The short answer is yes. There are several reasons why your Houston pool needs cleaning and maintenance in the winter. Below we’re going to go over 5 reasons you need to keep things clean and running in winter.
The bonus to keeping your levels regular is that when Houston does get a surprise warm/hot day you’ll be ready to slip in for a quick dip.
1. Chlorine Levels Matter
If you’re not used to using a pool all year round you might think your pool won’t need much attention in winter. But believe it or not, there are several things your pool needs in winter. Chlorine is one of them. Even if you’re not using your pool as much you still need to watch your chlorine levels. Any time you slack off on that gives algae and other unwanted stuff to grow in your pool. So be sure to keep up with your chlorine levels to fend off algae.
This also prevents damage to equipment and plaster from overdosing certain chemicals.
The bonus to keeping your levels regular is that when Houston does get a surprise warm/hot day (which does happen) you’ll be ready to slip in for a quick dip.
2. Leaves
Leaves are falling heavily during this time of year. It’s one the reasons we call this season fall. But if you’re not careful, the falling leaves can accumulate in the skimmers. This can restrict water flow to the pump and cause problems such as “running dry.” When a pump “runs dry” it overheats due to lack of water flow.
The leaves that don’t end up in the skimmers will fall to the bottom of the pool. These leave can clog the main drain which restricts even more water from getting to the pumps.
But clogging and dry pumps are not the only problems leaves create. Leaves and organic matter can make stains on the plaster if they sit on the floor of the pool for a period of time.
Imagine, you’re getting up to do your morning laps when you find hard to clean stains on your pool! It’s not a pretty picture. So be sure to clean the leaves for a clean pool and happy winter pool.
Check the pressure and adjust as needed to keep your pool warm all winter long.
3. Pool Heater,
Heaters are another winter pool aspect that often gets overlooked. In fact, many don’t even think of pool heaters until they turn them on during a chilly day to discover they won’t work.
To prevent this problem it’s best to ensure you have enough gas pressure to power your heater. Not only does low gas pressure mean you possibly can’t get heat your home, but it can also damage your heating unit. So be sure to check the pressure and adjust as needed to keep your pool warm all winter long.
4. Check for Rodents
Speaking of heat, did you know that rats and other rodents will do anything to find heat in winter?
As the temps get colder, rodents become desperate to find a heat source. They’ll try to get into homes and even into your heated pool.
What’s worse is that they love to make nests in your pool heater. Not only could this lead to heater damage, but also cleaning out rodent bodies – yuck!
So be sure to check for rodents as well as leaves in the winter. This prevents unneeded repairs that no wallet wants to cover on the fly.
Making sure the “freeze protection” is activated ensures water will run through the pipes.
5. Keep Things Running
One of the most important things – if not the most important thing – to consider when upkeeping your winter pool is freeze protection. Yes, even in Houston. It may be a rare occurrence, but it is always best to be prepared just in case.
If your pool system is not properly set up to run while it’s freezing, the pipes have a greater chance of bursting due to the cold weather.
Making sure the “freeze protection” is activated ensures water will run through the pipes. It is harder for the moving water to freeze than it is for stagnant water.
Keep Your Pool Running in Winter with Experts from Manning Pool Service
