A winter wonderland is all fine and dandy. Nevertheless, if you have a pool, snow and ice can play havoc with it. After you have waved summer “goodbye”, you may think of covering your pool, only to have to open it in the spring. This may be a good thing to do, but you have to stop and think about how the winter affects your pool. Indeed, ice and snow can damage your pool if you leave it to the elements. Fibreglass pools boast that they don’t need much tending to, but winter is a different story for all pools.
As you may have spent a substantial sum on the purchase of your pool and its installation, you want it to remain durable. Since pools are outdoors in most residences, the weather takes a toll on pools, and they must have proper care and attention. In case you don’t have a clue how to care for your pool in winter, you can always call in the experts to give you tips. Nonetheless, as far as home pool maintenance goes, your pool is your own. You must have knowledge of how to look after it too.
Be ready for winter
In swimming pool parlance, there is such a thing as “winterizing” your pool. This is quite a job for winter preparedness of your pool, and you must do it in advance of the harsh winter approach. Whether for fibreglass pools sydney or any other pools, this is done to get your pool to stay safe in winter. Typically, when you close your pool before winter arrives, you have to do the following things:
Lower the water level so that it reaches below the skimmer, but a little below
See that your pool water is balanced with winter chemicals
Your plumbing lines must be blown out
See that you have inflated and installed air pillows
Place a cover on your pool and affix this firmly
Pool pipes in winter
Home swimming pools need more care than indoor pools as most of them are in your backyard, outdoors. No matter what pool you own, you don’t have to simply winterize the pool in winter, but also the pipes. If you do not want the pipes to freeze and damage themselves, you must have the water blown out of the lines first. Water that remains in the pipes tends to freeze in winter, expanding and cracking them. A sensible rule of thumb is to remove the water when the temperature outside is 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Winter care for fibreglass pools
Depending on the pool you have, there are different ways to care for it in winter. In terms of overall care, fibreglass pools need very little work. They have layers of fibreglass, supported by robust material to produce a shell that is durable. The inner part of the shell has a gel coating. The pressure generated by snow and ice does not create any structural damage to the pool. Additionally, as fibreglass pools are made without any seams, there is no room for any snow or ice to enter. Such pools remain hardy throughout the winter, and the surrounding areas filled with snow do not affect pools adversely.
Other pools
in case you have a pool with a vinyl liner, liners may crack in the winter. Nonetheless, this is prevented if the pool water is lowered below the skimmer. Adding winterizing chemicals maintains the lining and your pool remains safe and protected. The addition of a secure cover goes a long way in home pool maintenance of these pools in winter. Remember that the cover must be strong enough to withstand the weight of ice and snow.
Over the course of the winter season, ice and snow may occur frequently. This causes freezing and thawing in turn and this can affect concrete pools adversely. As concrete has an inherent tendency to crack, when snow and ice melt, the water gets into cracks. When it freezes once more, it can cause larger cracks to form, breaking off areas of the concrete. Snow can also seep into the paint, and this makes it flake. The same care must be taken with such pools, as you would with vinyl-coated pools.
Pools above the ground
There is no doubt that fibreglass pools are the most durable pools in the pool segment today. Nonetheless, in case your pool is older and installed before the new fibreglass pools were introduced, you have to be extra careful in winter. Most fibreglass pools are below the ground these days. Nonetheless, if you have a pool that lies above the ground, whatever the material may be, you have to take some care in winter.
Snow and ice are prone to bear a heavy weight on the pool itself and its fittings besides the main pool. This creates an undue amount of pressure on the pool. Above-ground swimming pools are prepared for the winter season like other pools, with water levels kept below skimmers. Apart from this, winterizing chemicals added to the water prevent freezing from negatively affecting the pool. After you have done this, you must cover your pool very securely, as winds may blow this away easily in winter. A smart idea for a pool positioned above the ground is to have an air pillow placed under the cover. Home swimming pools can be protected this way with some of the pressure prevented inside the pool.
Conclusion
In case you have a new pool installed and you are approaching an icy winter ahead, you need not worry. There is always help at hand, and you can call in a pool expert to consult with. Once you have had help, you can learn the ways of pool protection in the winter and take care of your pool for many winters to come. As pools contain water, the main idea to keep your pool protected in winter is to keep water from freezing. This is what causes the most damage to pools and the vicinity.
