Winter Pool Refurbishment: Get Your Swimming Pool Ready for Next Season

Winter is the perfect time to upgrade and refurbish your swimming pool – and for good reason. While your pool sits unused during the colder months, it's the ideal opportunity to carry out essential maintenance, repairs, and upgrades without disrupting your swimming season. At Clearway Pools and Spas, we offer comprehensive pool refurbishment services across South West England, London, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire to ensure your pool is in pristine condition when summer arrives.

Contents

• Why Refurbish Your Pool in Winter?
• Pool Filter Replacement and Sand Changes
• Pool Liner Replacement Services
• Pool Tile Repairs and Re-grouting
• Plant Room Refurbishment
• Pool Cover Replacement and Safety Covers
• Heat Pump Installation for Swimming Pools
• Variable Speed Pool Pumps
• Areas We Cover
• Book Your Free Pool Assessment

Why Refurbish Your Pool in Winter?

Many pool owners overlook winter maintenance, but this quiet period offers several compelling advantages:

No disruption to your swimming season – Major refurbishment work can take several days or even weeks. Completing these projects in winter means your pool is ready when you need it most.

Better value for money – Get your pool assessed and quoted before January to avoid the annual industry price increases that typically come into effect at the start of each year.

Improved efficiency for next season – Upgrading to modern pool equipment, new liners, and better covers can significantly reduce your heating and chemical costs throughout the following year.

Prevent bigger problems – Small issues like worn filters, degraded grout, or aging liners can develop into major (and expensive) repairs if left unaddressed.

Pool Filter Replacement and Sand Changes

Your pool's filtration system is the heart of clean, safe water. Over time, filters become worn and inefficient, leading to cloudy water and increased chemical usage.

When to Replace Your Pool Filter

If your sand filter is showing signs of wear – brittle casing, difficult-to-turn valves, cracked components, or sand leaking into the pool – it's time for a replacement. Old, tatty filters not only work poorly but also discourage proper pool maintenance, as they become frustrating to operate.

Pool Sand Changes

Even if your filter body is in good condition, the sand media inside breaks down over time and loses its effectiveness. We recommend replacing pool sand every:

• 3 years for heated pools
• 5 years for unheated pools

Fresh filter media means clearer water and reduced chemical consumption – typically contributing to 70% of water clarity when combined with proper filtration practices.

Pool Liner Replacement Services

Your pool liner takes a constant battering from chemicals, UV rays, and daily use. Knowing when to replace it can save you from costly leaks and structural damage.

Signs Your Pool Liner Needs Replacing

• Corners pulling away from the pool walls
• Faded or discoloured appearance
• Random creases appearing on floors or walls
• Liner becoming brittle or thin to the touch
• Age over 15 years (for traditional bag liners)

Upgrade to Extreme Welded Liners

Traditional bag liners typically last around 15 years before becoming brittle and prone to tearing. Our Extreme Welded Liners offer superior performance with up to a 30-year guarantee:

• Custom welded on-site – No concerns about creases or poor fit
• Significantly thicker material – Better insulation means lower heating costs
• Higher temperature tolerance – Can withstand warmer pool water (traditional liners begin melting above 29°C)
• Enhanced durability – Longer lifespan means better value over time

Pool Tile Repairs and Re-grouting

If you have a tiled pool, the grout between tiles is constantly under attack from chemicals and water erosion. Missing or degraded grout might seem like a minor cosmetic issue, but it can lead to serious problems.

Why Pool Tile Grout Matters

When grout erodes away, water seeps behind the tiles, potentially causing:

• Tiles popping off or moving out of position
• Increased risk of pool leaks
• Ground softening around or beneath the pool
• Potential structural damage to the pool shell

Our tile repair and re-grouting service restores the waterproof seal, protecting both the aesthetics and structural integrity of your pool.

Plant Room Refurbishment

A messy, outdated plant room doesn't just look bad – it actively discourages proper pool maintenance. When pool owners face tangled pipework, worn equipment, and confusing layouts, they're less likely to perform essential tasks like backwashing and chemical dosing.

Our plant room refurbishment service includes:

• Reorganising and tidying pipework
• Replacing worn or inefficient equipment
• Upgrading to modern, user-friendly systems
• Clear labelling and improved accessibility

A well-organised plant room transforms pool maintenance from a chore into a straightforward task, ensuring better water quality and safety all season long.

Pool Cover Replacement and Safety Covers

Modern pool covers have advanced significantly in recent years. If your current cover is worn, brittle, or difficult to use, you're missing out on substantial cost savings and safety benefits.

The Problem with Old Pool Covers

Aging covers often shed pieces of brittle material that end up in your filtration system, potentially damaging pumps, filters, and chemical dosing equipment. Clogged pipes reduce efficiency, increase running costs, and can lead to expensive repairs.

Winter Pool Covers

If you close your pool for winter and don't have a debris cover, leaves, animals, and rainwater contamination can create a maintenance nightmare come spring. Our winter debris covers keep your pool clean and protected throughout the off-season.

Safety Covers for Year-Round Protection

Safety covers provide the ultimate peace of mind, especially for families with children or pets. These covers feature bars across the width that prevent leaves, animals, and people from falling into the pool.

French Pool Safety Standard "NF P 90-308" – France has some of the world's tightest pool safety regulations, and safety covers meeting this standard are mandatory for preventing drowning accidents. We strongly recommend safety covers for any pool where children or pets are present.

The best part? Safety covers work year-round, eliminating the need for separate summer and winter covers while providing maximum safety and debris protection.

Heat Pump Installation for Swimming Pools

If you're still heating your pool with a gas boiler, heat exchanger, or oil heater, you could be spending far more than necessary on running costs.

Why Choose a Pool Heat Pump?

Modern heat pumps are the most efficient way to heat pool water, offering up to 70% cheaper running costs compared to traditional heating methods. Newer models are even more efficient than older heat pumps, making an upgrade worthwhile even if you already have one installed.

Learn more about the benefits of heat pumps at https://ohmenergy.co.uk/heat-pumps/swimming-pools/

Variable Speed Pool Pumps

Traditional single-speed pumps run at one constant speed regardless of your pool's actual needs. This wastes electricity and puts unnecessary wear on your equipment.

The Variable Speed Advantage

Variable speed pumps automatically adjust their filtration rate (measured in RPM) based on your pool's requirements:

• Higher speeds during heavy use or when the pool is uncovered
• Lower speeds overnight to reduce noise and save energy
• Optimised speeds for different tasks (filtration, backwashing, water features)
• Adapted performance based on weather conditions and bather loads

The result? Significant reductions in electricity costs while maintaining crystal-clear, safe water. Plus, you'll keep the neighbours happy with quieter nighttime operation.

The Financial Benefits of Upgrading Your Pool Equipment

Many pool owners worry about the upfront cost of refurbishment, but modern equipment pays for itself through reduced running costs:

Lower Heating Costs

New pool covers, upgraded liners, and heat pumps all work together to trap heat more effectively. Less heat loss means lower heating bills throughout the swimming season.

Reduced Electricity Consumption

Variable speed pumps intelligently manage filtration rates, dramatically reducing electricity usage while maintaining optimal water quality. Less pump runtime means lower energy bills.

Fewer Pool Chemicals Required

Here's something most pool owners don't realise: efficient filtration reduces chemical consumption. When your filtration system works properly – with correctly sized equipment, quality filter media, and appropriate backwashing schedules – you'll spend significantly less on chemicals.

Remember: 70% of water clarity comes from efficient filtration. Only the remaining 30% relies on chemicals, covers, and manual maintenance.

Better Quality Chemicals Last Longer

Many pool owners buy chemicals online thinking they're saving money. Unfortunately, budget pool chemicals often contain much lower concentrations of active ingredients than professional-grade products.

For example, some online chlorine granules contain roughly one-third the concentration of professional products. This means:

Budget Online Chlorine	Clearway Pools Quality Chlorine
1kg container costs £10	1kg container costs £20
Lasts 1 month in your pool	Lasts 3 months in the same pool (due to higher concentration)
Replace every month Annual cost: £10 × 12 = £120	Replace every 3 months Annual cost: £20 × 4 = £80

Higher quality doesn't mean higher costs – it means better value and fewer trips to buy chemicals.

Areas We Cover

Clearway Pools and Spas provides professional pool refurbishment services throughout:

South West England

• Devon (Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Barnstaple, Tiverton)
• Cornwall (Truro, Newquay, Falmouth, Penzance, St Austell)
• Somerset (Taunton, Yeovil, Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Bridgwater)
• Dorset (Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, Weymouth, Shaftesbury)

Greater London and Surrounding Areas

• Central London and all London boroughs
• Surrey (Guildford, Woking, Reigate, Epsom)
• Berkshire (Reading, Slough, Windsor, Maidenhead)
• Hertfordshire (St Albans, Watford, Hemel Hempstead)
• Essex (Chelmsford, Brentwood, Harlow)
• Kent (Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Tonbridge)

Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Surrounding Counties

• Oxfordshire (Oxford, Banbury, Bicester, Henley-on-Thames)
• Wiltshire (Swindon, Salisbury, Chippenham, Trowbridge)
• Gloucestershire (Cheltenham, Gloucester, Cirencester)

Book Your Free Pool Assessment

Not sure what work your pool needs? We offer free consultations to assess your pool and recommend the most cost-effective refurbishment plan.

Our expert team will:

• Inspect your pool, equipment, and plant room
• Identify any issues affecting performance or safety
• Recommend priority upgrades based on your budget
• Provide a detailed, no-obligation quote

Don't Wait – Book Before January

Pool industry prices typically increase every January, so getting your work assessed and quoted before the new year can save you money. Plus, winter refurbishment means no disruption to your swimming season – your pool will be ready and waiting when the weather warms up.

Some refurbishment projects can take several days, making winter the perfect time to complete major upgrades without impacting your pool use.

Get in Touch Today

Whether you need a complete pool refurbishment, a new liner, upgraded filtration, or just want advice on winter maintenance, Clearway Pools and Spas is here to help.

Contact us today to book your free pool assessment and discover how we can transform your swimming pool ready for next season.

Our friendly team serves pool owners across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, London, Surrey, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, and surrounding areas. Get in touch to discuss your pool refurbishment needs – we're here to make pool ownership easier, more affordable, and more enjoyable.