Getting your pool winter-ready

I am sure we can all associate with going to the doctor for a check-up. We also send our vehicles for a service or have the house alarm checked. When it matters to us, these are the things we do to ensure years of health or good service and to avoid nasty surprises.

With a swimming pool costing anything from N$60 000 and up, it’s important to look after this prized possession. When a house is advertised, one often sees a pic of the swimming pool attracting attention to the property. Hence we want the pool looking its inviting best, always.

With winter approaching, I offer you a few pointers to help you ensure that the pool does not cost you a lot of money when you open it up before summer.

It is always good to test the pH and chlorine levels of the pool before the cover is closed for the winter period. A pH level of 7.2 – 7.6 is considered a natural pH level. At this level the water is not acidic and the lime content is not so high that it will form white deposits on the mosaics. Make sure the water level is +- 1 cm below the opening of the skimmer box. It is also good practice to mark the water level. This way, upon opening the pool later, you can see exactly if and how much the water has dropped.

Set the pool timer to run shorter periods. 1 hour per day should be sufficient for most residential pools, considering that the pool is covered. If you are unsure about your particular pool, please consult Lic Pool. It is very important that the pool pump is not switched off during winter, as damage to the mechanical seal will occur. No chemicals are needed in the pool during the winter period. As it is closed with a cover, the chances of the pool water getting contaminated are very low. If the chemical level is high, it will start attacking plastics inside the pool. Therefore it is good practice to remove the pool cleaner and suction pipes from the pool and store them safely.

It is a good idea to open the pool once a month and give it a proper scrub. Fine sediment can gather on the steps and pool floor. In the event of the pH and Cl levels being higher than recommended, stains to the pool finishes may occur.

I know… If you don’t deal with this every day, it may sound complex. Please feel free to email us at info@licpool.com and request we do a full winter hibernation check for you.

Until next time.

Burgert Terblanche

Tel: 061-232839, Fax: 061-238602
Email: info@licpool.com