How to Winterise your pool

After a raucous summer of pool parties, you're starting to feel the cool breeze of winter come.
Do you continue your pool parties through the winter or do you decide to shut things down? If you've chosen to shut things down for the winter, it’s time to winterise your pool.

Winterising your pool can help save you from maintaining your pool during the cooler periods, leaving you to stay in the warmth of your home instead of freezing by the pool water!
Before the pool can hibernate, there are several steps you need to take to avoid expensive headaches next spring. 

Let’s look at each of these steps in detail: 

Step 1: Clean the Pool

Remove all leaves and sticks from the pool. These can leave stains if left on the bottom for too long. Make sure to clear out the skimmer basket and anything caught in the pool pump basket.

Step 2: Check and Clean Your Pool Equipment

Check Filter for Grease

Eliminate built-up grime and impurities with Baracuda Filter Cleaner and Degreaser.

For sand/glass filters, backwash after adding. If you have a cartridge filter, remove it and rinse clean.

Check the Salt Chlorinator Cell for Calcium

If you have a saltwater pool, check for calcium buildup on the chlorinator cell. If there is, use Baracuda Salt Cell Cleaner to remove it. This product is reusable.

Reduce Pump/Filtration Time

Reduce the daily running time of the filtration/pump system from 8 hours to 4 hours. The equipment needs to be kept running even in winter to prevent algae buildup.

Step 3: Balance the Water

To ensure that your pool water is at optimal levels, you can either test it using Baracuda Smart Dose Test Strips or get it tested at your local pool shop. It's important to balance your pool before adding any other treatments, especially ensuring that the pH levels are between 7.2 and 7.6.

Step 4: Shock Your Pool

For a clean start to next season, use Baracuda Xtreme Shock as a final shock treatment to eliminate any remaining bacteria or algae.

Step 5: Add a Long Life Algae Killer

Add Baracuda Algae Killer to your pool to prevent any algae growth. This algaecide is copper-based and will last for up to three months in your pool, ensuring an algae-free start to spring. In case you need it, use a Sparkle Clarifier Tablet to drop dust and debris to the bottom of the pool so that you can vacuum it out easily.

Step 6: Winter Chlorination

Chlorine Pools

For best results, use Baracuda Weekly Chlorine Tablets with a floater. Check your chlorinator regularly to make sure that the free chlorine reading is between 1-2ppm.

Saltwater Pools

During winter, reduce the chlorinator output to 1-2ppm, which is about half of the summer output, to compensate for lower bather load.

Step 7: Maintenance Tips

Remember to check the chemicals in your pool water regularly, ideally weekly but at least once a month. Ensure that the pH levels are in check and that there are minimum levels of chlorine present. You might need to add Dry Acid if necessary. Make sure to clear out any debris from the pool as well as the skimmer baskets on a regular basis. If you have a pool cover and a saltwater pool, keep in mind that chlorine can build up under the cover. As a result, reduce the chlorine output accordingly.

Bottom line

As this guide has highlighted, there are a number of ways that you can help ensure your pool's longevity and reduce its chance of damage in the cold winter months. So take a little time to prep your pool before bidding it farewell. 

By proactively preparing your pool, you'll ensure that it remains safe from harm and ready to start attracting swimmers again in a few months' time. 

And hopefully, you'll avoid costly repairs along the way.

Discover the Perfect Baracuda Solution for Your Pool!

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