It doesn’t really matter if there is a lot of snow or severe frost this year. Rain and humidity can make a similar clearing. Furniture that you don’t really clean under the roof, the pool or even the outdoor kitchen should be treated in any case during the off-season months.
The season for outdoor activities is slowly coming to an end, and you may be wondering how best to prepare your garden equipment for winter. At the same time, winterization is not only a question of aesthetics, but above all of protecting things and your wallet.
“By winterizing properly, you prevent frost damage and the formation of algae and deposits that could lead to expensive repairs. In addition, you will extend the service life of all components and ensure that the device is ready for use in the spring,” says Martin Knotek from the company that manufactures whirlpool tubs.
Start by cleaning
Even though it’s been raining for the past few weeks and you haven’t sat on benches and chairs in a month. Even if you don’t use the table until April. First of all, simply clean all the furniture that will be left outside (but the same applies to the one that you will be cleaning somewhere). Choose a nice day or weekend, use a weaker solution of cleaning agent and, if possible, wax it to save yourself the work.
The same applies to home wellness, including a pool and hot tub. With them, it is best to take special cleaners to help, and then a brush, or rather softer tools, such as sponges and cloths, so as not to scratch or damage anything.
Repairs needed
Take a good look at the clean equipment and fix anything that needs to be done before winter comes. Peeled paint, scuffed corners or loose screws. Screw and re-nail everything as needed. Re-stain or oil your wooden furniture now.
He needs it before winter even more than during the season. And the same applies to metal parts and whole pieces. When winter moisture gets to the untreated parts, they can start to rust or rot unnecessarily, and it will be a lot more work to repair them in the spring.
Out with the water
Even before winter, you should also drain the water from the pool, hot tub or home wellness, or from the garden shower. Later, it could freeze and damage the technology or even the structure itself. Drain the hot tub completely, you should lower the water level in the pool below the level of the nozzles and the skimmer, i.e. the place where the water drains.
Finally, pour the so-called winter chemistry into the water, i.e. a preparation that prevents the growth of algae. Then, of course, clean everything thoroughly, and if you find any damage, order a professional service. After all, you can also entrust the entire post-season maintenance to it, if you don’t have the desire or time for it.
For example, if you have a hot tub on the terrace that is also suitable for winter operation, you can of course continue to use it. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to drain it, clean it and carry out general maintenance in the fall. Then carefully cover it with a thermal cover and don’t forget to monitor the water level and keep it clean during the cold months.
Tech safe
Do not forget to protect the technical parts of the hot tub, such as pumps, filters and nozzles. The individual components must be drained, suck the water out of them with a suitable vacuum cleaner. Store them preferably in a warm and dry place to extend their lifespan. Store pool and hot tub accessories, such as floats or chemicals, in the same place.
Hidden is protected
Is everything clean, dry and fixed? If possible, hide it from the weather and frost under some kind of cover. You probably already have a cover for your pool or hot tub from the manufacturer. However, if you want, you can replace it with a good thermal cover, which, in combination with the right pool or hot tub, enables year-round operation.
But it is also worth buying a good cover for furniture or perhaps a grill that you do not plan to use during the winter. You can, of course, cover them with an ordinary sheet. You just have to take into account that at that moment the thing in question is not protected from below and moisture can get under the tarpaulin.
Usually, not only from manufacturers, you can therefore buy special packaging and covers for garden furniture. They tend to have, for example, insulated seams and ventilation holes. Thanks to this, things are then protected and ready for use as soon as the sun starts to shine again.
