How to Use Your Swimming Pool During Winter
If swimming is your favorite hobby, winter must be a damper. The idea of swimming in cold water sounds dreadful to most people. Even in warmer states like Florida, swimming pools get chilly, especially after a cold night. Should you wait until winter is over to enjoy swimming? That doesn’t sound fun, right? So, how can you enjoy your pool during winter?
Here are five tips to help you use your pool during winter.
Cover Your Pool
If you have an inground pool, it’s good to invest in a solar pool cover. This solution gradually warms up the water using sunlight and prevents the heat from escaping. Be sure to close your pool using the cover whenever you’re not using it.
When you open your pool, the water will be warm and clean. That’s because the cover will also protect your pool from dirt. Best of all, it will help you save on energy bills and reduce the cleaning work.
Invest in Solar Sun Rings
If you have used solar pool covers, you know how hard it can be to cover and uncover the pool. To simplify this, you can use solar rings. They perform the same function, but you’ll find them easier to use. Once you inflate them, they float on the pool water and use the sunlight to heat the water.
However, depending on the size of your pool, you’ll need several rings to cover a larger area. But since they’re circular-shaped, they won’t cover every inch of the pool.
Install a Pool Heater
A pool heater is an excellent way to extend the pool season throughout the year. It pumps water from the pool to a heating tank and brings warm water back to the pool. To be clear, the pool heater won’t turn your pool into a Jacuzzi, but it will be comfortable enough for those who dread chilly water.
That said, using a pool heater can hike your energy bills to some extent, but it’s manageable. First, you can use a pool cover to prevent heat loss.
Secondly, you can get a pool heat pump that transfers outdoor heat into the pool. The heat pump is cheaper and consumes less energy than a gas heater. However, it works best when there’s a higher temperature outside.
Alternatively, you can get a gas heater. Though expensive, it warms up the water much faster, making it better for pool owners who don’t swim frequently.
Get A Spa
Even though you can’t swim in a spa, it’s a good alternative to a swimming pool. You can use it to warm yourself up during the winter. Or you can use it exclusively for the entire winter months if you can’t bear swimming in cold water. A spa can help you relax and satisfy the itching desire to get inside a pool.
You can choose to have a spa indoors or outdoors. There are many benefits to installing a spa including better sleep, muscle pain relief, and a reduction in stress levels.
How to Maintain Your Pool During Winter
Whether you use your pool during winter or not, you need to maintain your pool regularly. Pool maintenance involves regular checks on water and chlorine levels, and keeping the pool clean. You might need to buy a few items to simplify pool care work.
Depending on the type of pool and your budget, you can buy pool accessories like a winter pool cover, robotic pool vacuum, skimmer, pool pump, and test kit. Even if you decide not to use your pool during winter, it’s essential to keep maintaining it so it can last longer. You can also use that period to carry out a pool remodeling project.
Keep Enjoying Your Pool During Winter
If you love swimming, don’t let the chilly winter months discourage you from doing what you love. Choose one of the five tips above and let the fun continue.
Larsen’s Pool & Spa is a custom pool builder in Tampa Bay, helping our clients with new pool construction and swimming pool renovations. Furthermore, we provide pool financing at affordable rates. Check out our gallery for some pool remodeling ideas.
