Cold Plunge Pools and Cold Water Chemistry

As winter settles in across much of the country, pool professionals face unique challenges that don't exist during the warmer months. From dry, cracked hands to inaccurate test results, cold weather can throw even experienced pool techs for a loop. But here's the thing – understanding how cold water affects pool chemistry isn't just helpful, it's essential for maintaining accuracy and providing quality service year-round.

The Hidden Challenge: How Cold Weather Affects Your Body and Equipment

Before diving into the chemistry complexities, let's address the elephant in the room – the physical toll that cold weather takes on pool professionals. If you're someone who puts their hands in pool water multiple times a day, you know the struggle is real.

If you are like me and you put your hands in the pool water multiple times a day, you get dry skin. And if you don't get dry skin and you're not like me, love that for you. Please tell me your secret. How does it feel to be God's favorite?

— Andrea, Talking Pools Podcast

The solution? A multi-layered approach to hand protection:

• Aquaphor: The brand-name version outperforms generics for treating dry, cracked skin from chemical exposure
• Gloves in a Bottle: This specialized lotion creates a protective barrier that's more water-resistant than regular lotion
• Cheap leather gloves: Perfect for handling cold metal equipment like aluminum poles and cart handles
• Layering technique: Apply regular lotion first, then seal it with "Gloves in a Bottle" for maximum protection

Remember, protecting your hands isn't just about comfort – it's about maintaining the dexterity and sensitivity you need to do your job effectively throughout the winter months.

Protecting Your Chemical Reagents from Winter's Wrath

Your test kit reagents are just as vulnerable to cold weather as you are, and frozen reagents can lead to costly mistakes and inaccurate readings. The key is prevention and proper thawing techniques when prevention fails.

If you were cold, if you're cold, they're cold. So you need to bring them inside so you can keep them in the cab of your test, your test kit. You can keep your test kit in the cab of your truck.

— Andrea, Talking Pools Podcast

When storing reagents in cold weather:

• Keep test kits in the heated cab of your vehicle
• Store reagents in temperature-controlled environments when possible
• Never leave reagents in unheated areas when temperatures approach freezing

If your reagents do freeze, don't panic – they might still be salvageable:

1. Thaw naturally: Never use microwaves, warm water, or ovens to speed the process
2. Inspect the bottle: Look for cracks or leaks caused by expansion
3. Check for particles: Look for floating debris or unusual particles in the liquid
4. Test carefully: If everything looks normal, the reagent is likely still usable

Heat will destroy reagents, so patience is crucial during the thawing process. A ruined reagent is far more expensive than the time it takes to thaw properly.

The Cold Truth About Test Result Accuracy

Here's where things get technically interesting – and potentially problematic. Cold water doesn't just make testing uncomfortable; it actively interferes with the chemical reactions that give you accurate readings.

Total Alkalinity and Calcium Hardness: Cold water may require extra drops before you see a color change, leading to falsely high readings. This could result in unnecessary water drainage or over-addition of acid.

pH Testing: Reagent components may precipitate in cold water, causing faded colors or no reaction at all. Instead of the expected red or pink color, you might see clear water, leaving you confused about the actual pH level.

Testing of low temperature water will provide false low results. And this is even for water that is in like the 60s. The speed at which the precipitate forms is slowed down. So it's not going to get cloudy as fast.

— Andrea, Talking Pools Podcast

Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer): This is perhaps the most problematic test in cold weather. The cloudiness that indicates stabilizer levels develops much slower in cold water, potentially showing a false low reading. You might think you need to add stabilizer when levels are actually adequate, leading to over-stabilization and chlorine lock.

Test Strips: Even these convenient tools aren't immune to cold weather effects, particularly in temperatures below 45°F (7.2°C).

The Professional's Solution: Proper Cold Weather Testing Protocol

When faced with extremely cold water, you have options that maintain both accuracy and professionalism:

The Warm-Up Method:

• Collect your water sample as usual
• Bring the sample inside your heated truck or a building
• Allow it to warm up for several minutes before testing
• Proceed with normal testing procedures

Know When to Skip: Taylor, a leading manufacturer of pool testing equipment, actually recommends against testing water that's too cold for accurate results. While this doesn't mean skipping your service responsibilities, it does mean understanding when environmental conditions make accurate testing impossible.

Cold Plunge Considerations: If you service cold plunge pools, these same principles apply year-round. The intentionally cold water in these systems requires the same careful testing approach as winter pools.

The Silver Lining: Cold Water's Stain-Fighting Superpower

While cold water presents testing challenges, it offers one significant advantage – superior stain treatment effectiveness.

Cold water is really great for treating stains. So that's when you want to do your stain treatments because it's much easier. And this will make those stain treatments much more effective. Also, since the water is super cold, no one's going to be swimming it anyway.

— Andrea, Talking Pools Podcast

Why cold water excels at stain removal:

• Chemical stability: Stain-fighting chemicals work more effectively in cooler temperatures
• No swimming interference: Cold water means no swimmers to work around
• Extended contact time: Treatments can work longer without dilution from bathers
• Perfect timing: Winter closure periods provide ideal windows for comprehensive stain treatment

Consider incorporating stain treatments into your winter service offerings or pre-closure maintenance packages. It's an opportunity to solve existing problems while positioning yourself as a comprehensive service provider.

Regional Opportunities and Industry Trends

The pool industry continues evolving, even during the slower winter months. Recent data shows interesting regional variations – while Florida pool permits are down 3% year-to-date, Miami-Dade County is bucking the trend with stronger permit activity. Southeast Florida specifically is seeing a 16% rise in new pool permits.

For service professionals, this translates to:

• Increased focus on maintenance and long-term client retention
• More opportunities in equipment upgrades and safety consultations
• Growing demand for pre-sale inspections and safety barrier installations
• Expanded service routes and equipment installation opportunities

Additionally, new safety legislation like House Bill 117 in Florida, which would require approved safety barriers for homes with pools during property sales, creates new revenue streams for knowledgeable pool professionals.

Preparing for Success in Cold Weather Pool Service

Success in cold weather pool service comes down to preparation, understanding, and adaptation. Here are the essential elements:

Equipment Preparation:

• Invest in quality hand protection and warming gear
• Develop reagent storage and warming protocols
• Keep backup testing supplies in temperature-controlled storage
• Consider investing in photometers for more reliable cold-weather testing

Service Adaptation:

• Build extra time into cold-weather service calls
• Educate customers about cold weather chemistry changes
• Develop winter-specific service packages including stain treatments
• Maintain detailed records of cold weather testing conditions and results

Professional Development:

• Stay informed about regional industry trends and regulations
• Update safety protocols and training records
• Build relationships with equipment suppliers for winter gear
• Network with other professionals facing similar cold weather challenges

Cold weather pool service isn't just about enduring the season – it's about maintaining professional standards while adapting to environmental challenges. Understanding how temperature affects both your equipment and your test results allows you to provide accurate, reliable service year-round.

The key takeaway? Respect the impact of cold weather on every aspect of pool chemistry, from storage to testing to treatment. With proper preparation and understanding, you can turn winter's challenges into opportunities for exceptional service and customer retention. After all, the professionals who can deliver accurate results and effective treatments in difficult conditions are the ones who build lasting, successful businesses.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Winter Tips
• 05:30 Protecting Reagents from Cold Weather
• 12:15 How Cold Water Affects Test Results
• 18:45 Proper Cold Weather Testing Protocols
• 22:30 Cold Water Stain Treatment Benefits
• 25:00 South Florida Pool Industry News Update