How to Keep Your Pool Efficient Until Spring
Summer might be over in the great South East, but your pool still needs a little TLC through the cooler months. At Atlantis Pools, we often say winter is the make or break time for efficient pool ownership. Neglect it now, and you could face a green, cloudy mess when the spring and summer heat hits.
“Winter maintenance doesn’t have to be hard or expensive,” says Kylie Rojahn, owner of Atlantis Pools in North Lakes. “With a few easy steps and the right products, your pool can stay healthy and ready for swimming when the first warm day rolls around.”
We help families across North Lakes, Griffin, Kippa-Ring, and beyond keep their pools in top shape year-round. So if you’re thinking of switching the pump off and walking away until summer—think again.
Why Winter Pool Maintenance Matters
Leaving your pool to its own devices over winter can lead to algae blooms, chemical imbalance, and expensive equipment damage. And let’s face it—no one wants to spend the first sunny weekend in spring scrubbing down the pool or replacing damaged parts.
That’s why we recommend following these winter maintenance tips.
10 Easy Steps to Winterise Your Pool
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Backwash your filter
Give your pool filter a good clean using a trusted degreaser and clarifier. This removes oils, sunscreen residue, and fine debris. -
Clear out debris
Empty your skimmer basket and the hair/lint pot. Leaves and gunk left to sit can quickly turn into algae fuel, fuelled by the phosphates, which is the food source of algae. -
Lubricate your O-rings
Apply water based silicone lubricant to O-rings on pumps, filters, and chlorinators to prevent cracking during colder weather. -
Balance total alkalinity
Use pH Buffer if your levels fall below 80–120 ppm. Balanced alkalinity helps stabilise your pool’s pH. -
Set your pH between 7.2 and 7.6
Adjust using hydrochloric acid to lower or pH Buffer to raise levels. Balanced pH improves chlorine effectiveness and protects surfaces. -
Pre-mix chemicals
Always mix pool chemicals in a bucket of water first to avoid surface damage from concentrated chemicals. Do not mix chemicals. Use separate mixing containers to avoid generating toxic compounds that can cause serious health issues. -
Shock your pool
Add either 500g granular dry chlorine or 10 litres liquid chlorine to kill off bacteria and oxidise organic matter. Always check with the professionals first for dosage rates to add to your swimming pool. -
Add long-term algaecide
The use of a copper or non copper based algaecide treatment as a preventive change of season condition to stop algae from blooming when there is a sudden drop in temperature. check with the pool experts for dosage rates to keep your pool crystal clear. -
Adjust your filtration
Set your filter to run according to filter the swimming pool water. Turning the volume of water over once per winter and two and half times during summer. This keeps the water circulating and prevents stagnation. -
Check your salt cell
If you have a salt chlorinated pool, clean the cell and reduce the chlorinator output by half. Aim for a consistent chlorine level of 2 – 4 ppm during winter times as well as summer.
“Following these steps makes reopening your pool in spring so much easier at any time of year,” Kylie says. “You’re saving yourself time, money, and the disappointment of a pool that’s not ready to enjoy.”
Ongoing Winter Pool Checks
Even with winterisation, don’t ignore your pool completely. A quick check every couple of weeks will keep things on track:
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Test chlorine and pH levels regularly
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Keep water level three quarters up the skimmer
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Empty the skimmer basket regularly before any issue occur.
“It’s about maintaining your investment,” Kylie explains. “North Lakes and surrounding suburbs still get warm days during winter, so algae can grow if you’re not careful.”
Get the Right Products and Advice at Atlantis Pools
We stock a full range of quality products to suit individual needs, from winter algaecides to pool chemical, filter cleaners, and lubricants. Whether you’re in Mango Hill or Redcliffe, pop into our store for tailored advice and the best local service.
“We’re not just here to sell products—we’re here to guide you through every season,” says Kylie. “If you’re unsure what your pool needs this winter, just ask. We’re happy to help.”
Winter pool maintenance doesn’t need to be complicated or time-consuming—just smart. Visit Atlantis Pools today and prepare your pool the right way, so you can enjoy your pool more and work on your pool less.