The days are shorter and the temperatures are lower, but the magic of maintenance hasn’t lost it’s sparkle, at least not to my discerning eye. If there’s one thing we’re passionate about here at Denscot, it’s doing the job right the first time. “A stitch in time will save more than a dime,” or something like that.
Routine “stitches,” like winter maintenance on your pool or spa, are invaluable! But it’s not one size fits all, and by customizing your winter maintenance to fit your pool or spa, you’ll have a smoother winter season and a better spring opening season.
Pool winter maintenance involves keeping that water level below your circulation lines—don’t let any water enter your returns or skimmers. These should all be plugged anyway from when you winterized and closed the pool, but regardless you should pump the water level down periodically as it climbs up again. Winter maintenance also includes testing and balancing the water (especially for calcium and alkalinity), and circulating the water once or twice a month to prevent the chemicals or minerals from sitting too still in one place all winter. This helps the health and integrity of the pool finish, prevents scaling, stripping, and staining. If you have a pool, regularly inspect the cover, straps, anchors, gate latches, keeping the pool area secure.
Winter maintenance on a hot tub is much the same as spring, summer, and fall. Keep the water clean and the chemicals balanced. Keep the filter clean, and the cover dry and clear of snow. Make sure any controls are dry as well, and that the heat is turned up enough to prevent any kind of freezing. If you plan on heading out of town, or leaving the spa unused for an extended length of time, it is best at that time to winterize the spa. But for the most part, as long as the temperature is between 100-104 degrees Fahrenheit, and the spa is covered with a heat tight cover, the maintenance is no different than the rest of your swim season.
And there you have it! Fun, safe, and enjoyable all year round!