5 Tips for Avoiding Common Winter Pool Problems

Although you might not enjoy a daily dip in your swimming pool throughout the winter season, any pool can develop problems even when it’s out of commission for months. And unfortunately, when your pool isn’t in use, there’s a good chance you don’t pay close attention to it, which will only allow budding problems to quietly grow worse behind the scenes.

To help you take great care of your pool — yes, it still requires periodic care even if it’s not in use — our team at Royal Pool & Spa is sharing some of the most common winter pool problems we see.

Below, you’ll also find simple solutions to prevent these wintertime issues, so your pool and all of its accessories remain in great shape throughout the snowy season.

1. Water Accumulation in the Center of Your Pool Cover

Obviously, snow and ice will accumulate on top of your pool cover, whether it’s a mesh or solid one. And while some snow and ice atop your pool cover are fine, when that buildup exceeds about two feet, it can damage the cover and may even render it completely useless.

What’s more, if leaves, sticks, and other debris build up in the center of the cover, you’ll have a lot of cleaning (and maybe even surface staining) to deal with come pool opening time. If you want to reduce your risk of pool cover damage and a dirty pool come spring, here’s what you can do:

Use a Pool Pillow

Insert an air pillow beneath the center of your pool cover to keep the area just a bit higher than the outer edges of the cover. When you do this, the water and debris will accumulate closer to the pool deck, where you can easily deal with the buildup.

Periodically Remove Snow and Ice From Your Pool Cover

Use a push broom or plastic snow shovel to remove as much snow and debris from the center area of the cover as possible. Taking care of this periodically will help prevent the buildup from getting excessive.

Watch the Weather Forecast

Keep a close eye on the weather so you know when to expect significant precipitation. That way, you can prepare your cover pump and snow-removal schedule in advance, so snow and ice don’t have a chance to accumulate atop the cover.

2. Winter Pool Cover Damage

When snow and ice melt during the day, they can easily refreeze when temperatures drop again during the night. And when water freezes on top of your pool cover, the resulting ice can easily tear the material.

The simplest way to prevent tears in your pool cover? Use a pool cover pump. Turn it on and let it do its thing whenever you notice water pooling on the surface of the cover, and you’ll dramatically reduce your risk of dealing with tears later on.

3. Pool Plumbing Leaks

If you winterize your pool properly, odds are you blew out the lines during the pool closing process. That means there’s no longer any water in the plumbing system, so it can’t freeze, expand, and crack the pipes.

But if you decided to keep your pool open throughout winter or you didn’t blow out the lines properly, you run the risk of cracked pipes and moderate to severe in-ground plumbing leaks.

To prevent leaks from occurring, you must keep the water moving on a regular basis, so it doesn’t have a chance to freeze, expand, and crack the plumbing components. You can either turn your pool filter on periodically (if you know you’ll remember to do so) or use a freeze-guard timer that will periodically run the filter for you.

4. Improperly Secured Pool Cover

If you don’t make sure your mesh or winter pool cover is properly secured, it could partially or completely blow off during a winter storm, allowing debris to enter and contaminate the water. An improperly secured cover can also be a wintertime pool safety hazard, as it won’t prevent young children from accidentally falling into the frigid water.

Fortunately, preventing this common winter pool problem is relatively easy and requires very little equipment. If you apply your cover manually, you’ll want to make doubly sure it’s securely held in place by a cable and winch system. For an extra layer of protection, use water bags or cover clips to ensure the material stays put where you situate it.

Be sure to check the cover frequently throughout the winter to make sure it doesn’t start pulling away from the sides of the pool. If it does, a quick readjustment of the material and repositioning of any clips and/or bags should set it straight.

Want to skip all that work? Upgrade to a retractable pool cover, which automatically covers your pool in seconds with just the touch of a button. It’ll stay in place all winter long, providing consistent protection from debris infiltration and accidental slips and falls.

Not sure which pool cover is best for your needs? Check out Winter Pool Covers: Which Type Is Right for You? for some helpful advice.

5. Pool Equipment Damage Due to Water Expansion

Draining a few inches of water from your pool is a crucial step in the pool closing process. If you don’t do it, the water in your pool will expand as it freezes, and if there’s too much water, the ice can put pressure on your pool equipment and even your pool walls. If the pressure is excessive, it can leave cracks in your skimmer or return jets, which may necessitate pricey repairs come spring.

Avoiding this problem is easy: Simply drain a few inches of water from your pool when you close it for the winter. As long as you make sure the water line is below the skimmer and return jets, your pool shouldn’t suffer expansion-related damage.

Not sure which pool cover is best for your needs? Check out Winter Pool Covers: Which Type Is Right for You? for some helpful advice.

Choose Royal Pool & Spa for Your Pool Maintenance Needs

If your Twin Cities pool develops any issues during the winter season, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Royal Pool & Spa in White Bear Lake, MN for help! Contact us by phone or email with any questions/concerns or to schedule swimming pool product pick-ups at our store. Feel free to call us at 651-779-7606 or contact us online, and we’ll be in touch!