With the colder weather, shorter days and limited use of the swimming pool, we tend to forget that the pool still requires correct chemical balance to remain clean and healthy. Excessive chlorine levels can cause unwanted degradation of pool covers, skimmer baskets and pool cleaners.
Keeping your eye on the chemical balance each month will not only keep your water clear but will also prolong the life of your equipment!
Here are some tips to help maintain a safe and correct chemical throughout the Winter period:
1. Chlorine Levels
Ideal ranges - covered pool =.5 - 1ppm, uncovered pool 1 - 3ppm
If you have not reduced your running times, or have a pool cover over your pool, you will need to regularly check your chlorine levels to ensure it does not get too high. Excessive Chlorine levels can result in the deterioration of your expensive pool blankets and automatic pool cleaners. It can also have an effect on the pool surface!
It can affect your pH - the higher the chlorine level, the higher the potential for an unhealthy pool. This can cause a raft of other issues, making it more expensive to correct when the weather warms up and you want to use the pool.
2. pH
Ideal ranges - 7.4 - 7.6
It is important to maintain the correct balance of your pH. If your pH is either too high or too low, it can affect the other chemical readings in the water. A high pH makes your Chlorine ineffective and allows scaling to build up on the surface of your pool surface and salt cells. A very low pH can burn off the chlorine before it can sanitise the water.
3. Phosphates
Ideal range - below .1
In Winter, you'll probably be taking advantage of running shorter filtration times, saving the wear-and-tear on equipment and lowering your power consumption. If your pool is Winterised, you will be able to run the filtration system even less.
With the lower running times though, there is the potential for the amount of dust and debris in the pool to build as the cleaner and skimmer may not have enough time to remove it all. This can increase your phosphate levels. A High phosphate level can provide perfect conditions for algae to grow and that could end up costing you more in the long run.