Winter approaching means it’s time to close your pool. There are several important steps to follow if you want to keep your concrete pool in good condition. Closing your inground pool incorrectly may cause it to deteriorate quickly, requiring work before the summer months.
Here is our advice for winterizing your inground pool.
Clean your inground pool before winter
If, like other pool owners, you have already been forced to undergo pool repairs after the winter, we are sure that the following advice will interest you.
Covering your pool when the water temperature drops below 12 degrees is recommended in order to avoid the growth of algae and bacteria. That said, you can wait until mid-October right before the frost to close your pool instead of rushing to do it.
Washing and winterizing your inground pool the day before covering it is necessary to prevent the growth of microorganisms that could damage your pool’s lining. This involves following your pool manufacturer’s instructions to vacuum and backwash your pool and clean the cover.
Drain your pool
Cold weather could freeze the pool water and create a force on the concrete walls that alters its coating, so it is important to lower the water level in your pool by at least 11 inches, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.
Fully draining it can also damage the structure to the point of no return. The weight of the water creates resistance to the pressure of the ground on the concrete walls, holds the basin in place and makes the pool walls less likely to crack.
Your next step is to stop the water filtration and drain the pipes and other equipment to prevent them from freezing. You should then pour a winterizing product into the pool to prevent scaling and pour antifreeze into the skimmer.
Finally, cover your pool to prevent dirt from falling into it. Your inground pool is now ready for winter!
Repairing cracks in your concrete pool basin
Despite taking necessary precautions, factors such as soil or foundation movements and quality of the concrete structure installation can require you to do repairs before the summer.
An inground pool requires a lot of maintenance, but properly winterizing your pool will limit the risk of cracks. Even if it delays the opening of your pool in the spring, cracks are easily repaired by a specialist.
For any questions or to repair cracks in your concrete pool, do not hesitate to contact us or request a quote.
