Cannonball Pools

The weather forecast predicts below freezing temperatures this week/weekend. The City office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management reminds residents to follow the four “P’s” of winter weather safety...

Freezing temperatures are coming. What can you do to protect your pool equipment during a freeze? Here are a few tips to help you out during freezing weather.

1. Make certain the main pool pump is running continuously while the temperature is below freezing. You should have a freeze protection device that will automatically turn the pump on when the temperature drops to around 34 degrees. A freeze protector will keep your pool running as long as the temperature remains close to freezing. A quick visual check will be in order the next time the temperature drops to around 34. If the pool does not turn itself on, you can always call Cannonball Pools to have the issue resolved.

2. Make sure the pool is clean. If your skimmers and main drain get blocked with leaves and other debris it can prevent the pump from moving enough water to prevent freezing. Even though it’s cold outside, don’t forget to clean the skimmer baskets daily if necessary.

3. Maintain the proper water level. If the water level gets too low, your skimmers will run dry and cause the pump to lose prime. If this happens there will be no water movement through the pool equipment and the plumbing is certain to freeze.

4. Remove the drain plug or open the hose bib on the backwash line. Backwash lines have a tendency to retain water in them. If not drained, they can freeze and break.

Lost power? Don’t forget your pool!
In the event you lose power, you should also take measures to protect your pool and equipment. Remove all drain plugs from every piece of equipment in the system (i.e. pumps, filter, and heater). We suggest you kill the power to the equipment so it does not immediately come back on when the power returns, and cover the pool equipment with tarps and blankets. This can help protect your equipment and plumbing from freezing.

We would like to wish everyone a safe and very Merry Christmas!

As always, if you're needing a refresher, you can check out our holiday policies & procedures under our 'About' section on the page. Thank you in advance for your understanding and we wish everyone safe travels and a very Merry Christmas!

Everyone wants to make the most of their pool, and a great way to do that is to continue having pool parties all year round, but how can you throw a pool party in winter? Of course, for some states a winter pool party is just never going to happen because it’s way too cold. However, for those lucky states that get sunshine all year or most of the year, like Texas, a winter pool party can be a great way to get everyone together and make the most of your pool.

-Keep your pool heated
It’s essential that you keep your pool heated when you have people heading in for a dip in the middle of winter. Be sure to look into the best heat pumps that will keep your pool heated all year round. There are some really great products that can be really versatile and ensure that you have a lovely dip whether it’s winter or summer.

-Keep towels and blankets close by
Whilst the pool temperature should be ideal once your heater is installed, it’s important to keep towels and blankets close by so that you can keep everyone warm once they exit the pool. This is especially true if you have kids around, as often they’re not aware of how cold it is outside and between running around and playing might not realize that they’re actually very cold. Keep blankets and towels close by to wrap them up in when they hop out of the pool.

-Decorate
Pools can look just as beautiful in winter as in summer. To make sure your pool impresses, no matter what the weather, find some decorations that will make the atmosphere just right. Fairy lights look beautiful when wrapped in trees and bushes around the pool, holiday themed pool floats can be a fun addition and you could even use colored bulbs in your pool light to add a festive flair! Be sure there are ample seats for everyone to sit on, and if you want to go really fancy, you could even light candles to keep the mood chilled and wintery.

-Wintery snacks
Having wintery drinks and snacks is a great way to keep your guests happy. Try to avoid anything heavy, as this may give people a cramp and weigh them down when they’re enjoying your pool. Light choices like star shaped cookies, mint frosted brownies and hot chocolate and marshmallows are the perfect accompaniment to a winter pool party. Be sure to offer food after they leave the pool to keep it clean and hygienic.

*The Pros and Cons to Leaving Your Texas Pool Open All Year Long*

BBQ, football, and soda (talking ‘bout you, Dr. Pepper!)... These are just a few of the many things that make Texas so wonderful, but at Cannonball Pools, one of our favorite things about Texas is the milder fall to spring temperatures. With temperate winter weather, Texas pool owners can leave their pool open all year long if they choose. As you consider this option, here are a few of the pros and cons to leaving your pool open all year long:

Pro: Open All Year Long? You Get a Longer Swim Season.
One of the best parts about keeping your pool open all year long is you can use it at any point. There is no waiting for the pool opening in May. Have a random beautiful day in early spring? You can let the kids swim their hearts out. Toasty weather in late October? Cool off and have fun in your pool even after others have closed theirs for the season, and if you have a pool heater to use during the off season? Well game on all winter long!

Pro: Prevent Algae Growth
Keeping your pool open all year can help prevent off-season algae growth. If you close your pool at the end of summer, the warm weather in fall and early spring is ideal for algae to flourish, especially under your pool cover. This can lead to a messy pool opening and an extensive cleaning day when the time comes. You can avoid this mess by keeping your pool open year-round.

Pro: Freezing Weather? Easy!
Even with milder year-round temperatures, freezing weather does happen in Texas. The good news is that they don’t usually stay that way. There is a simple solution for cold days: keep your filter and pump turned on. Doing so will keep the pool water warm and in motion and prevent it from freezing and causing damage to the plumbing and equipment.

