solar pool alarm

January 14, 2010 by SolarInfo
Filed under solar power energy

5 Things To Remember When Shutting Down Your Pool For Winter

It's a sad day when you know that you're having your last swim before the pool has to be "packed up" until summer comes again. Don't let it get you down though. Even better, ensure your pool has the best head start when summer rolls around again. Your pool cleaner and some very basic work will get it all done for you. Here's 5 tips to help you out:

Good old-fashioned clean. Get rid of those leaves.

Leaves and other external debris cause most of the contamination issues in pools. Simply physically removing the debris is a very useful habit to get into, because it also prevents damage to pool equipment. The debris puts sediments into the water, which promotes the growth of algae and fungi, and these sediments are the source of the gunk that clogs filters and cost money by wearing out other equipment.

Balancing the water. Get those PH levels right.

Acidity can do a lot of damage. Acids are corrosive, quite capable of damaging any type of pool equipment. When shutting down the pool, the acidity needs to be made neutral and remain neutral. It's a good idea to play safe and keep an eye on acidity levels over winter. Testing is very easy, and you can easily adjust acidity levels quickly.

The shock treatment.

Shock treatment is very high intensity cleaning. Most pool experts recommend a shock cleaning treatment at least once a year. This effectively means chemical treatment to a very high standard, with benchmark perfect results. Up market salt chlorinators can provide this service, and you can give your pool a full treatment before shutdown to make sure the pool's in great condition when you shut down.

Protecting against algae.

Algaecides are excellent, simple treatments for pools. They prevent algal growth, and most importantly make sure the contaminants from algae, which can be very toxic, aren't present in the pool. A full algaecide treatment is essential before shutting down the pool. The risk factor is that algae can literally explode over long periods (i.e. an "algal bloom"), and large infestations are very hard to clean and remove.

Important: Symptoms of algal toxin poisoning include nausea and diarrhea, and may include other alarming symptoms, even shock. These situations can be serious and are very distressing for young children. Get medical assistance immediately.

Covering the pool – the final goodbye.

Before you shut down the pool, just run through a quick checklist:

Leaves and debris removed?
Pool acidity levels OK?
Full chemical shock treatment completed?
Algaecide treatment done?

The next steps are all automatic, but need to be done properly:

Clean pool filters thoroughly. Check the filters for any signs of wear.
Check all your pool equipment. Any signs of deterioration, poor performance, odd noises, odours or any indication of electrical issues should be professionally examined. You don't want any "surprises" when you open up the pool next season.

Now you can cover the pool. Make sure the pool cover is sitting flat and there are no gaps. You can rest easy knowing the pool will be fine.

About the Author

Pool Express is one of the largest online pool stores in Australia. We offer amazing prices on swimming pool equipments and pool supplies. For more information or to view our products, visit Pool Cleaner

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