Winterization procedures will vary depending on your region of the country. Because we live in a humid subtropical climate (Texas) turning off the pool pump and using only a chlorine-tablet floater is not a good idea. Though we do have some cold snaps, most of our winter weather is mild.
The pump is essentially the heart of the swimming pool's circulation system. It pulls water from the pool through the skimmer and main drain(s), pushes it through the filter and returns it to the pool through the main returns. The cleaning/filtration system cannot operate without the pump running. One very important rule to remember: Just because pool water is clear doesn't mean it is sanitary or in proper chemical balance.
Depending on the size of your pool, we still recommend the pump run 8-10 hours per day during the hottest summer months and at least 6 hours per day during the winter months. The daily cycle can be divided into multiple cycles, but each cycle should be no shorter than 4 hours, (this being the minimum time for a small pool) for all the water to pass through the filter at least once.
The concentrated chlorine from the floating chlorinator can damage the pool's surface if the water is not properly circulated. It is also bad for the pump motor not to run. Running the motor heats it up and evaporates moisture/humidity that is harmful to the motor.
Pitting or etching appears as pits in plaster or gunite surfaces. It is quite normal for etching/pitting to be visible in a 10-year-old surface. Etching will normally occur in plaster pools, where proper water balance has not been maintained over a period of time.
Low pH, low total alkalinity, low calcium hardness or any combinations of these important water parameters can literally eat away a plaster finish. To prevent this, it is important to maintain proper water balance. Etching can only be repaired by replastering the surface with a new interior finish material.
One final thought: Running the pump does not cause the pool to use any additional chemicals, so this is not a sales tactic by licensed, trained and insured pool professionals.
Contact The Blue Lagoons For weekly or bi-weekly service during the cooler months!
Happy swimming!
Hi I have a pool at my small resort in the Philippines. I have been away for a few months and I think the mnager has messed up the PH balance of the pool. The plastering is being eaten away. We are in the middle of the high season. Will a return to a good PH prevent further decay over the next few months or has the damage been done and the concrete is literally now going to keep deteriorating? Basically Can i stop further damage??
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