Backyard temperatures are on the decline? You may be asking yourself what the proper time is to put your pool away for the season, not to mention how to sidestep the costly repairs and general mess of a hasty, ill-considered shutdown.
Then you will find what you need here. For all the care of their pools, homeowners in Central Jersey and the Jersey Shore have been turning to S&R Pool & Spa since 1982. As a family-owned and locally run business, we are fully licensed and insured with Certified Pool Operators at your service. Give us a ring at (908) 860-8066 and we can discuss the matter of your fall closing.
There is no better way to see your investment through the cold months than by closing the pool properly. Make an error and you could be looking at a cracked pipe or some equipment damage when spring arrives. What follows are the sort of tips one picks up after forty years in the trade.
When to Close Your Pool
Most homeowners do not give enough thought to timing. A warm body of water closed off too soon will be prone to algae in the winter; wait until it is too late and an early cold snap will cause freezing damage. The rule of thumb is easy enough: put it off until you see the water hold a steady course under 65 degrees. In this part of New Jersey that tends to be an October affair, but it is not something to put in the calendar so much as check with a thermometer from year to year.
Water Balance is Key
We see plenty of pools shut down before the water has been put in order. That is a mistake. Imbalanced chemistry left to sit over the winter will corrode your equipment and leave stains.
Prior to shutting things in, make sure of the following:
- pH in the 7.4 to 7.6 range
- Total alkalinity as it should be
- Calcium hardness for the sake of your surfaces and equipment
- Chlorine or sanitizer at the right level
- An algaecide for the off-season
Our team can test and balance the water if you are not certain of the figures, so there is no question about it when you close.
Put in the Work to Clean
Any debris you leave behind will decompose and make for a difficult job come spring. Skim, brush the walls, vacuum and clear out the pump and skimmer baskets. Ladders and handrails and other accessories should be put away where they will not corrode; it will save you trouble at opening time.
Take Care of the Equipment
A bit technical, and one oversight here can add up to a large bill. Water in your pipes or heater will freeze and expand, doing harm to expensive parts.
To protect them you must:
- See that the pump, filter and heater are entirely drained
- Use an air blow out on the plumbing lines
- Put in pool antifreeze as called for
- Plug the return lines and skimmers
- Take any equipment that does not belong outside and store it
Do-it-yourselfers are apt to get this wrong. When in doubt, let a pro take care of it.
The Cover
You want a cover that will hold back leaves and keep the water quality intact, and a safety model for the protection of children and pets. Be sure it is a good fit and well secured from the elements.
Some Winter Monitoring
It would be a shame to neglect your pool once it is closed and then discover in the spring that the cover has been damaged or the water levels have shifted, or worse, the chemistry has gone bad. We have our Winter Watch Program for just that reason. It is a form of off-season monitoring to inspect the cover and equipment and maintain the water. You can rest easy through the coldest of months and not have any unwelcome surprises when it warms up.
S&R Pool & Spa Will See to It
An experienced hand and the proper tools are required for a fall closing. We have been in the business of it since 1982 in Hillsborough, Edison, Princeton, Westfield, Colts Neck and communities all over Central Jersey and the Shore. An A+ BBB accredited firm and Angi Super Service Award winner, we also provide financing and free estimates.
Call us at (908) 860-8066. Our office is open 6 to 6 Monday to Friday. Whether you want to enquire about the Winter Watch or have your pool put to bed correctly for the fall, we are here to help.