How to Maintain your Swimming Pool during Winter in FL

Winterizing a pool is different in Florida than up north. Without the risk of freezing temperatures, you don’t have to worry about frozen pipes or winterizing chemicals. Even though you don’t have to take the same steps as your neighbors to the north, it is still important to maintain your pool through the winter months because your pool remains chemically active all year round.

There are five steps that you should take to maintain your pool throughout Florida’s winter:

1. Remove pool toys and accessories from the pool. It is a good idea to store them in a dry place to prevent them for collecting mold or mildew.
2. Balance the chemicals in your pool a week before closing it and continue to maintain the water balance throughout the winter. Algae can thrive in pools during this time due to the fluctuating weather. This is one reason why it is important to maintain the chemical balance even when you aren’t using your pool. Another reason is that it will save you time and money in the spring when you want to reopen your pool. You can lower the amount of chlorine in the water since the chlorine will not have to battle contaminates from people using the pool. It is a good rule of thumb to test the pool water at least once a week during this time.
3. Keep the water circulating by running the pump for 4-6 hours a day. This will also help prevent algae growth.
4. Continue your pool cleaning routine: removing leaves and debris from the water and cleaning the debris traps or skimmers. Your pool filter should continue to run and you should regularly vacuum the pool to keep it free of debris. This will help you to maintain a healthy water balance and keep it clean for spring.
5. Keep an eye on the water levels. Since Florida has less rain fall in the winter to replace evaporated water, the water level can drop one to two inches a week. If the water level falls below the skimmers it can cause many problems. That’s why it’s important to monitor your pool’s water level and add water as needed to keep the water level above the skimmers.

If you don’t like the idea of putting so much work into maintaining your pool when it is closed, you may want to consider investing in a pool cover or a water heater. A pool cover will prevent pool water from evaporating and protect it from debris. A pool heater will allow you to keep your pool open all year round. It will warm the water to a comfortable temperature so that you can take a dip anytime. Solar powered water heaters are available that won’t increase your energy bills.

If you want to learn more about pool covers or a pool heater, stop by Pool Works or give us a call! Our pool experts will be happy to tell you about the different options available and how to get the most out of them.

Want to learn more about pool maintenance? Checkout more of our blog posts!