A Primer on Winter Pool Care Options

Well, after this week’s cool weather—I would say that swim season is officially over, unless you have a heater on your pool.  Following is a brief review of winter pool care options for north Texas area pools.

Depending on several variables (number of trees surrounding the pool, pool location, whether you heat the pool in the winter, etc.), there are basically four options for winter pool care, which are:

1. Continue to operate the pool –The advantage of this option is that you get to visually enjoy the pool over the winter.  The disadvantage is you will still need to run the pump and chemically treat your pool, both of which cost money.  In addition, if you have trees which drop leaves, you will have 6-8 weeks in the fall when maintaining the pool will be a job – it can be a daily chore to remove the leaves from the pool.  Once the leaves have fallen, pool care once again becomes manageable and pump run time can be cut back substantially.  If this is the option that you choose, be sure that the pump is running when the air temperature is freezing.  This will prevent freeze damage to the plumbing and the filtration system.   If you decide to continue operating your pool and you really enjoy swimming, you might consider having a pool heater installed.
2. Cover your pool using a mesh cover –Mesh covers allow water to get through but catch the leaves.   Basically it allows you to keep the leaves and other debris out of the pool, but since the cover allows the rainwater to pass through, you will still need to run the pump periodically and also add chemicals as needed.
3. Cover your pool with a solid cover –Solid covers are a good method to use if you do not want utility or chemical costs over the winter, as the filtration equipment is drained and turned off for the winter.  The biggest disadvantage is that the cover catches water and leaves, which can be a hassle to clean up.
4. Drain the equipment and do not cover the pool – This is not a good option, as it usually calls for a big clean up in the spring.  Draining the filtration equipment does protect the pool from freeze damage, but without any chemical treatment and allowing rain, leaves, and other contaminants to enter the pool, the pool turns into a swamp. The debris, if not cleaned out, can cause staining on the pool surface.

If you have any questions or need any help deciding on which winter pool care option best fits your situation, give us a call at (940) 384-7665 and we will be glad to discuss it with you.