Here on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, winterising a pool is generally unnecessary due to the region’s mild winters. This guide will explore why traditional winterising practices are not relevant in Queensland and provide tips on maintaining your pool during the cooler months.
What is Pool Winterising?
Pool Winterisation is the practice of reducing pool maintenance by cutting down chemicals and filtration times in your swimming pool during the winter months.
Differences in Climate and Impact on Pools
In the southern part of New South Wales and Victoria, winter temperatures can be significantly colder, impacting the pool’s condition and requiring winterising measures such as covering the pool and adjusting chemical levels to prevent algae growth. Pool winterising in these states involves adding winterising chemicals and covering the pool to protect it from debris and the elements.
Conversely, the Sunshine Coast enjoys a subtropical climate with mild winters, where temperatures rarely fall below 10°C. This mild climate means that the rigorous steps of winterising, such as covering the pool, are not necessary. Instead, pool owners can focus on year-round maintenance tailored to the region’s climate.
Winter Pool Maintenance on the Sunshine Coast
Maintaining a pool on the Sunshine Coast requires a different approach compared to colder regions. Given the mild winters and relatively consistent temperatures, pool maintenance can be simplified into regular, year-round practices. Here are the key aspects of maintaining a pool on the Sunshine Coast:
Regular Cleaning and Debris Removal:
Even during the cooler months, it’s essential to keep the pool clean. Regularly skim the surface to remove leaves, insects, and other debris. Brush the walls and floor of the pool weekly to prevent algae buildup and vacuum the pool as needed to maintain cleanliness.
Balancing Water Chemistry:
Proper water chemistry is crucial for keeping the pool water safe and preventing damage to the pool surface and equipment. Regularly test the water and adjust the pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness to maintain balanced levels. In Queensland’s climate, it’s essential to monitor these levels closely, as warmer temperatures can lead to faster chemical degradation.
Protecting Pool Equipment:
While there is no risk of freezing, it’s still important to ensure that all pool equipment is in good working order. Regularly check the pump, filter, heater, and other equipment for signs of wear and tear. Clean and backwash the filter as needed to ensure optimal performance.
Algae Prevention:
Algae can thrive in warmer climates, making it essential to use algaecides and maintain proper chlorine levels year-round. Regularly shocking the pool helps to keep algae at bay and ensures the water remains clear and safe to swim in.
If using an algaecide, in a normal salt or chlorine pool (pebblecrete / concrete) most would use a good quality copper algaecide. Do NOT use Algaecides from your local Hardware Store. I could write an entirely separate post on customers who have stained their pools from the Runnings stuff but the main take away is that often they only contain benzalkonium chloride and don’t contain any additional important additives like Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate or Ethanolamine which offer a broader spectrum of protection against algae. Conversely, some can have a very high percentage of poor quality copper mix that can stain if used with certain chlorines or plate out at a later date if the copper doesn’t dissipate properly.
For a Naked or ioniser pool and vinyl or fiberglass pools, a non-metal algaecide would be recommended.
Maintain water levels:
Keep an eye on water levels, as evaporation still occurs in winter. You still want the skimmer to do its job when the pool is full, so try to maintain it somewhere halfway from below the skimmer.
Reducing Turnover Rate:
You can do this by halving your pump running time. The goal of turnover is to ensure that the entire volume of the pool water is filtered, cleaned, and treated within a certain period. This process is critical for maintaining water quality and you should ensure that your pool pump is at least turning over the entire pool’s volume of water.
To calculate the turnover rate, you can use the following formula:
Pool Volume in Litres divided by the Flow Rate in Litres Per Minute (LPM) divided by 60 minutes.
Eg: 50,000L divided by 280 (LPM) divided by 60 = 2.97 hours
By following these steps, you’ll keep your pool in good condition during the cooler months on the Sunshine Coast without fully winterising it. This approach ensures your pool remains ready for use and makes it easier to prepare for the next swimming season.
