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Custom Pool Design and Construction Done by Professionals with Decades of Experience
WINTERTIME CARE
Your pool, constructed by Sweetwater Pools, is equipped with a freeze guard to protect your pool during cold weather. It is designed to turn the pump or pumps on when the weather gets below a preset temperature. Moving water will not freeze in a pipe. However, you will need to take some precautions when we get a cold snap. Watch the weather during the cold months. If we get a forecast for below-frigid conditions, you may want to turn your heater on low a day or two before the front arrives to get the concrete and water warmer. When it gets really cold, your heater will not fire for its own protection. Open all suction and return lines to allow water to run through all pipes. Open any "bubblers" as well. Place the pool sweep in the water and open its valve at about 40%. Adjust your returns (eyeballs) to break the surface by pointing them up to help prevent "ice over."
If you have a spa (without automation) and we told you about "that sweet spot" to draw water from the spa and back to the spa without draining or overflowing the tub, do so at this time. Make sure to watch the spa for some time when performing this task! If you have automation, you can open all valves by rotating the valve via the little toggle switch; when you get the effect you want, place the switch in the center, thus turning the auto-rotate off. Blowers do not contain water, so they can remain off.
If you have a blackout during a cold spell, drain the heater first, then the pumps, and then the filter. Place all removed plugs in the pump basket. Turn all outside breakers off to the pool equipment because when your electricity comes back on, the pumps will not have water and will burn up! If you get iced over, break it up or place a floating ice chest in the water to reduce ice pressure. If you have a water feature, drain its pump before cold weather, and turn the breaker for that pump off if it has a separate breaker. You can use a shop vacuum in reverse to blow the lines out. If the feature pump is on the same breaker, turn that breaker off and disconnect the wires from the pump or inside the timer box and cover it with wire nuts. Then turn the breaker back on. Do this before the cold gets here! No warranties will be in effect due to freezing or electrical failure!
If you have a spa (without automation) and we told you about "that sweet spot" to draw water from the spa and back to the spa without draining or overflowing the tub, do so at this time. Make sure to watch the spa for some time when performing this task! If you have automation, you can open all valves by rotating the valve via the little toggle switch; when you get the effect you want, place the switch in the center, thus turning the auto-rotate off. Blowers do not contain water, so they can remain off.
If you have a blackout during a cold spell, drain the heater first, then the pumps, and then the filter. Place all removed plugs in the pump basket. Turn all outside breakers off to the pool equipment because when your electricity comes back on, the pumps will not have water and will burn up! If you get iced over, break it up or place a floating ice chest in the water to reduce ice pressure. If you have a water feature, drain its pump before cold weather, and turn the breaker for that pump off if it has a separate breaker. You can use a shop vacuum in reverse to blow the lines out. If the feature pump is on the same breaker, turn that breaker off and disconnect the wires from the pump or inside the timer box and cover it with wire nuts. Then turn the breaker back on. Do this before the cold gets here! No warranties will be in effect due to freezing or electrical failure!
HEATERS
Heater use is to be limited to warm weather. We installed a "bypass" on our show pool. During the cold, we disconnect the heater from the pool plumbing and still run the filter. The thinking is not to run water through the heat exchanger. That way, you are saving wear and tear on the heater, extending its life.
CHLORINE
Your salt system will not make chlorine when the water temperature is below 50 degrees. You will still need the sanitation system working in the winter. Place a chlorine floater in the water with about 3 large tabs. Check it every few days or so. You can turn the run time of the filter down to about 6 hours a day. You should winterize a stand-alone waterfall during freezing conditions. Maintain skimmer baskets more in the late fall due to the leaves falling. We suggest buying the skimmer baskets with the tall handles in the center. If you have pro logic automation from Hayward, disable the chlorine until warmer weather.
COVERS
Most pool builders recommend leaving your pool open 12 months a year. Some people want to cover their pools, but we don’t recommend doing so unless you want to use a solar cover. Remove these every 3 weeks or so during the winter to clean and inspect the inside and clean the leaves out and off the cover.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call us.
POOL SWEEPS
Your suction side pool sweep furnished by us is a fine cleaner. When removing it, open other valves first, the close sweep valve. Remove the sweep headfirst, then the hoses. Store with hoses straight, not coiled
NEW PLASTER INSTRUCTIONS
- Your pool has been plastered with hand-finished marble dust and Portland plaster.
- The use of this type of plaster on pools has been in place for decades.
Items to Consider and Adhere To
- Under no circumstance shall you discontinue filling the pool with fresh filtered and sanitized (not well) water until full.
- Hose started by the plaster crew has a sponge on the end. Do not remove it!
- Follow any instructions given to you by the plaster crew.
- Fill the pool just above the halfway point on the waterline tile.
- Should you find it necessary to add a "second" hose, wait until the water is deep enough for the second stream to fall in the water with no splash! Allow no water to drip or splash on walls or steps.
- Keep any and all pets and persons away from and out of the pool until full.
- Color variations of "modeling" are common in colored plaster. They only enhance the look.
- Modeling occurs in all cement finishes. Expect color variations to occur. Once the pool is completely full of water, you may swim without shoes, toys, or pets for 20 days.
- Pool sweeps shall not be installed for at least 14 days. They will scratch the plaster.
- No hand vacuuming for at least 20 days. Wheel marks may appear.
- Make sure to wait 30 days before any salt is placed in the pool. Install floater until salt.
- Dissolve salt with a brush when installing. Never allow the salt to sit on the pool bottom!
- Brush your colored plaster for the first week with a plastic pool brush if needed.
- Never use pelleted fertilizer in your backyard; only liquid. Pellets will deface pool plaster.
Please call Sweetwater Pools with any related questions.
Below are a couple of photos of our show pool. Call and come see for yourself!
Below are a couple of photos of our show pool. Call and come see for yourself!
Notice how the LED lighting makes the whole pool glow!
And what about the fiber optic lighting in
the raised stone wall?
This is our show pool. Call us for a twilight viewing.
This is a letter of recommendation from a repeat customer. We built three pools for this family!
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chlorine generators.