My blog

Six tips for fall pool maintenance

—

by

Claire McDaniel
in , , , ,

winterize your poolThe weather is cooling, summer is ending and the leaves are falling — into your pool! Fall pool maintenance is key to keeping your pool issue free going into winter.  Here are some changes and services to consider for your pool this fall.

1. General Cleaning.  

Removal all pool toys. Ensure the pool is in good general order. Use your pool vacuum, brush tiles and clean the pool deck.

2. Leaves & Debris.

Fall pool cleaning involves a lot of leaf removal. When leaves accumulate in the pool, algae begins to grow and thrive. Leaves that sink to the bottom of the pool stain the flooring material.

More plant debris in the pool equals more problems, so be sure to clean your skimmer baskets more regularly, preferably every morning.  Also use a leaf net to skim leaves off the top of the water. If you have a lot of trees around your pool, keeping your pool covered while not in use can save lots of cleaning time.

3. Pool Filter.

If you’ve had a busy, high-bather load summer, it might be a good time to clean your pool filter. With the debris from falling foliage and lower temperatures, a clean filter to start of the fall season is important.

4. Heating Cycle.

It is a good idea to adjust your water’s heating cycle so your pool is comfortable for swimming. Outside temperatures are falling and so to keep costs down, cover your pool at night.  

5. Pool Chemicals.

Lower water and air temperatures mean less chemicals needed. Monitor pH and chemical levels as the temperatures cool and adjust as needed.

6. Prepare for the early freeze.

If you live in a colder climate, the first freeze of winter can happen early and unexpectedly.  Depending on how far north you live, you may want to partially winterize your pool or if winter is imminent, go ahead and fully winterize your pool.

No matter where you live, be sure to get on board with fall pool maintenance to ensure your pool is hassle-free going into and coming out of winter. Enjoy the beautiful fall colors, but be sure to keep those leaves out of your pool!

Comments

33 responses to “Six tips for fall pool maintenance”

  1. APS Avatar
    APS

    Hello Claire!

    This is really a very simple and effective tips to maintain swimming pools.
    Thanks for sharing these tips. These are very informative and helpful. You have clearly outlined each and every point. Enjoyed reading the post.

    Reply
    1. Claire Avatar
      Claire

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  2. Dan Avatar
    Dan

    Hi Claire,

    We are new to the pool cleaning industry and ran into your blog and have really enjoyed what we have read thus far. Thanks for putting out such good information.

    Reply
  3. Allen Pool Service Avatar
    Allen Pool Service

    Claire, very good article on basic pool maintenance. If you don’t mind, here are a few additional things to consider:

    1. Basin maintenance. Check for cracks, leaks, and chipped paint in the pool basin. Use acid wash to eradicate scum buildup. If tile is loose or broken, it should be re-grouted.

    2. Pool plumbing. A plumbing check is critical since leaks and pipe breakages can be devastating if not detected early. Also, we check to see that your filters are operating properly or if they need replacement (though most filters last 5 to 7 years).

    3. Light bulbs. Checking and changing bulbs can be difficult with a full pool, so we take advantage of lower water levels to check your bulbs.

    4. Pool fixtures like ladders, diving boards, and deck fixtures can cause serious accidents. We inspect these thoroughly with every pool closure.

    5. Pool equipment. Motors, pumps heaters and more require frequent tune-ups. An annual check-up is a good time to repair or replace malfunctioning equipment, or to upgrade to more energy-efficient models.

    Reply
    1. Lauren McNitt Avatar
      Lauren McNitt

      Great tips. Thanks for your input!

      Reply
  4. Luke Smith Avatar
    Luke Smith

    Thanks for pointing out that adjusting a pool’s heating cycle to keep it comfortable for swimming can be a good way to keep costs down. I can see how heating the pool all night long would end up costing you much more than just heating it during the hours when you actually plan to use it. I would imagine that working with a pool contractor or maintenance company would make automating that process a breeze.

