5 Winter Pool Maintenance Tips for Alabama Pools

Alabama winters are mild compared with much of the country, which is exactly why pool owners get caught off guard. The pool sits through weeks of easy days, then a cold snap arrives and the forecast says hard freeze. A few habits through the cooler months protect your liner, your equipment, and your water, and they make spring opening a lot easier. Here are five that matter most.

1. Balance the water before the cold sets in

Cold water still needs balanced chemistry. Sanitizer breaks down more slowly when the water is cool, which tempts people to stop testing altogether. Don't. Test before the first cold stretch, correct pH and alkalinity, and add sanitizer so the pool starts winter in good shape. Water that goes into the cold balanced is easy to wake up in spring. Water that goes in neglected often comes out green and stained.

Keep testing every couple of weeks even if the pool is closed up or you rarely swim. A quick strip test takes a minute. Many Alabama pools sit unused for months, and that stillness is when algae finds its chance on a warm January afternoon.

2. Keep the leaves out

Leaves are the biggest winter job in most Alabama yards, and they keep coming later than you'd expect. Leaves that sink and sit on the floor or the steps can stain a liner, and as they break down they feed algae once the weather warms. Net them off the surface before they sink, empty the skimmer baskets often, and brush the steps and the floor. A leaf net on a long pole is the cheapest piece of pool equipment you will ever own, and it earns its keep every week from October on.

Wind matters here too. A windy afternoon in Alabama can move a week of yard debris into the pool in an hour. If you know a front is coming through, take a few minutes beforehand to clear the deck and set loose items inside, then net the surface again after it passes.

3. Watch the water level

Winter rain and dry spells both move the water line. Too low and the skimmer pulls air, which can run the pump dry and damage it. Too high and the skimmer can't do its job. Check the level every week or two and adjust with a hose.

If you have a vinyl liner, never drain the pool to save on chemicals or to give it a good scrub. The water holds the liner in place, and an empty or very low pool can let it shift, shrink, or pull away from the walls. If a pool does need draining for a repair, have a professional plan it.

4. Decide on a cover, then keep it clean

Some owners close the pool under a cover, and some keep it open and running through Alabama's milder stretches. Either approach can work if you stay on top of it. If you use a cover, keep it clean and snug. Standing water, leaves, and debris get heavy, stress the edges, and drop into the pool when you pull it off. Pump the water off after storms and sweep the debris away.

A cover does not replace a clean pool underneath it. Debris still gets past the edges, and water under a cover can turn on you if it was not balanced when the cover went on. Lift a corner now and then, look at the water, and test it. A pool that looks fine from above can be hiding a problem you would rather find in February than in April.

Safety covers are also an option on new builds, and Mr. Pool's service department handles pool covering and uncovering if you'd rather not wrestle with it yourself.

5. Protect the equipment when a freeze is coming

Water expands as it freezes, and pipes, pumps, filters, and heaters don't like that. When a hard freeze is in the forecast, keep the pump running through the night so water keeps moving through the lines. Moving water is much harder to freeze than still water. If you have shut the system down for the season, drain the equipment the way the manufacturer says. If you aren't sure how your setup should be handled, call and ask before the temperature drops, not after a fitting cracks.

After any freeze, walk out to the equipment pad before you restart anything. Look for cracks, drips, and loose fittings, and listen for new noises when the pump comes on. A small leak found right away is a quick repair. The same leak found a week later can become a much bigger one.

None of this takes long, but it adds up. A pool that gets a little attention all winter opens in spring with a lot less drama. If you want help with a spring reopening, an equipment repair, or a weekly service plan through the cooler months, Mr. Pool can take it on. Call (334) 271-7665.