If you have a house with a pool in Spain, you can do various things to help this luxurious piece of life through the winter. Because maintenance requires different attention in winter than in summer.
First of all, you could of course decide to cover your pool to look at it again in the spring. However, then you will certainly have an unpleasant surprise in the form of a green-brown soup when you open your pool cover again. You will also have a lot of resulting pain and effort to get your pool ready for summer again. Add to that possible damage such as burst pipes or damage to your filter, heating, or pump. Whereas, you can easily avoid feelings of ‘if only I…’
Solar cover
Another option that allows you to use your pool for a longer period of time out of season is to cover your pool with a system with solar slats. These are transparent slats with a black underlayer, ideal for the mild Spanish climate. The black layer absorbs the solar energy and transfers it to the water to heat the pool. At the same time, the slat with built-in air chambers provides ideal insulation, so that the heat is also retained at night. For example, your swimming pool is heated extra and free of charge by 5 to 7 degrees Celsius and you can enjoy it again for much longer, until late autumn and from early spring.
Also read: How a swimming pool increases the value of your home in Spain
However, if you want to cover the pool, but in such a way that you can take a dip again when the weather permits, then we explain here the 7 steps you must take to prepare your pool for winter in Spain
Clean your pool
Clean your pool and the edges, remove all items from the water, remove leaves, twigs, and other debris from the surface with a net and from the water and bottom with the pool vacuum. Ensure the baskets of your skimmers are empty and clean.
Check your equipment
Make sure the pump is working and there is no limescale on the chlorination cell. During the colder months, you still need the pump, filter, and chlorinator – in the case of a chlorine pool – at least 4 hours a day.
Perform a backwash
A well-maintained filter is key to a clean pool. With a backwash, the water flows from bottom to top through the sand filter, taking the dirt to the drain. As soon as clear water flows through the outlet, the filter has been sufficiently backwashed.
Balance the water
Everything in your pool becomes more efficient with well-balanced water. Not only will this prevent algae outbreaks from turning your water green, but it will also extend the life of your pool surface and equipment. Use a pool test kit to ensure that the pH, alkalinity, and other mineral levels in the water are balanced. This protects your pool during the winter months against limescale and corrosion.
Add winter Chemicals
While your pool may not contain algae, you can prevent its occurrence by adding winter chemicals such as a phosphate remover to your pool. This eliminates the food source. No phosphate in your water equals no algae. You can also add pool enzymes. They target all invaders, including algae and spores. A winter pill is useful to clean and clarify the water during the winter months.
If you use spring water to fill your pool, you need a metal-binding agent. There is a good chance that such water has traces of metal that will stick to the edges of the pool and rust without such a product.
If you live in areas in Spain where it can freeze in winter (at night), an antifreeze is essential. Especially for inground pools because it prevents pipes from freezing and bursting.
Use your pool cover
If you do not yet have a pool cover for your swimming pool in Spain, it might be time to invest in one. A cover protects your pool from the elements and evaporation. The final step of the process is to cover the pool, including the pool pump. There are many different types of pool covers, and depending on which one you get, you may need to keep removing debris and snow all winter long. If you have an above-ground pool, you can place a pool cushion in the centre of the pool before covering it. This will keep the snow from burying the cover.
