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HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR POOL IN WINTER

Neglecting your pool during autumn and winter is a big mistake. While swimming pools do not need as much attention as summer, a small amount of regular swimming pool care will ensure everything looks goods and operates well – saving you a bigger (and perhaps costly) job later on.

CLEAN YOUR POOL

An inviting pool or spa may look great, but the ideal water temperature must be set to a level where the experience meets expectation. Therefore a heating system is required, but which one?  As there are many options in heating a swimming pool or spa it is advisable to contact a pool heating specialist and have a heat load evaluation to find the most practical, cost effective and environmentally friendly system that is best suited. The most commonly available options that are currently used are:

BALANCE THE POOL WATER

Solar is an extremely economical and effective way of heating a pool and has a relatively low capital cost. Water is pumped from the pool to a heat collector fitted to the roof that absorbs the radiant energy from the sun and returns to the pool. This heat collector can be made in many different styles; some are made from extruded PVC Nitrile or EPDM rubber into strip, moulded tube panels, glazed poly panels and more. There is a long life expectancy for most solar systems as they are made from high tech plastics, maintenance is negligible as there is minimal moving parts and solar is generally easily installed, all of which makes this a great option to help heat a pool. Solar takes full advantage of the suns free heat which is the most environmentally friendly and economical way to heat a pool, while avoiding rising energy costs over the warmer swimming season.

CLEAN THE FILTER

Heat Pumps have become more common for heating as capital costs have been reduced and can be used as a stand-alone system as long as heat load calculations have been performed correctly. Heat pumps work like a reversed air conditioner.  Instead of taking air from a room or building, removing the heat and returning it, a heat pump takes large quantities of air from the atmosphere, removing the heat contained in the air and transferring this to water from the pool or spa passing through the unit. The characteristic of the heat pump of absorbing heat value from air means that the unit has a low electrical input relative to its heat transfer.  A well designed heat pump will output heat at a rate of around 5:1 or even higher, relative to its energy input under summer conditions.  This greatly reduces total energy consumption.  This factor is called the heat pump's co-efficient of performance or COP. The capture of solar energy from air means that the heat pump's output and efficiency will vary with air temperature.  Higher efficiency is gained in more temperate locations but heat pumps are capable of maintaining pool temperatures year-round in nearly all areas of Australia and New Zealand.

CHECK CHLORINE LEVELS

Gas heating has traditionally been the most common form of pool heating as it is easy to install, has a low capital outlay and can provide rapid heat up times. They work by pool water being pumped through a heat exchanger that sits near a gas fired burner or pool water is pumped through a water to water heat exchanger which is heated by a gas fired boiler in a closed loop. The water to water heat exchanger method can be a more robust system as the chemically treated pool water is kept away from the heater. Gas heaters utilise fan assistance that aids in the combustion and heat transfer process that increases efficiencies and reduces operating costs. A gas heater is an ideal standalone system when natural gas is available or the perfect back up for Solar or Heat Pump systems.

REDUCE FILTER RUNNING TIMES

SMART HEATING CONTROL ELECTRONICS MEANS MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY Even the most economical heating systems for pools and spas can require a backup system and this is where a digital control system can pay dividends. The controller will monitor temperatures and use the most practical and economical way of heating, switching between heat sources as required. When Solar Systems are used the controller will monitor the pool temperature and when heating is required will turn the solar system on if there is enough solar gain. If fitted with a gas heater or a heat pump in conjunction with solar - the controller will determine which heat source is best to use. If heating is required the controller will check solar temperature and if insufficient, it will switch on the auxiliary heater and will run until the limit is achieved or until there is sufficient solar gain. If solar gain is insufficient for the water temperature to reach the limit, then both heat sources will run concurrently.

SET SOLAR HEATER TO WINTER MODE

When multiple heat sources are utilised, it is imperative to set the most economical heat source to a higher temperature setting than the other. Consequently, the cheaper heat source will push the water temperature above the minimum limit so the extra energy is stored in the pool water which minimises the backup heaters run time. The greater the temperature difference between the two settings the larger the savings will be. What needs to be considered are the minimum and maximum temperature settings that are comfortable for swimmers. Commonly used minimum and maximum temperatures are 27 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius respectively, however, this will differ from state to state as pool temperature needs to be set relevant to ambient air temperature to achieve a comfortable level.

USE A POOL COVER

When multiple heat sources are utilised, it is imperative to set the most economical heat source to a higher temperature setting than the other. Consequently, the cheaper heat source will push the water temperature above the minimum limit so the extra energy is stored in the pool water which minimises the backup heaters run time. The greater the temperature difference between the two settings the larger the savings will be. What needs to be considered are the minimum and maximum temperature settings that are comfortable for swimmers. Commonly used minimum and maximum temperatures are 27 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius respectively, however, this will differ from state to state as pool temperature needs to be set relevant to ambient air temperature to achieve a comfortable level.

KEEP UP MAINTENANCE

When multiple heat sources are utilised, it is imperative to set the most economical heat source to a higher temperature setting than the other. Consequently, the cheaper heat source will push the water temperature above the minimum limit so the extra energy is stored in the pool water which minimises the backup heaters run time. The greater the temperature difference between the two settings the larger the savings will be. What needs to be considered are the minimum and maximum temperature settings that are comfortable for swimmers. Commonly used minimum and maximum temperatures are 27 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius respectively, however, this will differ from state to state as pool temperature needs to be set relevant to ambient air temperature to achieve a comfortable level.

1. CLEAN YOUR POOL

Brushing the walls and floor, and then vacuuming the whole pool every couple of weeks helps prevent algae from forming. Cleaning the skimmer baskets and the pump's lint basket of leaves will also ensure the filtration system works efficiently.

2. BALANCE THE POOL WATER
The pool's pH level needs to be between 7.2 and 7.8, which you can easily check by taking a water sample and adding the appropriate treatment to bring the pool to the correct level. If you're unsure about this process, take a sample to your local pool shop and they can assist you.

3. CLEAN THE FILTER

Ensure that the pool's filter is regularly cleaned. This will ensure the pool will be easier to clean in the warmer months.


4. CHECK CHLORINE LEVELS
To keep your pool clean and clear, it's important to maintain your pool's free available chlorine at a constant level of 2-3 PPM (parts per million) throughout winter. If you're using a salt chlorinator and a pool blanket, remember to reduce the output of the chlorinator to 1-2 PPM, as pool blankets trap chemicals and chlorine, and can cause high chlorine levels to occur - potentially damaging pool equipment if not monitored carefully.

5. REDUCE FILTER RUNNING TIMES

The pool's filter should operate 3-4 hours each day during winter. If you're using a timer, adjust it to suit. You can save money by switching the filter on during off-peak periods.

6. SET SOLAR HEATER TO WINTER MODE
If you don't have an automatic controller on your solar pool heating system, manually switch it to Winter Mode or switch it off completely if you're heading out of town..

7. USE A POOL COVER

Rolling out the pool cover when you're not using the pool will help keep leaves and other organic material out of the water, which means less cleaning for you and less food for algae and bugs to feed on. Pool covers and blankets also help minimise chemical evaporation – saving you time and money.
 

8. KEEP UP MAINTENANCE
Once you've completed your preparation for winter, it's important that you keep to a weekly maintenance schedule even when you're not using the pool. This involves doing a visual inspection to make sure all of your equipment is working properly, checking the water level and topping up if necessary, emptying the skimmer basket, and checking your chlorine and pH levels.