Winter Pool Mistakes Most Scottsdale Homeowners Don’t Know They’re Making...

…and how it leads to spring algae blooms, equipment failure, and expensive repairs.

When my wife and I first moved to Scottsdale in 2013, we thought we were doing everything right with our pool. Winter came, we turned the pump down, added a little chlorine, and figured we’d check again in the spring.

Fast forward a few months — and we had cloudy water, a pump making weird noises, and more equipment issues than we expected. We learned the hard way that winter is actually the season when pools quietly start having problems.

Here’s What Usually Happens in Winter

Even when the weather cools down, pools aren’t “sleeping.”

• Water chemistry drifts.
  Chlorine can last longer in cooler weather, but pH and alkalinity still move around. A little imbalance now can turn into algae later.

• Equipment slows down.
  Shorter run times mean pumps and filters aren’t circulating water like they should. That quiet wear-and-tear can turn into unexpected repairs.

• Debris keeps accumulating.
  Leaves, dust, and pollen don’t take a winter break. If the water isn’t moving enough, it sits longer and puts extra stress on equipment.

A Neighbor Story

Just last Spring, we visited a home near Ancala. The water looked fine, but the pump sounded like a jet engine. The homeowner shrugged:

“We barely ran it this winter. Didn’t seem necessary.”

A little winter neglect ended up putting unnecessary strain on their pump — something that could have been spotted early with a simple check.

A Simple Way to Stay Ahead

Here’s what we do now for our own pool and recommend to friends:

• Don't fire your pool tech!
• Run your pump regularly, even in Winter.
• Check water chemistry at least every-other week.
• Keep the pool clean and remove debris.
• Look and listen for any equipment sounding “off.”

Most of these things take 10–15 minutes, but they can prevent the bigger headaches that pop up in spring.

Why It Matters

Taking a little time now can save:

• Costly pump or filter replacements.
• Algae outbreaks that take weeks to fix.
• Spring "green to cleans" and lost weekends.

It’s honestly just a little bit of attention at the right time.

Friendly Neighbor Tip

If you’re unsure about your pool’s winter health, it doesn’t hurt to get a second set of eyes. We like to stop by our neighbors’ pools sometimes, just to check things over and give advice — no sales pitch, no pressure, just sharing what we’ve learned.

From one Scottsdale pool owner to another: a little winter care goes a long way toward keeping your pool happy, healthy, and ready for summer.

And if you feel like your pool guy isn't getting the job done, click here to request a pool service quote! We're running a $99 special for your first month of pool service through the end of the year.