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Night temperatures keep getting lower and unless you enjoy swimming in ice-cold water, your pool won’t be used until next spring. It is always a sad day when you realize the summer is over, but you need to get yourself together and deal with the last reminder of warm summer days – your swimming pool.
Woodfield Landscaping pool experts are here today to give you tips on winterizing your pool.
1. Clean. Remove any debris, pool toys and unused chemicals, brush off any dirt and vacuum if necessary. Also remove ladders, skimmer baskets and any other detachable parts. Try to make pool as clean as possible.
2. Balance the water chemistry. Make sure the water’s pH, hardness and other chemical components are well-balanced. Purchase and apply winterizing kit. It is important to keep the water balanced over the winter to avoid unwanted deposits and scale buildup.
A tip: make sure you dissolve all the chemicals added to the water. If you throw a tablet in the pool without dissolving, it will sit in one spot for a long time and can damage the liner.
3. Unless you are using a special skimmer cover, such as Aquadoor, lower water level below the skimmers. This will prevent water from entering filtration system and damaging it in case the temperatures drop below freezing.
4. Drain water from all pool equipment: pumps, filters, heaters – everything you have hooked up to your pool. Remove plugs where applicable and use a shop vacuum to blow out all the remaining water from the pipes, tubes and other pluming components. The water you fail to remove has a potential to freeze, expand and damage your equipment.
5. Cover the pool. If you don’t already have a pool cover, purchase one and secure it over the pool. Make sure there are no gaps where dirt and leaves can get in.
Preparing your pool for winter gives you a great opportunity to thoroughly examine it. If you notice any cracks or tears in your pool liner, get in touch with your Maryland pool repair expert for the consultation. He will recommend you either to fix it up now or wait till spring. Waiting is often better, because some other damage may occur over the winter.
If you have an inground pool, this is an exciting time of year for your family. The weather is getting warm, the school year is winding down, and the invitations for summer barbeques will be coming in very shortly. To ensure that your pool is summer- ready, be sure to determine if you will need a pool liner replacement.
A pool liner should last for many years under normal conditions. It’s possible for a liner to last 10-15 years without seeing too much wear and tear. It is also possible, that with a lot of use and varying weather conditions, you may need to replace your liner more frequently. As part of your routine pool maintenance, you should examine the liner to see if it is time for a replacement.
Reasons for Replacement Liners
Cracks or Leaks in Pool Liner
If you perform a visual inspection of the pool liner and see cracking in several places, chances are good that the pool may be leaking small amounts of water through tiny holes in the pool liner. If possible, keep track of the water level throughout a week’s time. If the water line is receding more than 1 inch over the course of a week , there is most likely a leak and you will want to consider a liner replacement.
Appearance of Pool Liner
The appearance of the pool liner will be the best indicator to whether it is time for a replacement or not. Naturally, the liner will fade over time from sun exposure and the chemicals used to clean the pool. But if you are seeing algae or rust stains, you may want to consider a new liner. If these stains are only at the water line, you can probably install pool tiles to cover the stains.
Stretching of the Liner
Many times, pool liners will fall off the coping track and you may not be able to get it back in place. In instances like this, stretching may be the culprit. Over time the vinyl liner loses some of its elasticity due to the sun’s exposure and the pool chemicals, and it becomes difficult to keep the liner in its track. The old liner may sag and cause water to drain from the pool. If you are noticing this, it is definitely time to replace the liner.
Be sure to do a pool examination in the coming weeks as you re-open the pool for the summer. If you notice cracks, leaking, algae or rust, or stretching of the lining, it may be wise to call a pool contractor to get the job done before the summer months kick in.
Can an in-ground pool be installed in winter? Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to this question. The answer will be different for every homeowner and will depend on many factors.
Before you say “yes” or “no” to this decision, Woodfield Landscaping recommends you consider the following factors.
Why you might want to have your pool installed in winter
The pool is cheaper. Because it’s an off-season, you can find some great deals on pools, pool components and accessories.
