In the dead of winter, it is not uncommon to have ice and snow absolutely barrage your pool. While it’s easy to assume everything will be fine because you weatherproofed everything the way you were supposed to back in the fall, the reality is that ice and snow can have seriously negative impacts on your pool in a number of different ways. Here at Sunset Pools & Spas, we want to help ensure that your pool will open this summer without any major problems or pool damage, but doing so means being made aware of what those problems may be.
It Can Change the Chemistry of the Pool
The most common problem from melting snow is that the acidity of the precipitation can negatively affect your pool water’s chemistry balance. Because of air pollution, natural precipitation is more acidic than ever, which can affect everything from the water’s pH balance to its alkalinity. Calcium hardness, total dissolved solids, and even the amount of dirt and debris that makes its way into your pool water all can be altered negatively because of standing snow.
Those Changes Can Corrode Your Pool’s Plaster and Metal
For those that know little about Pool Chemistry 101, a change in the chemical balance of any pool, be it aboveground or in-ground, can be terribly detrimental to your pool. Lower pH balances and alkalinity can make the water corrosive, which could mean that these frustrating chemicals could eat away at the plaster or metal parts of your pool. That is the type of damage that can grow very expensive, which is why it’s so important to check your chemical balances even in the winter, especially when a big batch of snow has recently melted into your pool water.
Ice Can Damage Pools in Multiple Ways
The weight of that melting snow can be a problem as well, especially for aboveground pools. Of even bigger concern is when that snow starts to melt, raising the water level and possibly causing it to make contact with your pool cover. When this happens, broken ice can acquire sharp edges and slice through your cover or even the lining of the pool itself, requiring massive swimming pool maintenance. Here at Sunset Pools & Spas, we sell little pillows to help keep the cover separate from the water, but there may come a time when you have to drain your pool a bit to offset the excess water.
Pool Cover Pumps Can Help
There are some tools that can help keep the water level reasonable, though, including pool cover pumps, which work to keep that excess water from weighing down your tarp or finding its way into the pool. It’s a minor investment, but one that could save your pool cover during an especially harsh winter.
If you would like any other winterization tips, give us a call or stop by here at Sunset Pools & Spas any time. Winter weather isn’t good for your pool in general, but knowing how ice and snow can affect your pool is one huge step toward making sure it isn’t damaged this season.