Fire Your Pool Service If They’re Using Chlorine Tablets in Winter
December 18, 2024
Why You Should Fire Your Pool Service If They’re Using Chlorine Tablets in Winter
When it comes to pool care, the winter months require a specialized approach that’s vastly different from the summer. If your pool service is still using chlorine tablets during the off-season, it’s time to consider a replacement. Here’s why.
Understanding Chlorine Tablets
Chlorine tablets are a summer staple for maintaining water chemistry. They’re easy to use, cost-effective, and provide consistent chlorine levels when your pool is in heavy use. However, they’re not a one-size-fits-all solution, especially in winter. Caring for a pool in the winter requires a different approach than in the summer.
Why Tablets Don’t Work for Winter Maintenance
- Plaster Breakdown If your pool service is using chlorine tablets in the winter, you’re paying them to destroy your pool! They are doing what’s easiest for them, not what’s best for your pool!
Tablets have a pH of 2.6 and over time they drive the alkalinity down which in time will soften your plaster until it falls apart. Do you have white sand in your pool and can’t figure out where it comes from? It’s your plaster! Prolonged use of tablets is disintegrating the swimming pool plaster and the white sand you are seeing is the aggregate from the plaster. - Cyanuric Acid Buildup Most chlorine tablets are stabilized with cyanuric acid (CYA), which prevents chlorine from breaking down too quickly in the sun. But winter has lower UV exposure, making CYA largely unnecessary. Worse, overusing chlorine tablets can lead to excessive CYA levels, which compromises chlorine’s effectiveness.
- pH Imbalance Tablets are highly acidic and can lower your pool’s pH over time. In winter, pools require a more delicate balance to avoid corrosion of surfaces and equipment.
- Inefficient Water Circulation Many pools have reduced pump run times in the winter. Tablets rely on good water circulation to dissolve evenly, meaning they may not distribute properly, leading to localized issues in water chemistry.
The Right Approach for Winter Pool Care
A competent pool service company should:
- Monitor and adjust chlorine levels using liquid chlorine in winter months
- Maintain water balance by testing pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness regularly
- Reduce stabilizer levels, especially if CYA levels were high during summer.
- Focus on preventive maintenance, such as removing debris and checking equipment.
Red Flags to Watch For
If your pool service is still throwing chlorine tablets into your pool during the winter, it shows a lack of attention to seasonal changes and a one-size-fits-all mentality. This shortcut may save them time, but it’s at the expense of your pool’s long-term health.
Take Action
Your pool is a significant investment, and it deserves care that adapts to seasonal needs. Fire your pool service if they’re using chlorine tablets in the winter and find a company that takes pool care seriously year-round.
Looking for a professional, knowledgeable team? Contact Mike the Poolman to do what’s best for your pool.
