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Winterizing Your Pool

Wednesday, September 18, 2024
by Tucker Robbins


A backyard pool used to be a luxury.  Thanks to modern technology and lower prices, a swimming pool is a common sight.  Properly winterizing a swimming pool may take a few hours, but it’s worth taking care of your investment. 

 

In-Ground Pool 

  • 1. Remove any toys and floats, and clean all debris from the pool, skimmer and pump basket.   
     

  • 2. Remove ladders or other equipment.  If the ladders aren’t removable, you’ll have to cut your cover to fit.  This may negate the warranty, so check the label and cover instructions before you cut. 
     

  • 3. Test your water, and add the proper chemicals for your pool’s size. Check labels on packaging for proper mixing and distribution instructions.   
     

  • 4. Backwash the pump, and blow out the pipes according to manufacturer’s directions. 
     

  • 5. Lay your cover out on one long side of the pool, and place empty water tube weights in their loop holders.  Fill the tubes completely.   
     

  • 6. After the tubes are in place on one side, you may need the help of another person to pull the cover corners across the width of the pool.  Add water tubes to the remaining sides and fill. 
     

  • 7. If you invest in a leaf net, it will save the main pool cover from damage from rotting leaves, plus save your from extra cleaning when it’s time to open the pool again.  Put the leaf net in place over the cover and attach according to manufacturer’s instructions.   

  • 8. Once you are finished, walk around the pool to assure your cover is secure, and the pool surface is completely covered. 

 

Above Ground Pool 

  • 1. Follow the first three tips for in-ground pool winterizing. 
     

  • 2. Disconnect hoses, and drain the pump.  
     

  • 3. Draining a certain amount of water from the pool to protect the skimmer from cracking or breaking is an important step, but a winter skimmer plate installed over your skimmer can help you skip this step.  Drain the skimmer hose completely if you use a skimmer plate. 
     

  • 4. Fill the air pillow completely, and place it in the pool. 
     

  • 5. Pull the cover across the pool and air pillow. 
     

  • 6. Depending on whether there is a deck around your pool will determine what you need to secure the cover: if there’s a deck, use water tubes; use cover clips if your pool is deck-free. 
     

  • 7. Once you are finished, walk around the pool to assure your cover is secure, and the pool surface is completely covered. 
     

There are downloadable/printable resources with specific step-by-step instructions for all kinds of pool care.  Undertaking this task can save money, but if you are unsure of what you’re doing, or don’t have time, call your local pool maintenance team to winterize for you. You want your Summer pool opening as problem-free as possible when hot weather arrives. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtor Tucker Robbins.   

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Getting Ready for Outdoor Time!

Wednesday, March 27, 2024
by Tucker Robbins

 

Warmer days are on the way, and when the weather cooperates, home owners are outside preparing their yards, gardens and pools for the coming Summer. But is your patio looking a little sad?  Do you want to utilize your front porch more this season?  Your outdoor spaces only need a little TLC and elbow grease! 

 

  • - Sweep patios to remove loose debris.  Use a pressure washer on concrete, or a long-handled stiff brush and warm water mixed with bleach--a 10:1 mixture is strong enough to clean the area well.   
     

  • - For porches, sweep the flooring, as well as ceilings and posts, and a shower of water from the garden hose should remove the dust and cobwebs.  If something needs more attention, use a soft bristled brush or flat mop dipped in a mixture of warm water and mild dish detergent. 
     

  • - Wood decks may only need a simple sweeping and washing down with a hose and soft scrub brush. If you’re thinking about staining or painting the woodwork, a pressure washer would be the best tool to prep it for its makeover.  
     

  • - Screening should be checked for holes and rips that can be eventually be big problems, and is easy to replace for little cost. 
     

  • - Check for any cracks in cement patios.  Fill them with caulking or even quick-drying concrete.  Many easy and affordable repair kits are in local home stores. If the problem goes deeper than just a crack, call a contractor to come and make sure the problem isn’t structural. 
     