    Reply
  5. John Ferrell Avatar
    John Ferrell

    I like that you said that we should have a clean filter at the start on the fall season. It might be a good idea to speak with a professional for tips with the filter. When my brother was dealing with his pool filter last fall, he didn’t really know exactly how to maintain it. Contacting a professional might have been a good idea.

    Reply
    1. Lauren McNitt Avatar
      Lauren McNitt

      That’s a great point, John. Thank you.

      Reply
  6. Carlin Avatar
    Carlin

    Great checklist, I printed this out. Thanks

    Reply
  7. Jeremy Halloway Avatar
    Jeremy Halloway

    This article was very informative, thank you for SHARING your knowledge

    Reply
  8. John Mahoney Avatar
    John Mahoney

    I liked when you talked about the importance of making sure you clean the water filters of your water feature. It makes sense that doing this can help you make sure it is running properly and that it is not using too much energy. I would want to make sure I consult with a pro and get some professional advice on how to keep my spa in good conditions and how often I should clean it.

    Reply
  9. Jane Ambrose Avatar
    Jane Ambrose

    My sister recently got a pool put in her backyard and is looking for ways to maintain it. I hadn’t thought about covering it at night, but that is a great tip for keeping the temperature swimmable. I agree that it’s really important to keep leaves and other plants out of the pool to help keep it clean. All of these tips are great, I am definitely going to share them with her!

    Reply
  10. Susan Horn Avatar
    Susan Horn

    A swimming pool usually needs more chemicals during the summer due to evaporation. Hence one should have to check his pool chemistry once a week during the fall season. The leaves begin to fall when the season changes to fall. I think it is good to be sure to skim the pool regularly to remove leaves and other debris, because a leave can stain if it remains on the bottom of the pool for a longer period of time. So, I can tell that apart from following the above tips, also follow the expert advice in order to keep the pool in good order during the summer.

    Reply
  11. Barbera Peters Avatar
    Barbera Peters

    Fall is on it’s way and I wanted to see what I could do to help out the pool before it gets too cold. You mentioned that it helps to prepare for the early freeze by winterizing your pool. That is a concept I never heard of before but I should research so that I know the pool pump is safe from ice and snow. Thank you for the awesome information on pool tips.

    Reply
  12. Roger Middleton Avatar
    Roger Middleton

    My family and I have recently moved into a home that has a pool in the backyard, and while this is very great and my kids are loving it, I’ve realized that it’s started to get dirtier and I don’t know anything about maintaining it. I liked that you had mentioned that it’s important to clean the pool filter during the summer because during fall it is crucial. I’ll have to start looking into pool filters but with all of these things, I don’t even know where to start. I might just have to hire a professional to handle the maintenance.

    Reply
  13. Violette Lebrac Avatar
    Violette Lebrac

    I like your tip about cleaning the skimmer baskets every morning so they don’t get clogged with leaves. My husband suggested that we install a pool in our yard so we can swim and be more physically fit, but I want to make sure we can take care of it. I might forget to clear the skimmer basket, so maybe we should hire some pool cleaners to take care of it.

    Reply
  14. Larry Weaver Avatar
    Larry Weaver

    I just got a pool this past summer, so I’ve been learning how to take care of it during the various seasons. Thanks for the tip that leaves that sink to the bottom of the pool can stain the flooring material. Looking into options for cleaning and maintenance, maybe I’ll try out a robotic pool cleaner to take care of my pool during the fall.

    Reply
  15. Jacie Thompson Avatar
    Jacie Thompson

    Thank you for this list of preparation tips for pools. I like to get a professional over to check the filters and pH levels every fall. That way I can keep my pool working its best.

    Reply
  16. Theodore Winston Avatar
    Theodore Winston

    Thanks for these great tips! The basic things, I could do. But what about when dealing with chemicals? Would it be better to leave it to the experts? There were instances when I have put too much chlorine in the water which made it unusable for an extended amount of time. But with kids, it would be possible that they could just remove the cover and jump in without the pool ready. Help!

