Florida truly lives up to its nickname, The Sunshine State! Unlike a good portion of the country, we’re spared gloomy, dreary days during the winter season. Even when daytime temperatures plunge to the 60s, the sun’s warming rays keep the chill at bay – at least, until you step into a shaded area and/or the wind blows!
If you’ve recently moved here from a climate that’s inhospitable in winter and had to perform the tedious ritual of “closing the pool,” you may be wondering if your new home’s pool needs any special preparations to see it through to spring. Fortunately, winter pool maintenance in Florida is not about closing the pool – it’s about altering your maintenance routine!
Why You Don’t Need to “Close” Your Pool
The main purpose of closing a pool is to protect it from damage caused by freezing water. Even when we experience a cold snap, our temperatures aren’t cold enough long enough to make it necessary. Average daytime highs are around 72°F, with lows of around 52°F. If you want to make your pool-owning family and friends “up north” even more envious, share this bit of information with them! By the way, they may be visiting you to enjoy Florida’s sun and fun – and might just think the weather’s inviting enough for a dip! If your blood hasn’t thinned yet, you could be joining them!
Six Steps to Prepare Your Pool for Winter
Even though you don’t need to close your pool, performing the following duties will keep your pool clean and in top condition:
- Remove toys and accessories
It may be tempting to leave them in the pool, but removing toys, floats and inflatable loungers will prevent discoloration and damage from UV rays (as mentioned earlier, Florida’s winter sunlight is still strong), as well as mold and mildew growth. Store in a dry place.
- Clean the pool thoroughly; continue your regular cleaning routine
After your pool has gotten its last regular use of the season, give it a good cleaning! Remove debris from the water using a skimmer or net, and vacuum the pool floor to ensure there’s no buildup of dirt or algae. Scrub the sides of the pool to remove any grime, and clean your pool tiles – particularly in areas that may accumulate calcium deposits.
Keep your filter clean and vacuum as usual. Empty debris traps every few days to prevent leaves and rubbish from building up and clogging your pool’s filtration system. Old leaves can also cause stains on the sides and floor of your pool and promote algae growth. This will help you maintain a healthy water balance and keep it clean for spring.
- Balance the water chemistry
Continue to maintain the water balance throughout the season, even when you aren’t using the pool. Algae can thrive in pools during this time due to the fluctuating weather. Moreover, it will save you time and money in the spring, when you’re ready to use it regularly. However, you can decrease the amount of chlorine in the water, since it won’t have to kill contaminates from people using the pool. Test the pool water at least once a week during this time.
Ideally, your water chemistry should meet these levels:
- pH: 7.4–7.6
- Alkalinity: 80–120 ppm
- Calcium Hardness: 200–400 ppm
If you have a salt chlorine generator, turn down the amount of chlorine it produces. This will increase your system’s lifespan, sparing it from unnecessary runtime.
- Protect the equipment
Turn off and clean the pump, filter and heater, and remove any debris that may have built up over the season. If you use a pool cover, make sure it’s securely in place to keep debris from clogging your equipment. As Southern Serenity Pools recommends, it’s also a good time to check for any signs of wear and tear on your pool’s equipment so you can address issues before the next swimming season.
- Keep the water circulating
Run the pump 4-6 hours daily during the off-season. Without regular circulation, your pool is a stagnant body of water, leading to a host of problems:
Bacterial and algae growth — Stagnant water provides an ideal breeding ground for harmful bacteria, microorganisms and various forms of algae – making the water unsafe and unsightly.
Ineffective chemicals — Pool chemicals like chlorine are designed to be mixed and distributed throughout the water to work effectively. Without circulation, the chemicals sit in one place and cannot properly sanitize the entire pool.
Debris accumulation — Debris such as leaves, dirt and insects that fall into the pool are not pushed towards the skimmer or drain to be filtered out – causing them to accumulate and decompose in the water.
Poor filtration — The filtration system relies on the pump to circulate water through the filter, removing impurities. No circulation means no filtration, allowing particles to remain in the pool.
Murky water — The combination of algae, bacteria and unfiltered debris quickly turns the water cloudy and murky.
- Monitor the water level
This is often overlooked in the winter, but you may need to add water due to evaporation. As rainfall decreases and chilly days become more common, the water in your pool will begin to evaporate. Don’t be surprised if your water level drops one or two inches per week. If the water level falls below the skimmers, it can cause many problems. That’s why it’s important to monitor your pool’s water level and add water as needed to keep the water level above the skimmers.
However, a sudden or unusual decrease in water level beyond what evaporation accounts for can indicate a leak. Should this happen, conduct the bucket test, and contact us if the test indicates a leak.
Smart Investments to Make to Enjoy Your Pool in Winter
If you really want to get the most enjoyment from your pool throughout the year, there are some smart investments you can make. Installing a heater will allow your pool to be an all-season amenity for exercise, relaxation and entertaining guests. Moreover, swimming in warm water can provide therapeutic benefits – such as relieving muscle tension, joint pain and improving circulation. Electric, gas and solar powered models are available, giving you numerous options.
A solar pool cover is a more economical option for keeping your pool swim-friendly in winter. Looking more like a giant sheet of bubble wrap than a traditional swimming pool cover, it consists of air-filled bubbles that absorb the sun’s heat and radiate it into the water. A solar pool cover can increase your pool water’s temperature by 5°F to 15°F, retaining this heat throughout the day.
The Take-Home Message
Although your pool may not be used as often during winter months, it still needs special attention at the end of the swimming season, as well as regular maintenance. Continuing to perform your maintenance tasks will also help you be better aware of changes and conditions that could indicate a leak – thereby allowing you to catch it sooner rather than later, before further damage occurs. Some leaks are easy to find, but there are many that pool owners can’t detect without professional assistance. Certified Leak Detection uses technology and techniques we have developed over 20 years in business.
In addition to quick detection and repair of swimming pool leaks, we provide industry-leading leak detection and repair for spas, hot tubs and fountains. Serving areas throughout Central Florida – including Orlando, Longwood, Lake Mary, Sanford, Kissimmee, Clermont and Winter Springs – our team is ready to answer your call.
Contact us for quick, reliable service.