for winterisation.
In addition to superficial protection, it is highly recommended to protect all the elements that keep the pool in the best condition over the winter so that it can be enjoyed the following season without last-minute surprises.
If you are one of those who has decided to close your pool and put an end to the bathing season, we recommend that you winterise it, because swimming pools left to the open air may suffer damage to its walls or cladding due to frost.
When you winterise your pool, pH and chlorine levels will be kept more or less stable, which means that it will be less costly to return them to their optimal levels when the new bathing seasons starts, in addition to savings on energy and chemical products.
How to protect your Pool over the Winter
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- Your pool should be winterised when the water temperature is between 12-15ºC because, when the temperature is higher than this, there is greater proliferation of bacteria and algae.
- It is not necessary to empty the pool of water, this is an unnecessary expense that may also result in problems of fissures or cracks in the structure caused by the lack of pressure exerted by the water on the surrounding soil. This can occur with all types of pool.
- Given the risk of snow and ice, lower the water level below the skimmer, emptying the pipes, filter and pump to prevent the water from freezing and breaking the mechanisms. Put a floater or antifreeze products to prevent the shell from breaking.
- Using a protective cover for the swimming pool will prevent leaves, rain and winter weather debris from falling into the pool.
- Clean the shell, shell components and purifying system thoroughly. We have left this video here for you to see how to fully clean and purify the components of the pool.
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Other aspects to bear in mind to maintain your pool over the winter
- Monitor the pH and chlorine levels of your pool over the winter to stabilise them if required. The ideal would be a pH of between 7.2 and 7.6.
- Add a winteriser (without copper for fibreglass swimming pools) following the supplier’s instructions.
- If you have a saline chlorinator, disconnect it during the winter.
- If you have a pH regulator, you will need to take out the sensor and store it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- In February, add winteriser again and, following the supplier’s instructions, start up the filtering system.
And, finally, enjoy your pool again in perfect conditions.
Another way of protecting your pool during the winter, as well as in the summer, is with our autocover pools. You can find out more about them here.
We hope that these tips will help you to maintain your pool over the winter and avoid risks and problems. Remember that maintenance prolongs the life of your pool so it can be fully enjoyed throughout its useful life.