Swimming Pool Chemicals
The winter season causes headaches for many people, but for swimming pool owners winter can create an additional list of concerns. The freezing temperatures, bitter winds and snow storms that winter brings can result in several types of damage to your swimming pool that can be costly to repair. The best way to deal with winter storm damage is to prevent it before it occurs. The experts at are here to fill you in on common winter pool damages, tips to prevent these problems and what to do if your pool is harmed during the off season.
A few common ways your pool could be affected from harsh winter weather can include:
- Cracks or indentations in your pool’s walls from ice expansion
- Ice build-up inside your swimming pool that can cause your vinyl pool liner to puncture or tear
- Damage to your above ground pool’s frame due to the weight of snow-melt on top of your winter pool cover
- Cracked or broken equipment or parts due to freezing
For many pool owners, there is no way to get around the winter months. If you live in an area that experiences harsh winters, the best thing you can do to protect your swimming pool is take the proper damage-prevention steps. The first step in reducing the risk of off-season pool problems is taking the time to correctly winterize your swimming pool. This includes cleaning the water, balancing your pool’s chemicals, adding winter algaecide, lowering the water to just below the skimmer box and return, and removing any stairs or ladders. Even if you drain your pool’s water level to just below the skimmer box, water and ice sometimes manage to damage your skimmer, so skimmer closures are an additional way for you to protect your pool. Skimmer closures are similar to Tupperware containers in the sense that they prevent pool water from entering the skimmer and freezing in it. In addition, be sure your winter cover is properly installed and try to keep any and all ice off the cover throughout winter so the cover doesn’t become weighed down.
The next step you should take to protect your swimming pool from winter damage is storing all accessories and equipment that needs to be put away in a safe, dry place. Swimming pool equipment that should be stored during winter weather includes your pool filter, pool pump, gauges and other fittings. When you are putting these items away, check to be sure none of them are broken. If any of your equipment is damaged, repair it then or make a note that it needs to be repaired before opening your pool next season.
In a worst-case scenario, you notice when opening your above ground swimming pool that it became damaged during the winter, be sure to repair it as soon as possible. Failing to repair your pool in a timely manner can lead to more damages, which means a bigger bill to get things fixed.
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