Con: Freezing Weather + No Power… Uh, Oh!
Keeping your pump running during cold temperatures is an easy solution… unless the electricity goes out. Without power, the heater and pump cannot run, and the water can freeze in the pool’s pipes and equipment, causing significant damage. How often does the electricity really go out, though? Well, it only takes once to make it a problem. In February of 2021, for example, many pool owners across Texas were without power for a long period of time in temperatures well below freezing.

Con: Year-Round Pool Maintenance
A pool that is open all year long is a pool that must be maintained all year long. Even if you are not using your pool in the off season, you need to continue cleaning the pool and balancing the water. If the water is not chemically balanced for any length of time, it can cause damage to the pool liner, plaster, or equipment. However, you can always sign up for weekly pool service with Cannonball Pools to make this task less burdensome.

Choosing to keep your Texas pool open all year long or not is completely up to you! Whatever you decide, contact Cannonball Pools for all your pool needs anytime during the year. Call us today at 832-748-1557!

*General Pool Cleaning And Maintenance*
Even when you’re not spending time in your pool, it still needs regular maintenance. Over the fall and winter, you should continue your normal pool maintenance routine for the Houston area.

A pool maintenance routine should include some of these items below, just to name a few:

-Checking and balancing chemical and chlorine levels
Run pool vacuum to clean any debris from the bottom of the pool
Emptying pool baskets
Fall might also encourage you to do some seasonal pool maintenance, such as:

Cleaning grime from pool tiles
Cleaning and fixing any damage to the pool deck
Cleaning pool filter
Keeping up with your usual maintenance schedule and completing seasonal maintenance tasks ensure that your pool stays pristine and functional for many years to come. And, it doesn’t have to fall all on your shoulders. Our team provides comprehensive pool maintenance year-round.

-Clean And Store Pool Accessories
When you know the cool weather has come and no one will be swimming in the pool anymore, it’s time to pick-up, clean, and store all pool toys, floats, and accessories. Cleaning and storing pool accessories ensure that they’ll be ready for fun when summer comes back around.

-Leaves And Debris In Pool
One of the biggest seasonal maintenance tasks for fall is leaf removal. Unfortunately, this isn’t a one-time maintenance task.

As the leaves fall out of the trees and onto your yard, inevitably, many will fall into your pool. Not only are the leaves in your pool an eyesore, but they can also cause staining on the bottom of the pool and create the right environment for algae to grow.

Removing leaves from your pool includes regularly cleaning skimmer baskets, using a leaf net to skim leaves off the top of the water, and using a pool sweep to catch anything you’ve missed. Make sure to empty the pool sweep’s collection bag more often as the leaves will build up quickly.

-Clean Pool Filters
After a long Houston summer of swimming in the pool combined with the leaves falling from the trees and collecting in your pool, fall is the perfect time to clean or change your pool filters.

To ensure that your pool filters work optimally, it’s important to regularly clean or replace them.

-Check The Chemistry
As the air temperature drops, so does the temperature in your pool. This seasonal change means it’s time to make an adjustment to how you treat your pool. Monitor the pH and chemical levels in your pool to note any changes.

Regularly monitoring your pool’s chemical levels helps you to avoid cloudy water, corrosion, scale, and other types of pool damage.

-Consider a Shock
If your pool is prone to cloudy water or algae, consider giving it a shock. Shocking your pool is a seasonal maintenance task that can speed up the cleaning process and give your pool a clean slate. Shocking your pool simply means using a higher concentration of chemicals.

The transition from summer to fall in Houston means a few extra pool cleaning and pool maintenance steps. By following these pool maintenance steps, you can ensure your pool stays clean throughout the fall and looks great for when those summer temperatures come back around.

Have a question regarding pool maintenance? Let us know! Call Cannonball Pools today at 832-748-1557.

What Happens When I Close My Pool Sooner Than Necessary?

1. Algae Is More Likely to Thrive Under the Cover
This is perhaps the biggest problem associated with closing your pool too early—algae blooms. If the water in your pool and air outside are still too warm when you put your cover on, it can create the perfect habitat for microorganisms to flourish. Dealing with that will make the opening nest season process more labor and time intensive than expected.

Keep in mind that algae might not be your only issue. If you have excess metals in your water, leaving those levels unattended over the winter can lead to the creation of unsightly stains that can be difficult or impossible to get rid of in the spring.

2. You Don’t Get to Enjoy It for as Long
Leaving your pool open as long as the weather will allow gives you ample time to relax and play.

*When Is the Right Time to Close My Pool?*

The key factor you need to pay attention to when determining whether or not you should close your pool is the outside temperature. As long as it’s consistently staying above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, you should leave your pool open.

Remember that in a spot like Houston, Texas where year-by-year conditions can fluctuate significantly, the “right time” to close your pool might vary. If we’re faced with a particularly cool fall, you might be able to close your pool by the end of September or early October. If summery conditions linger past their expected expiry date, the ideal window for closing might shift towards the middle or even end of October.

If you have questions about when you can or should close your pool, contact us, your local and experienced pool service technician, for location-specific advice. Call us at 832-748-1557, email at [email protected] or chat/message us here on Facebook.