Did you know that we live in what is considered the “Sun Belt”? This applies to anyone who lives in the South, including Southeast or Southwest—where our terrain is considered a desert, Mediterranean, or tropical. One of the biggest benefits of living in the Sacramento area, where it rarely gets below freezing for many days in a row, is that if you have an inground or above-ground pool on your property, you will likely never need to close it.
And because you’ll likely never need to close it, this means you can enjoy it year-round. But you’ll enjoy it a lot more if you have a professionally installed and serviced solar pool heater, which is where we come in! Before we get to that, let’s talk a bit more about winterizing your pool—because even though it’s unlikely you’ll need to, there are still some things you should know in case you do.
You Might Need a Partial Closure
If the average winter temperature in your area stays around 45°F, then you might want to consider at least doing a partial closure. After all, if you have a pool then you’ve made a huge investment in the enjoyment of your home, and you want to protect that investment as best as possible, right?
It’s best to consult with our pros if you have any questions or concerns, but our partners at Pentair provided these essential tips for partial closure:
- Do Not Lower Your Water Level—you want the water to continue circulating and filtering through the skimmers on the side of the pool.
- Keep the pool equipment running so that when it warms back up you can just jump right back in!
- Balance the water chemistry—this should be done every 2–3 weeks.
- Keep cleaning your pool—debris like fallen leaves and dirt can affect the sanitation of your pool water.
- Put a pool cover on—this will help keep debris out as well.
- Remove any pool quiepment that’s not needed for winter, such as a robotic pool cleaner or booster pump, so that it doesn’t suffer from frost damage.
If You Live in a Temperate Climate…
The greater Sacramento area can certainly get pretty cold! But all things considered, we’re considered to have an overall temperate climate. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should neglect your pool care, but you likely have less to worry about than folks up higher in the mountains.
It’s important that you do keep an eye on the local weather forecast to watch for rare freezing temperatures, and if you do see them coming your way, you’ll want to run the pool pump 24 hours a day until the weather gets warmer again. The reason? Usually, an in-ground pool will keep a slightly warmer temperature than the ambient air, so when you circulate the water as the air temperature is just below freezing, it keeps the warmer water moving through your pipes and pool equipment to keep the water from also freezing.
If you have any other questions or concerns about winterizing your Sacramento pool, please don’t hesitate to reach out to “The Guys in the Big Red Trucks”!
Sierra Pacific Home & Comfort, Inc. is your local expert for solar in Sacramento CA, from HVAC equipment to pool equipment. We work with Pentair for your pool equipment needs to bring you the best in pumps and pool heating. Contact us today for more information!