Indoor Pool Maintenance for the Winter Months

 

Outside, it’s cold, dark, and not one place for swimming. But as the owner of an indoor pool, you have nothing to worry about. Safe and warm behind doors, you’re able to enjoy your pool 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. For those who can afford it and don’t mind giving up the sunny vibes of an outdoor pool, indoor pools are excellent investments. In fact, there are many reasons to love indoor pools. 

What Delaware Pool Owners Love about Indoor Pools

 

• No need for intense winterization

With an indoor pool, you won’t have to worry about draining water or preventing expensive equipment from freezing.

 

• Usable all year round

No more looking out the window wishing it was summertime. Take a dip anytime you want with an indoor pool

 

• Climate-controlled pool area 

Be comfortable in and around your pool. Many indoor pool owners will install a bar and seating near large windows for year-round fun.

 

• More outdoor space 

Many indoor pool owners like the fact that their yards aren’t taken up by a swimming pool. Enjoy a wide-ranging grass lawn while also reaping the benefits of a pool.

 

• Privacy

Pull the shades over the windows of your indoor pool area to keep the neighbors’ eyes away from your pool. With outdoor pools, complete privacy isn’t often a practical option.

 

But for all the benefits of indoor pools, Family Pool Maintenance often gets calls from indoor pool owners who are surprised by the difference in maintenance schedules. Sometimes these pool owners disregard winter pool maintenance because they think winter maintenance is only to prevent freezing. This can lead to many problems. Indoor pool maintenance is fundamentally different from outdoor pool maintenance in many ways. Not only are there more variables to consider, but the consequences of poor maintenance can be much more devastating as mold and water damage can ruin the structural integrity of your home. 

 

Here’s what you need to know about indoor pool maintenance during the winter months.

 

Winter Maintenance Tips for Indoor Pools

Shock the Pool Water 

Indoor pools are notorious for their humid, unpleasant smells. These smells are caused by chlorine interacting with organic matter like sweat, body oil, and perfumes. The chemicals react and release waste particles. To solve this issue, shock the pool by raising the free chlorine levels about 10x above the combined chlorine level. 

In addition, ask swimmers to shower before entering. Don’t jump into the pool after a long day at work or a strenuous workout. The extra bodily residue will negatively affect your pool chemistry.

 

Ventilate Properly

After shocking the indoor pool, you’ll want to make sure the pool area is properly ventilated. Otherwise, any bad-smelling waste particles will become trapped in the room and resettle onto the water. Proper ventilation will also keep the smell manageable between pool shocks.

 

Maintain Humidity

Humidity is often overlooked by indoor pool owners because it’s not a big issue for outdoor pools. So, while humidity is heavily dependent on the ventilation system, it demands a separate maintenance section. 

 

Ideally, the humidity level of an indoor pool area should be maintained at 50 to 60 percent. This can be accomplished by either exchanging humid air for fresh, drier air or by installing a dehumidification system. Talk to a pool maintenance professional about how to set up your ventilation system properly. Poorly installed ventilation can lead to accelerated pool evaporation and higher energy costs. In the wintertime, ventilation systems may pull in air that is too cold for your pool area and a heater might be needed to offset these effects.

 

Check the Deck, Drains, and Equipment Room for Leaks and Damage

Winter is a great time to check your pool equipment for leaks and damages. Why? Because pool companies like Family Pool Maintenance are on their off-seasons and can make repairs quickly. 

 

It’s also a great time to check your indoor pool deck. Did you know that an outdoor pool deck slopes away from the pool to keep debris and runoff from entering the pool, whereas an indoor pool deck slopes toward the pool to keep water away from walls? Make sure moisture hasn’t warped any building materials or led to any water pooling in corners. 

 

Remember, Not All Indoor Pools Are the Same

 

Is your pool located in a basement or in a fabric enclosure adjacent to the house? Some pool owners fail to recognize the difference here. Both pools are technically indoors, but they require entirely different maintenance routines. For example, a pool that’s fully indoors will require robust venting systems to take care of chlorine and humidity issues. A pool inside a fabric enclosure will require less venting but more heat since the cold weather will easily penetrate the protective material.

 

Popular pool enclosures that don’t require a permanent structure include inflatable domes and rigid frame structures. Cheap and simple, pool domes are inflated with a large air blower that operates to keep the ‘bubble’ inflated. They must be carefully monitored because heavy snow or winds (watch out for Delaware Nor’easters) can severely damage the dome beyond repair. Rigid frame structures use steel poles to create a structure. Some kind of fabric or plastic is then pulled over the frame, similar to an outdoor party tent. If you choose an enclosure over a fully indoor pool, you’ll need to install a reliable pool heater.

 

In the end, indoor pool maintenance and outdoor pool maintenance are very different animals. People who buy homes with indoor pools already installed often find it difficult to make the switch. Longtime pool owners can get lax with their maintenance and discover long-term mold and structural damage. 

 

We’re here to help you take care of your indoor pool and provide expert advice. From installation to ventilation, Family Pool Maintenance can help you. 

 

Contact us today with questions about indoor pool maintenance.