Flipper Pools warns of importance of closing pools for fall

According to Scott Hood, owner of Flipper Pools & Patio, located on Curtis Parkway in Calhoun, it’s important to start thinking about winterizing your swimming pool as the weather begins to cool down this season.

“Winterizing your pool will protect it from damage due to freezing water,” said Hood. “It will also help to keep the pool clean until next swim season.”

Properly closing your swimming pool can save time and money when it’s time to open the pool in the spring. While Flipper Pools & Patio offers pool closing and opening services at some of the lowest prices around, Hood offers a few tips on what you can do to protect your pool this winter.

1. About 4- 7 days prior to closing your pool for winter, bring your pool pH ( 7.6- 7.8), pool alkalinity ( 80100), and calcium hardness ( 150250) in line. Shock the pool with a chlorine shock to bring the chlorine level up to 10- 12ppm. Allow the pool chlorine to come down to its normal level, about 1.5- 3.5ppm before adding any pool algaecides, pool winterizing chemicals, or your pool cover. If you are unsure of how to correctly balance the water, take a sample to Flipper Pools, and they can test it for free and make recommendations.

2. Remove the skimmer baskets, heaters, any wall fittings, vacuums, pool cleaners, ladders, handrails, or anything else that shouldn’t be in the pool. Scoop out any debris on the top and bottom of the pool using a good leaf rake.

3. You’ll want to do one final brush and vacuum to winterize your swimming pool. Once this is done, it’s time to backwash your filter.

4. Your pump, filter, heater and chlorinator all have a drain plug. Either drain the water out of these or blow the line out with a shop vac. This will ensure all of the water has drained and none is left inside any plumbing lines. If you have a DE pool Filter or a cartridge filter, now would be a good time to take them out and clean the grids or cartridges and store them away for the winter.

5. If you have a chemical feeder, now would be a good time to drain and empty it. By leaving chemicals in your chemical feeder during swimming pool winterization, you might damage your equipment.

6. Now is the time to break out your above ground pool winter cover or inground pool winter cover to keep the debris out of the pool. Use a solid cover that keeps out all debris and sun. These solid covers should keep the pool clean and prevent algae growth. You should also use an air pillow. These air pillows hold the pool cover up like a tent so water and debris fall off instead of collecting on the top. They also help to take up any water expansion which could occur from freezing and possibly cause your above ground pool wall to split.

With more than 20 years of experience in the pool and spa industry, including the building, installation and maintenance of inground and above ground pools, Hood, along with his entire team, is committed to assisting their customers’ pool and spa needs. A high percentage of Flipper Pools business is from repeat customers and referrals.

Hood and his crew have been busier than ever this past pool season, building dozens of inground and above ground pools around North Georgia, and even had some installations in Alabama and Tennessee. Known for their extensive expertise in all things pools, along with fast and friendly service, Hood and his wife, Becky, also sell luxury patio furniture, which includes Summer Classics, Jensen Leisure and Winston Outdoor Furniture.

A complete one- stop shop for your vacation at home, Flipper Pools & Patio also builds total outdoor retreats, including outdoor kitchens, fireplaces and fire pits. They are also a preferred dealer of the popular smokers, Big Green Egg.

For more information on Flipper Pools and Patio, call 706- 383- 8339 or visit www.flipperspoolsandmore. com.