The most common actions pool owners take over winter is to reduce the number of hours the pump and filter runs for each day and reduce the chlorine output on your salt chlorinator if you have a salt pool.
I have put together a list below of other ways that pool owners can take advantage of the cooler weather – to ensure their pool stays in excellent condition and is ready for swimming when the hot weather returns.
WINTERIZING
In the colder months, the pool is usually on the bottom of the to-do list, especially when it is out-of-sight and out-of-mind. Unfortunately, this can lead to dreaded algae infestations – commonly known as a green pool.
The best preventative measure a pool owner can take to prevent algae infestations is to winterize the pool. This involves adding a long-life algaecide to the pool water, and shock treatment if necessary. Typically, long-life algaecides contain copper and assist chlorine in killing algae. The combination of chlorine and algaecide minizine the risk of algae forming.
We have several winterizing products in store which can be used to winterize your pool. Our Winterbox contains a long-life algaecide and free clarifier to keep your water sparkling clear.
STAIN & SCALE TREATMENT
Although no stain removal treatment can be guaranteed, having little to no chlorine in the water provides the best chance to effectively remove stains and calcium deposits on a pool surface. Therefore, there is no better time to complete a stain removal treatment than in the colder months.
The colder weather reduces the growth rate of bacteria, meaning we do not need a much chlorine in the water to keep it clean – reducing the risk of the pool turning green even with lower amounts of chlorine in the water than usual.
We have several products in store to assist in the removal of common stains such as metals (iron, copper etc.) and organic stains (from leaves and other debris). We also have treatments for calcium deposits and build up which are best used in the cooler months. Please consult us on the best method for removing stains and deposits on your pool.
FILTER CLEANING & REPLACEMENT
Your filter works hard throughout the swimming season to remove foreign waste from your pool water – including dust, dirt, debris, other organic matter, oils etc. Regular backwashing or cartridge cleaning removes most of this waste, however over time the filtration media does degrade and will require replacement.
Cartridge elements usually last between 2-4 years, and after this time should be replaced. Replacing the elements in cartridge filters is reasonably easy – out with the old and in with the new. We stock a wide range of cartridges to suit almost any cartridge filter, so if it is time to have your filters replaced please let us know.
The sand in media filters typically requires replacement after 5 years of use. This is usually a job completed by a qualified pool technician as there are several guidelines that should be followed. Recently, glass filter media has been released as a replacement to the traditional sand – meaning the old sand is removed and glass media is added to the filter tank instead. Glass filter media is becoming the preferred choice of filter media as it filters down to a finer micron than sand and is expected to last 7-10 years.
If you would like to discuss a sand change, glass media upgrade, or filter conversion (cartridge > sand) please contact us.
CHEMISTRY IMPROVEMENT
Over the summer months, some chemicals can build up in your pool water and have adverse effects to water quality – most commonly cyanuric acid (Stabiliser) and calcium. These are chemicals commonly found in chlorine which is added to the water to keep it clean, meaning build ups are inevitable. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to remove these chemicals from the water, with the most effective way being to drain water out of the pool – sometimes up to 90% of the water. The process can take up to 48 hours end-to-end, so the cooler (swimmer-less) months provide a perfect opportunity to complete such work. Please engage us to complete a comprehensive water analysis to identify if you would benefit from a pool water refresh treatment.
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