Winterizing inground pool: Winterizing Your Inground Pool | Alaglas of Charleston

How to Winterize an Inground Pool Checklist

Understanding how to winterize your inground pool is essential to maintenance. Taking the time to make these preparations will prevent your pool equipment from getting damaged due to freezing weather. Surface freezes on the water can also tear vinyl liners due to ice expansion. Staying proactive by winterizing your inground pool will save you a lot of money by helping you avoid expensive repairs.

Here are a few tips on how to winterize your inground swimming pool:

Remove Your Pool Accessories

The first stage in preparing your pool for the winter is to remove all of the accessories. These accessories can include cleaners, ladders, skimmer baskets, solar blankets, and steps. It’s important to wash these accessories with a water hose and let them dry before storing them during the winter.

Deep Clean Your Pool

Deep cleaning your pool involves removing all of the silt, leaves, and any other types of debris. Using a vacuum to remove debris while using a skim net for the surface is essential to cleaning your pool. Brushing the side and floor of the pool is also necessary. Deep cleaning will make it much easier to balance your pool’s water chemistry while also helping to prevent any algae or mold growth.

Modify the Water Chemistry

Testing the chemistry of the water is vital to prepare it for the winter months. The alkalinity will need to be anywhere between 80-150 ppm, while the calcium hardness levels need to range from 175-225 ppm. The chlorine level needs to be between 1-3 ppm, while the pH level is between 7.2-7.6. You may need to make a few adjustments to reach these levels.

Lower Water Level

Lowering the water level is crucial before you cover your pool for the winter season. The water level needs to be a foot beneath the skimmer for a mesh cover, and it needs to be half a foot beneath the skimmer if you have a solid cover. The method for lowering the water is dependent on the style of your pool.

Drain Pool Equipment

Draining all of the pool equipment is essential to avoid damages once the temperature falls below freezing. You can use a blower to clear the pool lines while using expansion plugs after you are finished. Draining all of the filters, pumps, and heater is important in preparing your pool for winter. It’s also critical to remove and clean your filters.

Add Shock and Algaecide

Adding shock to your swimming pool will eliminate any bacteria while using algaecide will kill algae. Typically, it’s a good idea to do this a few days before closing your swimming pool for the winter. Following the directions on the package while distributing everything evenly is the most effective option in preparing your pool for winter.

Cover Your Pool

The last step in winterization is to cover your swimming pool. Safety covers anchored to the ground offer the best protection against debris while preventing people or animals from accidentally falling in your pool. A winter cover is another option, but it offers less protection because it’s not anchored to the ground.

Contact Brighton Pools® to Learn More Tips

Brighton Pools® offers pool maintenance and repairs for chlorine and saltwater pools. Our experienced team can also customize your pool in countless ways, and customer satisfaction is guaranteed. We have been in business since 1954, as we are proud to be the leader of pool renovation and maintenance for customers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the surrounding area.

Call Brighton Pools® today at (410) 668-1300 to learn more about our services!

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How to Winterize your Inground Swimming Pool

Winterizing your pool doesn’t need to be difficult. You need to plan on spending a few hours over the course of about a week to go through all of the steps.

    It’s fall, and the kids are back to school. Temperatures are dropping, and your swimming pool is getting cold! If you live where there are freezing conditions in the winter, closing your pool becomes an annual ritual. You can keep your pool open longer than you think, but at some point, you need to protect your swimming pool from the oncoming winter weather.
    For more information on when to close your pool see When to Close your Pool.
    It’s important that you take the time to close your inground pool properly. If you don’t, you can have big problems. You can damage pipes and pumps, your pool liner, or worst case, your entire pool can be destroyed by freezing water. If you don’t use proper chemicals, you may open up the pool the following year to an algae infestation that will take much longer to take care of in the Spring, when you’d rather be swimming.
    Winterizing your pool doesn’t need to be difficult. You need to plan on spending a few hours over the course of about a week to go through all of the steps.
    Note – the directions below are generalized to describe most swimming pools. Your pool may have requirements that vary from those described here.

    Step #1: Test and balance your swimming pool water

    About one week before you plan to winterize your pool, you should test and balance your swimming pool water. You want to make sure that your pool water is in good shape before you start the winterizing process. Make sure to reference the Winter Pool Closing Chemical Kit you are using to close your pool, but typical ranges are:

    • pH: 7.4-7.6
    • Total Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm
    • Calcium Hardness: 200-400 ppm
    • Chlorine: 2-3 ppm

    Step #2: Clean your pool

    Two or three days before you winterize, clean your pool. Remove all organic matter such as leaves and debris, and make sure to clean the sides of your pool and vacuum the surfaces. Phosphorus limiting products can help prevent algae growth over the winter. You want to remove as much as you can now to make sure your chemicals make it through the winter.