  • - Bricks and pavers can become loose over time, and filling the spaces between them with sand is one way to sturdy them.  According to Neave Masonry, after filling in between the pavers with sand, use a broom to distribute it evenly, wet the pavers, and once it’s settled, add more sand and repeat.  Continue to add sand until the spaces are filled with sand. 
     

  • - Keeping outdoor furniture covered when not in use is great, but it still would be a good idea to give it a good cleaning since you’ll be using it soon.  
     

  • - Get your planters ready for flowers by removing soil from them and clean with a spray from the water hose.  Soak them in a mixture of 9 parts water to one-part household bleach to get rid of any bacteria that could’ve grown in the Winter, and rinse well. 
     

  • - Outdoor pillows can take a beating, so if yours are looking grim, you can purchase new covers more inexpensively than completely replacing the pillows.  If they have been in outdoor storage, wash them, hang them outside to air dry, and add the new covers. 
     

  • - Spruce up the seating area with fragrant plants, an outdoor area rug, hang pretty sheets or shower curtains on tension rods to add some drama, and some DIY lighting--check out these ideas from BuzzFeed.   

 

Don’t wait until it gets steaming hot or two hours before your cookout guests arrive to get your yard and outdoor seating area in order.  Doing it now will encourage you and yours to spend more time in the outdoors to dine al fresco, relax with a good book, or spend time winding down after a long day at work.   

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins.

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Warm Weather Water Savers in New Castle County DE

Wednesday, May 30, 2018
by Tucker Robbins

Days of lounging by the pool or in a hammock with a good book while the children play in the sprinkler are on the horizon, and you can’t wait to wash the pollen off the car, not to mention the grime from Winter on the car tires.  Spring and Summer is probably when we use more water than other times of the year, and there are ways we can conserve and avoid a high water bill for the next few months. 

 

  • - We shower more in the Summer, so conserve by shortening your shower time by just two minutes, and save 150 gallons of water per month! 

  • - Keeping our landscaping green uses a great deal of water, and if you have a sprinkler system, make sure the timer is set for morning or evening, and that the showers aren’t falling on the driveway.  Pay close attention to the weather, and turn off the timer whenever a good chance of rain is predicted. 

  • - Keep a pitcher filled with water inside the fridge for a thirst quencher instead of running the water from the faucet and waiting for it to get cold. 

  • - Cut your grass on a higher setting, because the longer blades help shade the turf, and in turn, holds water better, so you’ll have to water it less. 

  • - For the garden, landscaping and lawn, use a drip irrigation system instead of sprinklers or hand-watering with the hose.  Water is directed to the roots, where it needs to be. 

  • - When the car needs cleaning, take the bucket and sponge to a car wash instead of washing it at home, and save about one hundred gallons of water!  

  • - Purchase and set up rain barrels under gutter spouts or areas of the house where water runs off the roof.  You can get some very sophisticated barrels with faucet attachments for gravity-watering with the hose, and covers to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs. 

  • - Placing a cover on your pool not only helps keep it clean, but it can save the pool water from evaporating.  The Spruce lists several swimming pool water-saving tips. 

  • Instead of washing fresh vegetables from your garden under running water, fill a large bowl with water, and give them a bath.  Once they’re clean, use the leftover water for houseplants or potted plants outside. 

  • - Growing native plants will help cut down on water usage, as they are adapted to your local climate.  Contact your local cooperative extension agent to find out how to plant a native plant garden. 

  • - Place a five-gallon bucket with small holes in the bottom near plants or a tree that need a drink, and fill it with water.  The holes will allow the water to trickle out at a slow pace, and soak the soil, where the water should be, instead of the leaves. 

 

Water conservation isn’t just good for your wallet, it’s good for the environment. If you’re interested in learning more about using less water year round, check out the Water Calculator website to calculate your water footprint, and what you can do to use water more efficiently. 

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.  

 

Photo credit: segurgent.com​

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Tucker Robbins
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
3838 Kennett Pike
Wilmington DE 19807
(302) 777-7744 (direct)
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