Winter Weather Incoming! You May Need a Pool Repair Service
With fall in full swing, you should start considering the fact that winter is right around the corner. With winter comes colder air and harsher weather, both of which can significantly impact your swimming pool. If you thought you didn’t have anything else to worry about after putting the cover on and closing your swimming pool for the season, think again. You may very well need a pool repair service.
Did You Drain Your Pool?
If you own a larger swimming pool or perhaps a commercial swimming pool, chances are you have considered draining it. On paper, it sounds like a full-proof method to keep your pool clean all winter; no water means no freezing or algae right
Wrong. Pool repair service professionals recommend leaving water in your swimming pool. When you add the proper chemicals prior to closing your pool, your pool water may stay clean and safe from contaminants during the winter depending upon the type of cover you have and other environmental factors. This means that when it comes time to open up your pool again in the spring or summer, it will be much easier to balance all the chemicals.
Additionally, keeping water in your pool helps. Liner pools should not be fully drained unless the liner is being replaced. Gunite or plaster pools can pop out of the ground if they succumb to hydrostatic pressure so having water in the pool will protect against such pressure. Empty pools are more at risk for damage and wear and tear over the winter. With that said, It is also important to consider the unpredictable elements.
How Will Winter Weather Affect Your Pool?
Depending on your geographic location, you may experience a lot of winter weather. Rain, snow, sleet, or hail – you may need a pool repair. Let’s evaluate how snowy weather can adversely affect swimming pools.
Pipes
If you’re swimming in a cold climate, you want to winterize your pipes. If water remains in the pipes, it can freeze and expand, bursting in the process. This is why winterizing your pipes is key to preventing potential damage.
Covers
Whether a vinyl liner or gunite pool, it is recommended to install a safety cover that is able to withstand the weight of snow. Your local pool repair service will be able to help you with properly installing it so that it won’t cave under pressure.
As snowfall comes and goes over the course of the season, concrete pools are significantly impacted by the continual thawing and freezing of the water. If the snow melts and makes its way into any cracks before freezing again, the concrete will expand and create further damage. This includes getting behind the shell of the pool through a missing or cracked expansion joint or in a line, and within the tiling and coping as well.
What Should You Do?
The fact of the matter is that you must properly winterize and close your swimming pool. Or better yet, hire experienced professionals to ensure that your swimming pool will be all set for the winter. They will properly:
- Balance the pH of your pool water
- Drain your pool water down to below the skimmer opening
- Drain your equipment (filters, pumps, etc.)
- Add winterizing chemicals such as anti-freeze and algaecide
- Securely cover your swimming pool
Which Pool Repair Service Should You Call?
To repair your swimming pool or prevent damage in the first place as winter draws near, give Pool Operation Management a call. Our team of pool professionals has the knowledge you need to keep your pool healthy during its winter hibernation. Whether you need your pool closed and winterized or inspected and repaired, we are here to help. Contact us today before it’s too late!