The labor is cheaper. For the same reason, it is easier to find a Maryland pool installation contractor who would do the job for much less than what you would have paid in summer. You will also have quite a selection of skilled craftsmen to choose from, since winter is typically a slow season for them.
Both you and the workers can take the time to do a quality job. You will have several months until you can actually use the pool, and the contractors will have plenty of time to dedicate to your project.
You can have a pool ready for the season. The installation will be completed well before the hot summer days, so you’ll be able to use your pool as soon as the season starts.
Why you might want to wait until it’s warmer out
The ground tends to freeze. Depending on where you live, the ground freezes in winter up to a certain distance. When the ground is frozen, the excavation becomes difficult, if not impossible. Even if the excavation poses no problems, the compacting might, because frozen ground can’t be properly compacted and may cause uneven settlement later on.
It’s labor-intensive. Even though the labor is cheaper, a winter pool installation might require more labor than a similar project completed in summer.
Unexpected delays. Winter weather is often unpredictable, and if the temperature drops too low or a sudden snow storm leaves the worksite completely covered, you will have to “freeze” the project (no pun intended.)
Can’t test it. The installation might go fine, but it’s not recommended to run the pool equipment in cold weather when the water may freeze inside the pipes. You will have to wait until the pool season to open your pool and test everything, so you need to make sure you have at least 6-months warranty on all of the pool components.
As you see, you will need to asses all the risks and benefits in your particular situation to determine whether installing an in-ground pool in winter is worth it. And if decide in favor of winter pool installation in Maryland, be sure to let us know and we’ll take a good care of you!
With the summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to make sure your pool is up to the task. Maryland landscaping company Woodfield Landscaping can provide many of the services necessary to keep any pool fully functional during the upcoming summer season. Here are several things you can do to get your pool swim-ready.
Remove the pool cover.
We hope you used one! Pool cover can significantly prolong the life of your pool. First, drain any water sitting on top of the cover to make sure it doesn’t get in the pool. Then carefully move the cover over, shake off the debris and put it away until the fall.
Clean the pool.
This should be an easy task if you had the pool covered. Make sure you remove any visible debris from the surface and bottom of the pool. Also gently wipe the part of your pool that is above the water line. You should clean this area regularly, because that’s where all the sunscreens, body oils and tan lotions end up.
Turn it on.
If you had the pool equipment off during winter, check if it’s still functional. Look for odd sounds, signs of leak or anything out of the ordinary. Clean pump and filters and examine all electrical connections. Fix any issues before using the pool.
Examine the pool liner.
If you have a pool with vinyl liner, make sure it is intact. Damaged pool liner is a very common problem. You’ll know that your liner is leaking when you notice the water line dropping. Scratches and tears on the liner’s surface (especially if it’s patterned) are often hard to find, so you might want to enlist professionals to help you detect the hole.
Once detected, the leak can usually be easily stopped. However, if you fail to find it, you will need to replace the entire liner to make the pool usable again. It is recommended to replace pool liners every seven to ten years, but it’s not a strict guideline. If there’s no obvious wear and tear, you can keep the liner, unless you want to replace it for cosmetic reasons.
Test the water.
Make sure the water contains the right balance of chemicals. If necessary, treat it with chlorine, oxidizer (shock) and salt. Over time, depending on the water’s PH levels, such solids as calcium build up at the waterline. If the water is “too hard,” you might need to drain the pool. Once it’s empty, you might as well ask your local Maryland pool service provider to thoroughly inspect it and clean.
Besides guaranteeing you safe seeming, the proper balance of chemicals is vital for prolonging the lifespan of your pool. However, it is recommended to change pool water every three to five years.
With proper maintenance, owning a pool is not very difficult. Woodfield Landscaping can provide adequate services in regards to all aspects of maintaining a pool. From replacing liners to plastering and renovation, we cover it all.
