Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Cabana, offered this advice to homeowners with pools, “If you have an in-ground pool, you may think that in order to winterize it, it must be drained. However, you don’t want to do this. It’s important to keep water in your pool so that it doesn’t crack from the pressure of the surrounding soil. You should lower the water level a few inches, though. Make sure to clean the pool very thoroughly, balance the chemicals, and add shock and algaecide. Make sure everything is turned off and disconnected, and store any removable parts in a dry location. Use a good pool cover and keep the pool covered all season long. It’s never a bad idea to hire professionals to winterize your pool for you, just to make sure every task is completed successfully.” POOL
GUTTERS AND DRAINS In areas that receive heavy precipitation, make sure your gutters and drain pipes are cleaned out so they don’t overflow onto your deck or around the foundation of your home. Also, check French drains running from the backyard to the street for any blockages. Make sure they are running freely so you don’t have back-ups during the heavy rains. The time to act is before winter weather starts to take its toll on your home. Although you can’t predict every possible scenario, completing this checklist will set you on the right path. Beech summarizes, saying, “The key is acting early— once pipes or systems are stressed, it’s damage control.”
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