As winter approaches, unfortunately so does the colder, wetter, and windier weather. Guncast engineers suggest that October is the time for swimming pool owners to be winterising their pools.  By being prepared and winter proofing your swimming pool you can reduce the risk of damage or deterioration, making spring 2024 a breeze!

Why do I need to shut down my swimming pool?

If you don’t plan to use your swimming pool all year round, closing it down for the winter is paramount to preventing the damage that could be caused by the unpredictable, and often harsh winter weather. For example, if you leave your pool with chemically unbalanced water it could become corrosive or leave hard scaly deposits. Ensuring that the water is clean and contains the right chemicals can save a lot of time, money and effort when it comes to re-opening the pool in spring. This blog is intended as a guide only and does not replace manufacturer’s instructions which should always be followed with the utmost care and attention.

How do I shut down my swimming pool?

Even when you are not using your swimming pool, it is still necessary to maintain your ongoing care visits every 4-6 weeks. Swimming pool winter care visits include various activities such as backwashing and rinsing of the filter, netting the pool, chemical checks, balancing the water, and adding chlorine, as and when required. You can also install a Guncast eco-friendly swimming pool filtration system, which incorporates recycled materials together with water treatment systems to achieve premium water quality for your swimming pool.

Your swimming pool engineer will also help you with your winter close down by reducing your timer settings from 12 hours a day to two hours a day, and isolate the majority of the plant room, from where all the systems (such as the heating, automatic pool cleaner, and UV system) are controlled. This helps to conserve energy, while continuing to maintain your swimming pool, ready for use again in the spring.

We recommend covering your pool with a winter debris cover to prevent any debris falling into the pool over the winter period. Your automatic pool cleaner can be used all year round, even operating under a cover for efficient and convenient cleaning.

Heating your outdoor pool for winter

If you use your heated outdoor pool all year round, a good quality swimming pool heater with eco-settings helps maintain a comfortable temperature during the colder months. Insulating your heated pool with an automatic cover also helps to contain the heat, conserves energy and reduces heat loss, as well as preventing debris entering the water.

As part of the swimming pool winterising process, ask your engineer to check that your pool cover is in good condition and arrange any maintenance or repairs as required. Slatted covers used during the summer months can be installed with solar panels, and with sufficient sunshine can heat the pool from a low temperature to 28°C.

Guncast’s team of service engineers can help you close down and maintain your pool for the winter, making next spring easy and stress free! To have a chat and find out more, contact our team of experts today.