Winter in Cyprus follows a familiar pattern: we enjoy beautiful sunshine for weeks, and then, seemingly overnight, the heavens open. While this rain is a blessing for our island’s reservoirs, it often reveals hidden structural limitations in swimming pools. If a single storm turns your pool into a cloudy, overflowing swamp, the issue might not be your cleaning routine—it might be your pool’s design. At Saratoga Pools, we believe that swimming pool construction should be robust enough to handle the elements, minimizing the work you have to do. While we do not offer weekly cleaning services, our experience in electromechanical installations and construction has taught us exactly why some pools struggle in winter, and how a targeted pool renovation can improve them.
The most immediate danger during a storm is your pool overflowing. In older skimmer pools, owners often have to run out in the rain to manually switch valves to lower the water level. If you find yourself manually draining your pool every time it rains, your pool may lack a modern overflow integration. When we design new overflow pools, we engineer the balance tank and channel system to handle water displacement efficiently. For renovation projects, we can often modify your existing plumbing to include a passive overflow line that directs excess water to your drainage, reducing the need for manual intervention. Until you upgrade, use the “WASTE” setting on your multiport valve to lower the water level. This bypasses the filter and sends water out to the drain, but a properly designed system should handle this more effectively.
Rainwater disrupts pH, but if your pool turns green constantly despite adding chemicals, your pool surface might be the culprit. Old concrete pools with worn grouting or fading liners often develop microscopic cracks or porous surfaces. These imperfections hide algae spores that chemicals cannot reach. Replacing your old surface with a reinforced PVC liner creates a smooth, non-porous seal. As shown in our portfolio of PVC liner projects, this material provides a durable, watertight finish that resists algae growth better than aging concrete, making your chemical usage and winter maintenance significantly easier.
A common myth is that you must run your pump for 8 hours in winter. This is unnecessary usage. Modern electromechanical installations allow for better efficiency. Through our mechanical room upgrades, we can install variable speed pumps and advanced control panels. These systems allow you to reduce the pump’s speed during the winter months, maintaining necessary circulation for filtration without running the equipment at full power. This approach keeps the water moving to prevent stagnation while lowering your electricity consumption compared to single-speed pumps.
In a storm, skimmer baskets get clogged, starving the pump of water and causing it to burn out. This is a common cause of equipment failure. Properly built pools should include safety redundancies in the suction line. If your pool relies solely on skimmers, it is at higher risk during heavy leaf fall. A machine room renovation can re-plumb your system to ensure your pump remains protected even when debris loads are high.
Frequently Asked Questions: Upgrading Your Pool for Winter
Q: My pool overflows onto my patio every winter. Can this be fixed?
A: Yes. This is often a drainage design limitation. Through a pool renovation, we can look at installing an overflow channel or modifying your skimmer plumbing to divert excess water, protecting your patio and foundations.
Q: Do I need to replace my liner if it looks okay but the pool is green?
A: Often, yes. Liners can become porous as they age, trapping bacteria that turn water green. A pool liner replacement gives you a sterile, easy-to-clean surface that resists algae, even in winter.
Q: Can I install a cover to stop the winter cleaning?
A: Absolutely. We recommend installing a safety cover. This keeps the leaves and sunlight out, which stops algae photosynthesis and significantly reduces debris in the pool. It is one of the best investments for pool cleanliness.
Q: Is it safe to empty my pool to clean it?
A: No. Never empty your pool without professional guidance. The ground pressure in winter can crush an empty shell. If your pool needs a deep clean or repair, contact us for a professional assessment.
Winter exposes the flaws in your pool’s design. If you are tired of fighting the elements with manual valves and shock chlorine, it might be time to build for the future. Contact Saratoga Pools today to discuss a swimming pool renovation or new construction project,