Question: Should I Turn My Pump Off In The Winter?
Related question: A friend suggested that pool pump usage be reduced during the winter. I rarely use the pump and only run it a few hours a month. Also, I keep tabs on chlorine in a floating container. This is usually done to clean the pool. It is also done to maintain the chlorine levels in the pool. I usually do this to avoid harming the pool.
There is some pitting beginning to form in my marcite shell, but I am told that this is normal for 10-year marcite without asbestos.
If a pool store or a company advises customers to run the pump in the winter to increase sales, this is a safe recommendation. This method works similarly to how oil-change establishments tell people to change their car oil every 1,500 miles. It's also safe to suggest that pool owners run pumps in the winter.
Is it necessary to regularly pump the pool during the winter? I have no idea what the effects of doing so are.
Answer.
Depending on the climate in your area, different winterization procedures may be performed. In most cases, this will involve using a chlorine-tablet floater.
The pump is the heart of the circulation system in a swimming pool. It helps pull water from the pool and returns it to the pool using the main drains and the skimmer. The pump must be running to operate the cleaning system. Also, make sure that the pool water is clean enough to remove any impurities.
For most swimming pools, we recommend that the pump run 8 hours per day during the hot months and 6 hours per day during the cold months. The daily cycle should be divided into multiple cycles. Each cycle should be no shorter than four hours.
Without running the pump, the chlorine in the water will not be evenly distributed, and bacteria could develop. The concentrated chlorine in the floating chlorinator can cause surface damage if the water supply is not properly circulated. Also, running the pump motor can cause the pool's humidity to evaporate.
Pitting or etching on a surface is usually visible on a 10-year-old plaster or gunite surface. This occurs in areas where the water balance has been maintained below ideal.
Low calcium hardness, low total alkalinity, or any combination of these can damage a plaster finish. It is important to maintain a proper water balance to prevent this. This can only be repaired by recoloring the surface.
Running the pump does not affect the pool's chemical usage. This is not a sales tactic used by licensed pool professionals.
This post was originally published on Orlando Sentinel
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