Private swimming pools are more than just a way to enjoy leisure time at home. They can also be a selling point and equate to a significantly higher sticker price when you eventually put your house on the market.
Of course, it’s important to keep this attractive amenity in good shape with proper pool maintenance to ensure the greatest return on investment down the line. Once pool construction is complete, you’ll need to clean and inspect the pool and equipment regularly and take on repairs as needed.
Most homeowners also choose to winterize their pools. Even when you live in a temperate area, you may not use the pool during the winter months, so you need to prevent damage and debris. Here are a few projects to take on during the off-season to help prep your pool for increased use when spring rolls around.
Conduct Repairs
Surfaces and equipment have a shelf life, and it can be cut short by issues like seasonal storms, excessive use, or general damage. If you’ve been putting off repairs, such as resurfacing or equipment replacement, the best time to get a jump on these tasks is before the busy summer season, when scheduling services can be difficult.
Setting up needed services early ensures your pool is ready for entertaining when the weather improves.
Spruce Up the Landscape
Seasonal storms can wreak havoc on your landscaping, leaving you with a patchy lawn, trees with root rot, soil erosion, and other eyesores. You may be content to clear away debris when the hurricane season ends, especially if you don’t use your yard much during the winter months.
However, creating an outdoor oasis before summer means planting during winter and spring. This will give your flora time to grow and fill in blank spaces. By the time you’re ready to host a pool party, the landscaping should look lush and beautiful.
Power Wash Hardscaping
Whether your pool is surrounded by concrete or marble-look pavers, the hardscaping elements that make up your pool deck can start to look dingy over time. Grimy residue on hard surfaces can also impact any slip-resistance those materials offer, creating a slipping hazard and potentially increasing homeowner liability.
Depending on the materials, you’ll want to clean the area one or two times annually. You might be surprised by how much buildup gets washed away. Just make sure that a pressure washer is safe to use on the materials surrounding your pool and that you understand how to use the machine properly. Consider hiring professionals to do the job for you.
Clean the Pool
Most people minimize their cleaning schedule during the cooler months when the pool is not in use. You might even put on a winter cover and leave it untouched until warmer weather returns.
When spring is on the horizon, however, it’s time to ramp up your pool maintenance again, starting with a major cleaning. If you covered your pool, remove and clean the winter cover for storage during the spring and summer months. You may need a pump to remove any standing water on the cover so that it doesn’t contaminate the pool.
Next, give the pool itself a good cleaning by skimming any debris that has found its way in and thoroughly brushing the interior surfaces to remove dirt and algae buildup. Vacuum the pool manually to remove any fine particulates that settle on the bottom.
Inspect and Set Up Equipment
As with any machinery, you need to inspect, clean, and service equipment before you fire it up following an extended period of non-operation. Check the pump, heater, filters, and lights for wear or damage.
If you used winter plugs and detached hoses and fittings as part of your winterization routine, make sure to return everything to functional capacity prior to use. If you partially drained the pool or you’ve lost volume to evaporation, refill the pool water to a suitable level before priming the pump and turning everything on.
You’ll also want to circulate the pool water for at least several hours to ensure that everything is functioning properly.
Some homeowners feel comfortable handling this seasonal pool maintenance on their own. However, if you’re unsure what to look for during inspection or how to hook everything up, it’s best to hire a professional.
Test and Balance Chemicals
Between scheduling fewer cleanings and adding water to your pool, there’s a good chance you’ll have to rebalance the chemicals during the off-season. Once you’ve cleaned and refilled the pool and run the equipment for several hours, it’s time to test the chemical composition, including:
- pH
- Free chlorine
- Total alkalinity
- Calcium hardness
- Cyanuric acid
- Sanitizer levels
After you have a gauge on the chemicals, you can balance as needed to return the water to a safe and usable state. If your pool has developed algae or other contaminants over the winter, you might also need to shock the water for sanitization.
Re-Test the Water and Resume Regular Pool Maintenance
Keep in mind that you’ll want to perform a final cleaning and retest the water before use when the temperatures rise. It’s important to confirm the water is safe before anyone dips a toe in it.
This ensures that your family and friends enjoy a positive experience any time they jump in your pool. You can resume your regular maintenance schedule at this point as well.
Need Repairs or Upgrades? Turn to the Pros
The off-season is an ideal time to take on tasks you may be too busy to tackle during peak periods, like performing inspections and repairs, rejuvenating your landscaping, cleaning hardscaping elements, and de-winterizing your pool. For more specialized projects or tasks, like leak detection, you’ll want to leave the job to the pros.