    Reply
  17. Dynamic Pools, LLC Avatar
    Dynamic Pools, LLC

    Wow, these tips really help a lot especially to the pool owners out there who are having a lot of trouble in maintaining cleanliness without spending big amounts of money, in general, this is a very helpful article.

    Reply
  18. Dynamic Pools, LLC Avatar
    Dynamic Pools, LLC

    Wow, these tips really help a lot especially to the pool owners out there who are having a lot of trouble in maintaining cleanliness without spending big amounts of money, in general, this is a very helpful article

    Reply
  19. Steele Honda Avatar
    Steele Honda

    Great tips! I am considering getting a pool for my villa, and only now I realize how many leafs I will find there every day. But still, this is something I’ve wanted for a long time, so I will manage to keep it in proper condition. Thanks!

    Reply
  20. Kyle Wayne Avatar
    Kyle Wayne

    It’s great that you elaborated on keeping your pool covered as often as possible if you have trees or bushes that will dirty your pool. My grandma is looking to buy pool pumps for her new pool and is also looking for any tips to keep it clean for her grandchildren. I’ll be sure to talk to her about keeping it covered as often as possible.

    Reply
  21. Bethany Birchridge Avatar
    Bethany Birchridge

    I really liked that you mentioned that covering your pool at night will help the pool heater costs go down. Do pool heaters work by sensing what the current temperature is and adjusting. My friend has a pool and they just turn it off completely at night, but I would like to swim during the colder months.

    Reply
  22. Brent Avatar
    Brent

    Thanks for the info Claire! These are some easy but essential tips to follow. Especially in South Texas where we live. A pool is necessary. But a Clean pool is absolutely necessary. 🙂

    Reply
  23. John Avatar
    John

    That’s a good tip to clean out leaves in the fall. You wouldn’t want to damage your filters. I’m thinking about getting a pool installed this summer since I just moved down south.

    Reply
  24. Amanda Drew Avatar
    Amanda Drew

    Thanks for pointing out that you should adjust your pH and chemical levels as it gets colder. The opposite is happening now, so I would imaging the same applies. Also my pool is starting to get a lot of algae in it or something, and I don’t know how to fix it. I think that I’ll find a pro who’ll be able to figure out what’s causing the algae and change up the pH and chemical levels.

    Reply
  25. Brandon Avatar
    Brandon

    Just added a pool this summer. Definitely will post this in our pool house!

    Reply
  26. Heidi Bookenstock Avatar
    Heidi Bookenstock

    My wife and I just moved into a new house and it has a pool. We are excited about it, but aren’t sure how to properly maintain it. I really appreciate the tips in this article, I had no idea that different temperatures warrant different chemical balances.

    Reply
  27. Drew Avatar
    Drew

    Hi Claire,

    As we head into the thick of summer, I appreciated these 6 things to keep in mind. Being new to the pool cleaning industry, it’s really easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of business and forget the essentials!

    Reply
  28. Kenneth Gladman Avatar
    Kenneth Gladman

    I like that you mentioned paying attention to when the weather might freeze for the first time. You want to have your pool prepared before this happens. As someone who works a lot, it is hard to find time to get the pool ready. I will have to hire someone to make sure it is taken care of.

    Reply
  29. Sariah Meagle Avatar
    Sariah Meagle

    My relatives will be going to our home this weekend for a swim. It was explained here that leaves and debris should be cleaned because it might stain the floor. Moreover, it’s advisable to hire professionals for quality pool cleaning services.

    Reply
  30. 11 Simple Fall Home Maintenance Steps To Save Money – Earning and Saving with Sarah

    […] the It. When you get ready to close up the pool for the winter and put your cover on, here are some handy tips from […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply to John Ferrell Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *