With summer coming to a close, it’s time to start thinking about some long-term pool maintenance. As Don Marcum’s Pool Care explains, there are just a few basic tasks to keep your pool protected through the colder seasons. For nearly 50 years, they have provided people throughout the Cincinnati, OH, area with quality pool supplies and services.

While you don’t have to completely close off your swimming pool just yet, Don Marcum Pool Care suggests doing the following:

• Invest In A Secure Pool Cover: If you don’t already have one, or the one you currently own has too many rips and tears, start looking for a pool cover now.  Different swimming pools require different types of covers, so take the time to find out what’s best for your situation.

• Close When It’s Cool: Even if you don’t plan on swimming past late September, if the temperatures are still unseasonably warm, wait until it stays below 65 degrees. If not, you run the risk of algae growing after you've closed it, which will be more trouble when you open the pool up again next year.

• Plan When To Shock & When To Add Algaecide: Although algae are prone to grow in warmer temperatures, there is still a chance it can accumulate in cooler temperatures. Algaecide will keep this potential problem at bay. However, it should only be added after you shock the pool; otherwise, the chlorine will kill it. You should wait about four to seven days after shocking before you use the algaecide.

These are just some of the things that need to be done—more hands-on tasks will be necessary once it's time to truly close up the swimming pool for winter. If you can't wait, feel free to contact Don Marcum's Pool Care. You can call them today at (513) 561-7050 or visit them online.