Chicago experiences large temperature swings each year. This means that your pool use can be confined to a few months unless you take precautions when you care for and design your swimming pool. If you want to have a pool that can be used year-round in this kind of weather, you will need to install a very different kind of swimming pool than those that are built in California, for example.
A skilled pool installer should know how to install all the right features and solutions to ensure that your pool works great throughout every season in Chicago. Make sure that you also understand the needs for upkeep and care that will be required to keep your pool usable even when there is snow on the ground. Being prepared for the tough winter months will help you to keep using your pool even when it’s not ideal pool weather.
How to Use Your Pool Year-Round in Chicago
1. Have a Quality Heater
Your pool heater is the most essential part of a swimming pool that needs to be open for use all year long in Chicago. You will want to be sure that you invest in a pool heater that is made to handle the cold and that can still heat your swimming pool even when there is snow on the ground. While you might still have days when the water is just not acceptable for swimming, you will be able to keep your pool from freezing solid if you have the right heater in place.
A pool builder who understands the weather patterns in Chicago will know what kind of pool heater you need if you want to use your pool all year long in Chicago. You should also consider getting a solar pool cover, as this will help you to keep the pool clean, warm, and ready to be enjoyed all year long. Solar pool covers cannot be left on when it is snowing or icy, but they can help during all other periods of time and take some stress off your pool’s heater.
2. Add a Pool Enclosure
Building your pool with an enclosure over it, or even adding a pool inside your home, can ensure that you are always able to use it, even when the weather outside is not ideal in Chicago. This is one of the best ways to trap in warmer air, keep snow and ice from being a factor, and even save your pool from possible contaminants during the tough winter months in the Chicago area.
This is just as big a perk in the summer, when plant debris, animals, and other items might contaminate your pool. The direct sun might also be too warm for some people, which means that an enclosure can be helpful throughout the entire season of each year. This is a great way to make a style statement, create a seating area that is usable year-round near the pool, and make sure that your pool is accessible and swimming-ready even when the temperature is quite cold.
3. Get a Quality Pool Cover
A quality pool cover that is made to handle the weight of snow and ice can make a big difference when it comes to using your pool even in the coldest part of the year. Some of these covers even operate at the push of a button, which can be perfect if you hate the idea of dragging a cover on and off your pool by hand
There are many kinds of pool covers out there, but you will want to be sure that you are getting one that can handle tough weather first and foremost. The secondary benefits of keeping debris and messes out of the pool will happen for you even if you get a lighter-weight pool cover. However, the nature of winters in the Chicago area necessitates a really sturdy, more permanent cover if you want to keep the pool open all year.
4. Winterize the Pool
You will need to take the time to winterize your pool if it starts to freeze over, or the wind and snow are just too much for you. You will want to lower the water level, drain equipment that might freeze, and cover the pool until the weather improves. There are various pool treatments that can be used to keep the water fresh and ready for when you can open up the pool again. These chemicals prevent bacterial growth and help keep the pool clean and fresh.
Cover the pool and make sure that the cover won’t be lifted off by winds, animals, or other issues. You should also make sure that your pool cover is durable enough that someone can’t fall onto it and immediately sink to the bottom of the pool. This can be a big safety hazard for those who are not aware that the pool is only covered and is not completely stable. Many people post signs during the winter months to keep visitors to the home from falling in when the pool is winterized.
Using a Pool in the Winter in Chicago Can Be a Breeze
These solutions can help you to take care of your pool in the winter in Chicago and can also make it more likely that you will get an increased number of months of enjoyment out of your swimming pool each season. Always be prepared to go ahead and close your pool for the winter if you start to see a spike in energy bills, ice in the pool, or you realize that you just aren’t using it enough to pay to heat it to a nice temperature.
Ultimately, covering your pool will make the biggest difference when it comes to using it all year long in the Chicago area. You will also need to invest in a sturdy pool heater and make sure that you have the right chemicals on hand to keep the water fresh and ready to be enjoyed.
