As a pool owner living in North Texas, you have the good fortune of far less pool maintenance than those living in colder climates. Even though winterizing your pool isn’t necessary like it is in other parts of the country, there are steps you need to take as we head into our Texas fall and winter seasons.
Who better to answer the most frequently asked questions we field about pool maintenance than Gold Medal Pools’ very own director of maintenance and service, Welcome Edwards? Whether you’ve owned a pool for years or the weeks are winding down of your first summer enjoying one, here are a few pool maintenance tips that’ll help you keep your pool in tip-top condition and in perfect working order.
What exactly is involved in preparing my pool for fall and winter in Texas?
Welcome’s answer: “Luckily, we don’t have to winterize pools in the Dallas area because it doesn’t turn cold enough. No draining is necessary. As long as the pool water is circulating and you have a freeze guard mechanism in place to protect your pool equipment and plumbing, you’re set.”
If your pool doesn’t have freeze protection, be ready to run your circulation pump in the rare event that temperatures are predicted to fall below freezing. Keep the pump running 24/7 until the temperature is above the freezing mark.
If your pool heater is your freeze guard, turn it on well before freezing temperatures are forecasted. Most pool heater manufacturers recommend not using the heater if the water temperature is already below 68 degrees to avoid damaging the unit. Each spring and fall, make sure your heater is working, even though here in the Dallas Metroplex, no heater is needed for 7 or 8 months out of the year.
For how long should I run my pool?
Welcome’s answer: “The key is to run your filter long enough to achieve the proper pool turnover rate. Not cycling enough water through the filter can result in algae, poor water clarity, and water chemistry issues. The easiest rule to follow is to run your filter for 1 hour for every 10 degrees of the outside temperature.”
In the Dallas area’s coldest month, January, the temperature averages in the mid-50s, so follow Welcome’s advice and plan on running your pool for 5 to 6 hours a day.
How often should I clean my filter?
Welcome’s answer: “We recommend getting your filter cleaned every 4-6 months, or anytime the pressure remains high.”
A word if you’re a handy DIYer… There are pool maintenance tasks that you can do and those that are better left to the experts. Cleaning your pool filter falls under the DIY category.
Why have my pool lights stopped working?
Welcome’s answer: “Although there are a variety of reasons pool lights can stop working, one of the most common is a tripped GFCI outlet. Your GFCI is designed to shut off power in the event of a ground-fault, and simply just needs to be reset. The GFCI is usually located close to the pool equipment and can be corrected by hitting the reset button.”
Another word to the handy DIYers… If resetting the GFCI doesn’t fix the pool lighting problem, it’s best to contact Gold Medal Pools. A licensed electrician must perform electrical work on a pool, say on your lighting or motor, etc.
How often should I add water to my pool?
Welcome’s answer: “Keeping your water level at the proper level is the most important thing a pool owner can do. The general rule of thumb is to keep the pool filled halfway up the tile line, or just below the overflow grate, which is usually located on the inside of the skimmer.”
If you do nothing else, do this: Keep your water level exactly where it needs to be — consistently letting the water level drop below the proper level will result in poor circulation, which overtaxes the pool pump and can burn it out.
Does my pool have a leak or is it just evaporation?
Welcome’s answer: “Typical water evaporation equates to about 1/4″ per day year-round. Water loss can increase with running water feature pumps, heavy bather load, heating the pool, etc. If you’re seeing more water loss than that, then you might have a leak, and it’s time to contact a professional to perform an inspection.”
Can Gold Medal Pools handle all my pool maintenance and service for me?
Welcome’s answer: “Of course!”
Whether Gold Medal Pools installed your pool or not, our professionals will protect your investment and keep the pumps, motors, filters, lights, etc. running properly through regular pool maintenance and service to troubleshooting and repairs. Our technicians are AST Certified (Advanced Service Technician) and licensed by the state (Small Appliance Installer License). Our cleaning technicians are CPO Certified, and AFO certified. We work on all brands of equipment, including Hayward, Pentair, Jandy, Sta-Rite, Zodiac, and Polaris.
Have any questions or have a peculiar issue? Just contact us. We’d love to hear from you.
