As much as we may wish that we could use our pools year-round, the reality is that when the cool weather comes around we all have no choice but to close down our pool. However, as weather can fluctuate within any given year, it can be difficult to know exactly when to close down the pool for the season. The last thing you want is to be kicking yourself that you can’t enjoy your pool on an unexpectedly nice day late in the season!
In this article, we will go over the factors that you should examine as you are deciding when to close your pool up for the winter.
Factors When You Close Your Pool Up For The Winter
Temperature
The most obvious consideration that you should have when deciding when to close up your pool is the outside temperature. However, it is not as straightforward as passing a temperature threshold and suddenly making the decision to close your pool. You will have to pay attention to your local weather conditions in order to decide whether or not it is worth it to begin the process of closing up your pool. For most people in Canada, hot days will start winding down sometime in September. This brings us to our next point.
Chance of Freeze
What’s more important than the average outdoor temperature is the chance of freezing temperatures. If you experience freezing temperatures before your pool is officially closed, then you run the risk of doing permanent damage to your pool’s internal components. By paying attention to the average annual freeze time in your area, you can make more informed decisions about when exactly to close your pool.
Trees and Nearby Leaf Fall
One of the biggest threats to your pool’s integrity is the threat of falling leaves and debris off trees. Even if your pool happens to be close to a tree or two, this should generally not be an issue in the summer, with rare exceptions of extreme inclement weather. However, as the fall season starts, falling leaves become less of an “if”, and more of a “when”. If you leave your pool open as leaves are falling you may find that it becomes way too difficult to keep up with.
Frequency of Use
Perhaps the most important factor to consider before you close your pool is just how much your family is using it. If you find that the pool has been getting less and less use, it’s likely that the temperatures are cooling down and the idea of a refreshing swim is becoming less and less enticing. This might mean that it is time to close up shop for the season.
How to Plan for The Winter?
Before you go about closing your pool, you will want to ensure that you have taken all of the measures that will protect the integrity of your pool while it is closed. Not only is it a good idea to clean the bottom of your pool once it is drained, but it is also important that you remove all plugs, pumps, and ladders as well as handrails. Lastly, you will want to ensure that your cover is secure before stepping away from your pool to ensure that you do not receive any unpleasant surprises throughout the colder months.
Vancouver Pool Expert
If you need help maintaining your above ground swimming pool or inground swimming pool, then GRN Pool and Landscape are your go-to swimming pool contractors. As a family business with more than 35 years of experience, we are the go-to experts for the Greater Vancouver Area on all things swimming pool-related. Get in touch with us today!