    Step #3: Shock the Pool

    Typically the Winterizing Closing Chemical kit will contain shock. Make sure that if you are using a chlorine shock, that you wait for the chlorine level to drop back down before adding any algaecide. The effectiveness of the algaecide will be negatively impacted by Chlorine.

    Step #4: Lower the Swimming Pool Water Level.

    Make sure you drop the water level below the skimmer and all of the return lines. This is typically twelve to eighteen inches (30 to 45 cm). Note: If you are using skimmer covers, you do not need to lower the water level in your pool. This can save lots of time and water. If you are draining your swimming pool and it has a separate main drain, this is likely to be the best way to drain it. Otherwise, you can use a submersible pump to remove the water. If you live in a warm climate where there is no risk of freezing, you can skip this step as well. Since your pool water has chemicals, it’s best to drain into the sewage system for your home. Some localities allow you to drain onto your landscaping, but there’s potential risks because of the chemicals in the pool water.
    It’s a good idea to run your filters for a day or two to remove as much particulate and organic matter as you can. If you know your pool can be drained quickly, you can do this on the day that you close your swimming pool

    Step #5: Backwash and Clean your filters and pumps.

    Before closing down your pool for the year, you want to make sure these are cleaned out. Find a good place to keep it so you can find it in the Spring.

    Step #6: Add Winterizing chemicals.

    Add the algaecide and non-chlorine shock at this time. The best way to do this is to walk around your pool and add the liquid chemicals. This assures more even distribution.

    Step #7: Drain water from your pool equipment.

    One of the most important steps is to make sure to drain the water from your filters, pumps, heaters, and if you have one, your automated chlorinator. If you neglect this step, you can ruin these expensive pieces of equipment when the water freezes. This equipment should have winterizing plugs. Check their owners manuals for where these are and how to remove them. Put them in a safe place for storage over the winter.

    Step #8: Install a winter pool cover.

    The winter pool cover protects your pool from debris which could cause an algae bloom in the spring, and keeps the chemicals you’ve added for winterizing protected from an excess load which would eat them up before the winter is over. If you don’t have ties on your pool deck, use water tubes or pool cover weights to hold it in place for the winter. Install a pool cover pump to keep the water from building up on your pool cover.

    Step #9: Turn off all power to pool.

    As a safety precaution, it’s best to turn the power off to your pump and water heater at the circuit breaker. This reduces the risk of problems if something gets inadvertently switched on during the winter. You don’t want these systems to turn on unexpectedly!
    Finally, check your pool water periodically during the winter. Peel back the cover slightly to take a sample, and also check for staining or scaling. If you see a problem starting, you should bring a sample to your pool pro to analyze the problem and take action.

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    Choosing a place for the AZURO frame pool at the dacha. Instruction. / / Articles about construction / Articles / Everything for swimming pools

    Everything for swimming pools → Articles → Articles about construction → Choosing a place for a frame pool AZURO in the country. Instruction.

    Choosing a place for the AZURO frame pool at the dacha. Instruction.

    That’s it, tired of living without a pool! It was decided – to be a pool! The choice fell on AZURO pool. Now we have to choose a place for it. And the whole family walks around the site, considering possible options.

    In addition to very important considerations, such as: “what kind of view of my pool will be from the window of a neighbor’s house …”, a number of technical points should be taken into account in advance.
    .

    • Install the framed pool on as level surfaces as possible. Sloping surfaces must be leveled. This must be done by excavating the soil from higher places. And in no case by backfilling the places below. The pool of water weighs several tons. The poured soil will settle, and the pool will warp. In severe cases – up to the complete destruction of the frame structure. Tfu-tfu.
    • Choose a location that receives as much sun as possible. This will help the water warm up as quickly as possible. Yes, it’s more comfortable to swim. Just keep in mind that small trees, if they are nearby, can grow and shade the pool.
    • Avoid places where leaves will fall into the water. Why do you need extra dirt, and extra work for the filter system?
    • Cannot be installed pool on roots, stones. They can damage the pool.
    • Do not install in peat bogs or underground areas such as
    • reservoirs, septic tanks, canals, etc. It is highly desirable not to put on communications (gas, water, and especially electric). You do not want to rent a pool if you need urgent access to communications? And I don’t even want to think about emergency situations (but still I need to).
    • Do not install under power lines (you can guess why)
    • Do not place on surfaces recently treated with chemical fertilizers, pesticides. If it is, be sure to lay geotextiles. The chemicals can damage parts of the pool.
    • It is advisable to remove the sod to a depth of at least 10 centimeters in order to remove plant seeds as much as possible. If this is not done, then a particularly stubborn sprout will grow through the pool. With all the love for vegetation in the country, you do not need it in the pool. The water from the pool will go to water this sprout, and you will have to change the cup bag.
    • In any case, a pool cover is needed to minimize this risk. And also to reduce heat loss. Easier – so that the water cools more slowly.
    • More good advice. Do not keep plants near the pool that pollinating insects like to flock to. Bees, hornets and other very useful creatures. Useful, but bringing a nervous atmosphere to the ranks of those swimming and playing near the pool. Children are especially violent.

