Some people believe that just because they live in Texas, they don’t have to properly winterize their pools. This, of course, is completely false. To properly maintain any pool so that it is usable for as long as possible, you must take the time to perform necessary maintenance every year, including winterizing it when you know temperatures are going to drop. Timing is everything. Temperatures in Texas don’t tend to linger below freezing for very long, so you have to act fast to protect your pool when you know a steep temperature drop is coming.
Can You Keep Your Pool Open All Year?
Whether or not you decide to keep your pool open through the winter is ultimately up to you, but it is not a decision you should take lightly. If you’re expecting a warmer winter season and you already have a pool heater to help prevent freezing on those particularly cold nights, or you host a lot of events at your property and have to keep it open for aesthetics, the extra maintenance might be well worth it. Just make sure you understand the extent of the effort it will take to keep your pool looking great. It will likely need weekly vacuuming and filter cleanings, as well as time set aside to run your pumps for up to 10 hours to keep your water circulating to prevent freezing.
Consider Covering Your Pool
The best and often most popular way to keep your pool pristine over the winter is simply to close and cover it in the off-season. You’ll start by giving the entire pool one last good cleaning for the end of the season and shocking the water to kill off any biological growth lingering behind. Then once that’s done you can lower the water level several inches below the skimmers and remove all your drain equipment and pool accessories to prevent trapped water from freezing and causing damage. Even your pump should be cleaned out and detached, and water lines aired out. The last steps you need to worry about are adding your winterizing chemicals and getting your pool cover on.
Should You Keep Your Pumps Running?
The only time you need to worry about keeping your pool pumps running is if you plan to keep your pool open and uncovered. When your pool is closed and covered, your water line will be below the pumps to prevent freezing. When you leave your pool open and your water level is full, you will need to run your pumps regularly to keep the water circulating effectively. This means running them weekly for no less than 6-10 hours. The more debris that gets into your pool, the longer you may have to run your pump, so keeping your pool clean will minimize your pump time. If you plan to keep your pool open despite colder winter temperatures, you may also want to consider investing in a freeze guard switch.
Invest In A Freeze Guard Switch
A freeze guard switch offers great protection for your pool during the colder months by overriding your pump and automatically starting it if temperatures sink dangerously low to prevent freezing. For maximum protection, set your freeze guard to approximately 35-40 degrees to account for reading inaccuracies, or set it to run exclusively at night when temperatures are at their coldest. However you decide to prepare your pool for the winter, never forget Clearwater Pools & Outdoor Living is here to help!
Call Clearwater Pools & Outdoor Living today at (972) 921-1029, fill out the form in the sidebar or on the contact page, or initiate a chat in the lower righthand corner of the site to learn more about all our winterization services.
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