How To Prepare Your Pool in Columbia, MO for Mid-Missouri’s Fall
Peavler Construction Is Your Guide to Swimming Pool Preparation for the Fall in Central Missouri
Summer days are sadly coming to an end, which means those afternoons of cannonballs and sunbathing are coming to an end as well. If you want your inground pool to stay clean and functional for the next summer, pool preparation for the fall and winter in mid-Missouri is a must. There are many important steps homeowners must take to keep their swimming pool in the best condition possible, and it requires more than skimming the pool and laying a cover over the top. If this is your first fall in Columbia, MO as a pool owner, however, we don’t expect you to be an expert on all things pool maintenance. Peavler Construction has been an expert on inground pools for over a decade. We will walk you through the most important questions about pool preparation, and how to get your swimming pool in central Missouri ready when the time for colder weather comes.
Why is it important to winterize your inground pool in Columbia, MO?
Swimming pools may not last forever, but you should try and maintain it for everything it’s worth. Winterizing your pool is a very specific process, and it should be followed closely for the benefit of your backyard’s pride and joy. If you ignore the pool’s requirements and don’t prepare it properly for the mid-Missouri fall, you will come back to a buildup of muck, algae, and other unwelcome contaminants. In some cases of poor maintenance, both inground and above ground pools can collapse from heavy ice and snow over the winter (and no, it is normally not covered by insurance). Swimming pools are a big investment for families in Columbia, MO, so keeping them in good condition at all times should be a priority! When you’re swimming and tanning in the summer again, you will know the hard work of pool preparation for the fall paid off!
When is the best time to start pool prep for the fall in mid-Missouri?
The ideal time for closing a pool down can vary depending on the region where you live. In central Missouri, where we experience changing weather from season to season, pool preparation is a bigger deal than it is in somewhere like California. When temperatures begin to drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, you should start preparing your pool and cover it for the cold months ahead. Most swimming pools in the Columbia, MO area start to close in September after Labor Day. If you happen to have a pool heater however, you could possibly get away with keeping your pool open until October. Whatever you do, make sure your swimming pool is definitely closed by the time your area hits 30 degree Fahrenheit weather. Got a question about when to prep your pool? Ask the professionals at Peavler Construction!
Which swimming pools in Columbia, MO are the easiest to maintain?
Vinyl Liner Inground Pools: Vinyl liner pools offer several benefits, making them a popular budget-friendly choice for many homeowners in central Missouri. Because they have a smooth, non-porous surface, vinyl liner inground pools are more resistant to algae growth and require less chemicals for cleaning. They are also very durable against freezing over the mid-Missouri winter. Vinyl liner pools are a great, easily manageable option whether it’s your first time owning a swimming pool or not.
Concrete Inground Pools: While concrete inground pools are beautiful, they need the most maintenance of any pool type in mid-Missouri. Their porous surface can invite a variety of bacteria and algae, and they need to be scrubbed with a steel brush weekly. The concrete also affects the water’s pH levels, which complicates the chemical balance of the pool. If you lack the time or resources for its proper pool maintenance, concrete inground pools are not recommended in Columbia, MO.
Fiberglass Inground Pools: Much like vinyl liner pools, fiberglass inground pools are non-porous and generally easy to clean. However, they are much more expensive than vinyl liner pools. They don’t often need repairs, but if they do face damage, fixing a fiberglass pool can be quite costly. This is a solid choice for central Missouri homeowners.
Start Prepping Your Swimming Pool for Fall in Central Missouri With These Tips
#1: Clean your mid-Missouri inground pool & store pool equipment away
The first step to preparing your swimming pool in Columbia, MO for the fall season is to clean it out properly. Start by using a skimmer to remove all the debris, leaves, and bugs from the water. Then, get a tough brush and scrub any dirt or sludge off the walls and floor of the swimming pool. Once you have thoroughly cleaned your inground pool in mid-Missouri, put away pool accessories and store them in a safe place. This includes pool toys, ladders, slides, and whatever else gets in the way of covering your pool completely. Now you’ll have a clean base for the rest of your pool preparation, and it will prevent bacteria from growing in the water.