    Very important points for making communications.

    • (NB!) Where the filtration and other technical equipment will be located. Ideally, it should be a heated room no further than 10 meters from the pool. Thus, many issues regarding the maintenance of the pool will be removed.
    • If there is no such room, then you need to think about how to bring electricity to the equipment. And don’t break the safety rules.
    • How will you fill the water (you need a hose from the nearest water tap). Or a possible option – you need to provide for a fire truck with water to pass.
    • How and where to pour water in autumn? Usually this is a drain to those places where rainwater goes.

    Finally, questions of convenience and aesthetics.
    • Will you make a barefoot area (lay out tiles or stone) near the pool?
    • Where will the children play ball? And is it possible to cause damage to precious country plantings in this way?
    • Where will you sunbathe, relax and drink soft drinks?

    On the last positive question, perhaps, we can complete this article. I wish you the fastest reaching this moment!

    You can view the complete instructions for assembling the AZURO pool here: “ Assembly, installation of the AZURO frame pool. Instruction

    9000 2

    Julia Lobach

    Source: https://www.azuropool.ru

    06/27/2013

    For owners of inflatable pools, this issue is not of particular importance, however, the owner of a stationary pool, who wants to enjoy swimming in crystal clear cool water in the summer season, is recommended to read this article. The formation of lime deposits, the growth of algae, the change in the color of the water – these are not all the troubles that appear when the rules for maintaining the pool are violated.

    Contents

    • Water treatment, general requirements
    • Preparing the pool for summer
    • Pool filter types
    • Pool Cleaning Methods
    • Maintenance of the pool while you are away
    • Filter processing
    • Pool maintenance in winter

    It has long been confirmed that the water in the pool has a high biological activity, and if you do not monitor its condition, swimming will not be the most pleasant experience. When it comes to pool care, factors such as choosing the right water filtration system, effective cleaning methods, and the judicious selection of special cleaning agents are important. Only if you follow a set of these rules, you will be able to achieve a positive effect and will be happy to visit your own pool. At the same time, it is absolutely not necessary to hire a professional who knows all the intricacies of pools and filters. So, let’s go directly to how to care for the pool.

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    Water treatment, general requirements

    Some may wonder: why purify pool water when so many people bathe in natural pools every year? Of course, natural reservoirs are not subject to cleaning. However, consider a number of reasons why it is necessary to purify water in a home pool.

    No matter how pure the water in a river or lake may seem, it is saturated with various microorganisms that in one way or another affect the human body. Logically, the ideal is to reduce the possibility of infection with dangerous microbes to zero. In addition, in a river or sea, water constantly circulates due to the flow and volume of the reservoir, while in the pool it is stagnant. As you know, in warm water – and in summer the pool is heated by the sun – a large number of pathogenic bacteria are formed that can adversely affect your health, as well as the condition of your loved ones.

    So, what are the water quality requirements imposed by the government? According to SanPin, the quality of water in the pool should be identical to the quality of drinking water:

    • Iron – no more than 0. 3 mg / l
    • Water hardness – 7 meq/l
    • Acidity (pH) – 6 to 9

    A responsible person who wants to know how to properly care for a pool should be able to analyze the water. This is done to determine the composition of the water that you are going to use to fill the pool. Based on the results of such an analysis, you should have data on the degree of oxidation, the level of hardness, the amount of iron, magnesium, and the acidity of the water.

    Experts have developed a variety of ways to identify data for all of the above criteria. For example, to determine the level of acidity of water, there are special devices – pH meters. A special indicator paper is also widely used, which, when placed in water, changes color in accordance with the pH level.

    What should water treatment provide?

    • epidemiological safety;
    • free from fungus and parasitic diseases;
    • absence of viral and bacterial infections;
    • removal of dirt and limescale;
    • prevention of the negative impact of various chemical elements on the human body.

