If you’re like many people around Utah who have an outdoor pool, chances are you’ve taken various winterizing steps to keep your pool and its features protected during the cold winter. There are a few minor issues that may come up from time to time with your winterization efforts, and knowing how to prevent or address them can be quite important for long-term care.
At Packman’s Pools, we’re here to assist clients around Salt Lake City and other parts of Utah with all their swimming pool needs, with swimming pool contractors who will work with you on a variety of inground pools and related products like hot tubs – from pool design through construction and installation. We’re also here to help our clients keep their pools and hot tubs in great shape throughout the year, including winter care. In this two-part blog series, we’ll look at a few possible issues that may arise over the winter with your pool’s winterization, plus how to prevent or remedy them – with the help of our team wherever necessary.
Freezing Concerns or Damage
Because of the cold Utah winter, a frozen swimming pool is an obvious worry for all owners. In some cases, this may be preventable or at least reduced by taking the right proactive steps in advance.
One significant area to focus on here: The pool’s plumbing areas. These are vulnerable to freezing and cracking if they’re not properly protected – even with just a small amount of water that remains in them after the winterization process. Our team recommends that you use a combination of both foam and pool noodles for this purpose, helping insulate these areas and eliminate any remaining water. If you’re unsure about how to do so, or if you’d like detailed instructions or assistance on this or other winterization areas, our team will be happy to provide it.
Failing Cover
One of the key pieces of equipment for your pool during the winter is its cover, which will be used to protect it from various elements. The vast majority of pools use vinyl covers, and while these are generally quite durable, there are a few potential issues that may arise with them.
For instance, if you have large amounts of snow or other debris piling up on the cover over the course of the winter, this could lead to significant stretching or even sagging in some cases. If you have a cover pump, this is generally not an issue – but if your pool doesn’t have one for whatever reason, our team recommends manually removing excess snow and debris from the cover at least once per week.
This will prevent any excessive strain on the cover that may result in damage or stretching. In addition, we recommend checking the cover’s condition periodically to ensure there are no tears or holes present that may allow debris or other elements into the pool area.
In part two of our series, we’ll go over a few additional winterization issues that may come up, plus how to handle them effectively. At Packman’s Pools, we’re here to help with all your pool and spa needs around Utah – contact us today to learn more or set up an appointment!
