Winter is one of the harshest Colorado seasons, and it’s crucial to prepare your pool or hot tub for the off-season. By taking extra precautions to maintain your Denver pool during the winter, you’ll be able to jump back into swimming season with ease.

Here, we’ll cover the main steps in winter pool maintenance for Denver pool owners.

Maintain Your Pool Heater.

Your pool heater is likely the priciest piece of pool equipment that you own. So, it’s important to protect it during the winter months to avoid the need for costly repairs or replacement.

If you keep your pool heater running during the winter, it’s likely to attract pests. The warmth that it produces is a major draw for small animals during the chilly Colorado winters. So, be sure to properly turn off your pool heater for the winter. 

Pool heater models vary, so the process of turning them off for the winter can differ. But, you can follow these basic steps to switch most pool heaters off for the winter:

• Close both of the gas valves. Typically, one gas valve is located inside of the heater with on/off labels and another valve is located at a point on the gas line running to the heater. It’s important to make sure that both gas valves are closed to avoid a gas leak, which would present a fire risk. 
• Shut off power to the heater at the electrical breaker. 
• Open up the pressure switch to avoid damage if trapped water freezes.
• Open the drain cocks/winterization ports by removing all drain plugs. 
• Use a shop vac or a leaf blower to blow the remaining water out of the heater.

Balance Chemicals and Shock The Water.

Chemically balance your pool water before the start of the winter season to keep corrosion or scale from damaging your pool. You should test the pH level, chlorine, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness, then make adjustments as needed. 

For chlorine pools, you should also shock the water. Be sure to add the correct amount of shock for the size of your pool. 

Protect Pipes And Pool Components From Freezing. 

Temperatures can drop well below freezing during winter in Colorado. So, it’s important to protect your pool’s pipes and other components from freezing. To do this, you’ll need to drain water from the pump, filter, and heater, as we discussed above. If excess water is left in any of these components over the winter months, it may freeze and cause damage. If water freezes inside of your pool pipes, the pipes may crack. Repairing a cracked pool pipe can be pricey, so it’s wise to take extra caution in ensuring that all of the water has drained from your pool system. 

Colorado pool owners should also drain the water in their pools so that it sits a few inches underneath the skimmer. If you own an above-ground pool, drain the pool water to approximately one inch below the skimmer.

Check Your Pool Cover.

A cover is essential for winter pool maintenance in Denver. Before winter strikes, make sure that your pool cover is in good condition, with no tears or other signs of damage. Then make sure that your pool cover is secured to your pool as reliably as possible. If a storm strikes, you should be sure that your pool cover won’t blow over in the wind. 

If excess water gathers on top of your pool cover, you should remove it ASAP so that it doesn’t freeze. To remove standing water, you can simply use a shop vac or a suction pump, if you own one. 

Minimize Snow Accumulation.

Minimizing snow accumulation on the top of your pool cover is another important winter maintenance task. If snow and ice weigh down your cover, damage could occur. So, after any major snowstorm, use a shovel or leaf blower to remove snow from the cover. 

If you use a mesh snow cover, the snow will drain into your pool once it has melted. In this case, keep an eye on the water level throughout the winter.For expert help with winter pool maintenance in Colorado, contact us today.