A Beginner’s Guide to Preparing a Pool for Colder Weather Conditions
Living in Arizona has quite a few perks—most notably, the weather! Central and southern Arizona have beautiful weather throughout most of the year (save for the scorching summers). Although in some northern regions, it can get quite cold during the winter, most of Arizona has a mild winter. While some people may be a bit extreme and take a few dips during the colder seasons, most homeowners choose to close down their pools in the winter. That’s why it’s important to know how to prep your pool for winter in Arizona.
When it comes time to close down your pool, you’ll want to make sure you understand the necessary steps. Our experts at Leak Science are here to help you learn how to prep your pool for winter in Arizona.
If you have any questions or even need help fixing a leak before winter sets in, give us a call at 480-794-0959 or contact us online. We are happy to help prep your pool for wintertime.
Why it’s Important to Winterize Your Pool
As the weather gets cooler, you’ll use your pool less and less. But even if you aren’t using your pool, it still requires some care to keep it in good working order. Knowing how to prep your pool for winter in Arizona will help you save time, effort, and money in the long run. After all, your pool is a huge investment—you should protect it all year round!Some may feel they can leave their pool open during the winter. But if you do, you have to be prepared to constantly take care of it throughout the season. If you don’t take care of your pool properly, bacteria can build up, leading to an uneven chemical balance and a filthy pool. Most homeowners don’t use their pools during the winter, so we recommend closing them down so your job is easier later down the road!
Knowing When to Start Closing Down Your Pool
Most parts of Central and Southern Arizona experience mild winters. In our experience, temperatures don’t typically start to dip below the 90s until October or November. Because of this, there is no huge rush to winterize your pool, but you should be ready to prep it in the fall. No two winters are the same, so don’t let an overnight freeze catch you by surprise.If you live in central or southern Arizona, we recommend to our clients and readers to start closing their pools down somewhere around mid-December. From our own experience, that’s the most ideal time frame when pool season should be officially over. If you wait too long, you risk freezing temperatures damaging your pool. If you live up north, you will want to close your pool down before the start of fall. It is not unusual for Northern Arizona to get snow as early as October, so be ready to prep your pool either in late September or early October.
What You Need to Do to Properly Close Your Pool Down
If you decide to close down the pool during the winter, there are a few steps you’ll need to take to make sure your pool is ready for the cold. One of the most important aspects of winterizing your pool is checking for leaks that you may have overlooked. This may just be the perfect time to prevent any further damage and repair anything that’s cracked or is leaking. Contact the professionals at Leak Science to inspect the pool before you officially close it down! We offer leak detection, repairs, and full pool restoration so that your pool functions properly all year round.Here is how to prep your pool for winter in Arizona.
Winter Cleaning is a Must
Before you officially close down the pool, you must clean it thoroughly. You’re not going to use this pool for a few months, so we recommend scrubbing it down before you put the pool cover on. Be sure to remove all debris, scrub the tiles and the other surfaces, clear out algae, and clean the skimmer baskets out.If You Don’t Have a Pool Cover, Invest in One!
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Invest in a pool cover if you don’t already have one because it’s going to save you time and trouble in the future. You don’t need a fancy automatic pool cover either—a standard winter or safety cover will do the trick.Balance the pH Levels
When it comes time to winterize your pool, you’ll have to learn your chemistry! Balancing pH levels is important all year round, especially in the winter. If you don’t have someone taking care of your pool at all times—which most people don’t have—it should be a priority to master this step. Monitoring and adjusting the pH levels is an important step of the process when you’re not using your pool for a longer period of time. Make sure the chemicals are balanced every week.Add Shock to the Pool
Shocking the pool is a good way of preventing bacteria from forming while it’s out of use. Shock gives your pool a clear blue appearance. You can shock your pool by adding chlorine or non-chlorine pool chemicals to kill off bacteria.Drain Water—But Not Fully!
This is an essential step. Drain your pool water, but only drain it below the skimmers. Anything below that level may end up damaging your pool.Disconnect the Pumps and Heaters (and other Hoses Connected to the Pool)
After you’ve drained the pool water below the skimmers, it’s time to unplug the pump and heaters. When you’re done with this part of the job, clean and store all of the hoses and connectors from your pool.Clean the Filters
Don’t forget your filters! Make sure to clean the filters and drain them out completely to prevent buildup.Store All Pool Accessories Away
In order to prevent damage to your belongings, make sure to store all of your pool accessories away during the winter. Keep them in a dry place, such as the garage, pool box, or inside your home.Why It’s Important To Detect Leaks And Repair Them During The Winter
Taking care of a swimming pool is a lot of work, even in the winter. However, you’ll want to know how to prep your pool for winter in Arizona so you can protect your investment and make sure it is functioning properly when summertime rolls around again. Part of this process involves detecting and repairing any leaks that may have sprung up during the summer.Leaks can be hard to detect, which is why we advise our clients to call in a professional leak detection company to handle the job. There’s no better time than the wintertime to check for possible repairs. While you’re preparing for the winter pool closing, make sure to contact us so we can inspect your pool and repair leaks before they get out of hand.
Need help winterizing your pool? Call Leak Science Today!
Leak Science is the only company in the Valley that’s going to manage the whole process for you. From finding a pool leak to restoring the swimming pool, we are there with you every step of the way!If you have questions or want to learn more about how to prep your pool for winter in Arizona, contact us today! Our experts are here to help keep your pool in perfect shape for the next pool season. For questions or to schedule a leak detection appointment, call us at 480-794-0959 or contact us online.