The weather gets a little rough during the winter season here in Illinois — and it can definitely take a toll on your pool. That’s why winter pool care is so important! Taking care of your pool during the off-season helps protect your investment, saves you money on repairs and replacement costs, and makes it easier to open your pool come spring.
Before things get too cold here in Chicagoland, let’s take a look at some handy tips to protect your pool during the winter months.
Make sure your pool cover is properly attached to your pool.
You’ll want to check this multiple times throughout the winter season. Make sure your cover clips or cables are tight (and tighten them if needed). You may also need to move or inflate your winter air pillow if you’re using one (which we definitely recommend).
Keep the pool cover clear of water, snow, and debris.
Excess weight from snow and debris can cause damage to your pool cover and your pool liner itself. It’s best to use a broom and/or roof rake to clear off your pool cover shortly after it snows to avoid freezing or getting the snow packed down, which makes it more difficult to clear off your cover.
Check your pool chemistry.
You’ll want to keep an eye on your water chemistry throughout the winter months, even when you’re not using your pool. Improperly balanced pool chemicals can lead to algae and bacteria growth, which won’t be fun to deal with come springtime. We recommend checking your pool chemistry once or twice a month throughout the winter.
Take time to check all pool equipment, chemicals, and toys.
As you close your pool for the season, take some time to really give your pool a good once over. Is anything broken or in need of repair? Are any of your chemicals expired? Have all the pool toys been cleaned and sanitized? If you notice anything, be sure to write it down or purchase the replacement parts/equipment right away. Otherwise, it’s easy to forget during the winter months and your pool opening might be delayed the following summer.
Review and organize all your pool manuals, guides, etc.
Even if you’ve closed your pool a million times before, the off-season is a great time to review all directions, manuals, and other materials that you’ve gotten with your pool and accessories. That way, you can be sure you’re cleaning, maintaining, and storing all equipment properly throughout the winter. Once you’ve reviewed, organize them into a handy file system that’s easy to access when you’re ready to open your pool in spring again.
Keep an eye on the weather.
As we all know, winter weather here in the Midwest can be unpredictable. We recommend downloading a weather app and setting up alerts. That way, you can stay ahead of big snowstorms and freezing temperatures that may take their toll on your pool.
Monitor your water level.
You’ll want to keep an eye on your water level throughout the season to keep your pump and other pool parts in working order. Generally, in colder climates like here in the Chicago suburbs, your pool water should be about 4-6 inches below the skimmer during the winter months.
Work with a professional.
Got questions about closing your pool or winter pool maintenance? The team at AAA Liner Replacements is here to help. We offer professional pool closings and winterization, as well as a variety of other pool services, throughout Chicago, the surrounding suburbs, and northwest Indiana.