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    Preparing the pool for summer

    The swimming season is about to begin. Let’s take a look at the steps to take first:

    • Drain the water if it was poured into the bowl.
    • Remove dirt, lime deposits and other debris accumulated during the winter months from the walls and bottom of the pool. To do this, you will need a brush or mop, a hose that can be connected to the water supply, and a special cleaning agent. To clean the bottom, you can use a special vacuum cleaner that operates in water.

    So how do you take care of your pool after the winter break? Pool care will consist of the following steps:

    • Dry the pool.
    • Turn on the water supply to the filter.
    • Adjust pH.
    • Carry out basic disinfection.
    • After three days, you can start the normal preparation of the pool for use. It is necessary to monitor the pH level after filling, as it will be raised at first.

    When carrying out further periodic cleaning in order to keep the pool clean, remove grease and dirt, do not forget to lower the water level in the bowl. Routine cleaning – due to air pollution and operation, a coating of grease and soot is formed.

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    Types of pool filters

    Experts advise purchasing filters based on the analysis of the water. Of course, you can install the filter according to the standard scheme, but the compilation of certain modules in an individual installation based on the results of the analysis will provide you with much more effective pool care.

    Continuing to answer the question “how to care for the pool”, it must be taken into account that the standard scheme includes 2 types of system:

    • pre-filters;
    • water recirculation filters.

    The first is designed to eliminate organic compounds and debris from water flowing from a water supply or natural source. Filters of the second type purify water that has passed the first stage of filtration from impurities of a mechanical and organic nature, formed due to the influence of the external environment.

    In addition to water disinfection, removal of foreign matter and contaminants, the correct selection of the filter unit guarantees ease of use and long service life.

    The most common types of installations:

    • sand, with or without pumps;
    • based on cartridges;
    • diatomite.

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    Pool Cleaning Methods

    Pool cleaning and maintenance methods fall into two main types: mechanical and chemical.

    Mechanical methods

    This type includes the following methods:

    • Filtration – this removes all mechanical impurities. The filtration can be carried out continuously or intermittently. Usually, home pools are subjected to periodic filtration – 2 – 3 times a day.
    • Ozonation – this method is carried out thanks to the operation of the device for the production of ozone in the form of gas. When introduced into the water, ozone eliminates foreign organic matter, microbes, everything that the main filter could not cope with.
    • Photolytic ozonation – in this process, an ozone generator and a UV unit work simultaneously. Due to their joint functioning, the oxidation of organic elements in water occurs much faster. It also allows very high quality to eliminate any contamination and microorganisms.

    Chemical methods

    These pool maintenance methods are designed to solve the following problems:

    • acidity regulation;
    • disinfection;
    • stop algae growth.

    Chemical methods include those in which special active substances are involved, for example: chlorine, bromine, active oxygen. Today, cleaning with chlorine has somewhat lost its position – the substance has a rather unpleasant odor, causticity in relation to mucous membranes. In today’s market for special pool cleaners there is a wide range of products based on other chemical compounds.

    One of the most common ways to take care of the pool by means of chemical cleaning of the pool is the disinfection of the water with active oxygen. In specialized stores, you can easily find it in the form of tablets, which, when placed in water, enter into a special reaction designed to fight organics, microbes, etc. that negatively affect the human body.

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    Pool Maintenance while you are away

    It may happen that you need to leave and you do not know what to do with your home pool.

    It is advisable to purchase special care products in advance, which can be consulted in the store. If you are going to be away for more than a week, cover the pool with a tarp, but keep the water circulation system running.

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    Filter treatment

    Regardless of manufacturer and quality level. Filters also need periodic maintenance. It is recommended to flush the filter unit at least once a week, as lime builds up in the filter tanks, which significantly impairs the quality of pool cleaning.

    Do not forget that if you own a sand filter, you need to change the sand at least once every 2-3 years. When planning activities such as how to care for a pool, in no case should one forget about maintaining auxiliary mechanisms and tools in operation, in this case, the filter system.

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    Winter Pool Care

    A very useful tip for pool care professionals is to keep pools filled with water for the winter. What are the benefits?

    • the pool will not rise in the spring when the groundwater level rises;
    • Reduces the chance of damage to the walls and bottom of the pool.

    Let’s move on to the algorithm of actions that should be performed for successful conservation of the pool:

    • adjust the acidity level;
    • carry out general disinfection;
    • pump out water from the pipeline outside;
    • prepare bottles filled with water or inflated inner tubes.