#2: Bring your swimming pool to the right pH level for the autumn ahead in Columbia, MO
Next, you need to balance the chemicals in your mid-Missouri swimming pool. The alkalinity, pH level, and calcium hardness must meet a certain standard to prevent issues like corrosion or a buildup of algae. For vinyl liner inground pools in Columbia, MO, the total alkalinity is responsible for keeping the pH level stable and should be 80-120 parts per million. The pH level of your swimming pool should be between 7.2 and 7.8 parts per million – anything higher and the water turns cloudy. If it’s too low, it can become more acidic and cause irritation when swimming. Lastly, the calcium hardness should range from about 150 to 250 parts per million. Make sure you have a pool test kit to measure everything.
#3: “Shock” your inground pool in mid-Missouri to remove contaminants
After the pool is cleaned and balanced chemically, it’s time to do what is known as “shocking” the swimming pool. Essentially, this just means you’re adding a large amount of chlorine to destroy bacteria and algae, and increase the free chlorine level. It’s best to shock your pool when the sun is going down so it doesn’t burn the chlorine off. This addition of chlorine should raise the parts per million to a level of 10 to 12. After a few days when the parts per million has lowered back to the range of 1.5 to 3.5, then you can close the pool for mid-Missouri’s cold weather.
#4: Lower the water level in your central Missouri pool
When preparing your swimming pool for the fall and winter in Columbia, MO, you don’t want to drain it completely. An entirely empty pool is more susceptible to damage and pressure from the unrelenting climate. However, you will need to drain some of the pool in order to prepare it best for freezing temperatures. Lower the water level of your swimming pool until it is just below the skimmer line. Pools in mid-Missouri can be drained using a pool pump with a multiport valve, a submersible pump, or a siphon hose. These measures not only safeguard your pool, but also help create a hassle-free transition when it's time to reopen your pool for the next swimming season.
#5: Clean your swimming pool filters so they’re ready for the summer in Columbia, MO
As fall approaches and you’re preparing the inground pool for this dormant period, cleaning the pool filters is extremely important. Properly maintaining your pool's filtration system is a crucial step to winterizing your pool in central Missouri, as it helps ensure the water remains clean and clear during the off-season. By thoroughly cleaning or backwashing the pool filters, you’ll have one less thing to worry about when the pool opens up again in the summer! Not all pool filters are the same, nor are they cleaned the same way. There are cartridge filters, sand filters, and D.E. filters. Peavler Construction can help you stay informed on the best way to keep your specific pool’s filters clean in mid-Missouri.
#6: Blowing out the drain lines is an essential step to swimming pool preparation in mid-Missouri
Without blowing out the drain and lines of your pool in central Missouri, things could freeze. Using a pool blower or air compressor, you’ll need to blow out the pump, heater, chlorinator, and the filters. Blow out any other areas where water could enter the pool over the fall and winter. Afterwards, plug the jets and wall returns of your pool with some specialized winter plugs to keep water away from the pipes.
#7: Cover your inground pool in Columbia, MO for the fall & winter
Once you have taken all the necessary steps of cleaning your inground pool, balancing the chemicals, draining the water, and blowing out the lines and drain, it’s time to say farewell and cover it for the colder months. The most common covers are mesh or a solid cover, accompanied by a pump to protect it from the damages of water or snow pooling up. As leaves fall in autumn and snow falls in the winter, you should keep an eye on the pool cover and clean off the debris. For the convenience of mid-Missouri homeowners, Peavler Construction installs automatic pool covers to save time and cleaning efforts, protecting your inground pool from intruding animals, debris, and even UV rays which can damage the vinyl liner.
Peavler Construction Builds Long-Lasting, Easy to Maintain Vinyl Liner Inground Pools for the Columbia, MO Community. Learn More Today!
Our team of inground pool professionals are dedicated to making sure your pool lasts for all the summers it’s worth! We understand the hard work and money that goes into getting a vinyl liner pool, so it’s only right that we give you all the tools and resources you need for maintaining it. For all your pool installation needs and education on pool prep in Columbia, MO, the Peavler Construction team is right at your side. If you have any questions or inquiries, whether it’s about preparing your current pool or building a new one, don’t hesitate to reach out!
