How to Prepare Your Pool for Winter Closing

Shock the pool, balance the water, and use a winterizing kit like our AquaDoc Pool Closer Winter Kit.

Why Winterize Your Pool?

Winterizing your pool is essential for a few key reasons. Properly closing your pool helps avoid costly repairs, keeps your pool equipment in good condition, and ensures that the water remains clear and free of debris. Here are some of the main benefits of winterizing your pool:

• Prevents damage from freezing: Freezing water can expand and crack pipes, filters, and pool surfaces. Winterizing helps prevent this damage.

• Reduces maintenance in the spring: By taking care of the winterizing process, you reduce the amount of cleaning and repairs needed when you reopen your pool.

• Keeps pool water clean: Properly closing the pool helps keep out debris, dirt, and contaminants that could affect the pool's cleanliness during the off-season.

How to Prepare Your Pool for Winter Closing

Here’s a step-by-step guide to properly winterize your pool:

1. Clean the Pool Thoroughly

The first step in preparing your pool for winter is cleaning it thoroughly. This ensures that there is no debris left in the pool that could lead to stains or algae growth over the winter.

• Skim the surface: Use a pool skimmer to remove leaves, debris, and insects from the pool's surface. This prevents organic material from sinking to the bottom and decomposing.

• Vacuum the pool: Vacuum the pool floor to remove dirt and any debris that may have settled. Pay close attention to the areas around the pool’s corners and edges.

• Brush the pool walls: Use a pool brush to scrub the walls and tiles, especially areas where dirt and algae can accumulate.

• Clean the pool filter: Remove the filter and clean it according to the manufacturer's instructions. This helps prevent any clogs or buildup during the off-season.

2. Balance the Pool Water Chemistry

Before closing your pool, it's essential to balance the water chemistry. This step ensures that the water remains clean and free of contaminants during the winter months.

• Test the water: Use a pool testing kit to check the pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness levels. The ideal range for pool water is:

  • pH: 7.4 to 7.6

  • Alkalinity: 80 to 120 ppm

  • Calcium Hardness: 200 to 400 ppm

• Adjust the chemicals: If any levels are out of balance, adjust them accordingly. Add pH increaser or decreaser, alkalinity adjusters, or calcium hardness increaser as needed.

• Add a winterizing chemical kit: Many pool supply stores offer winterizing chemical kits that help prevent algae and bacteria growth over the winter. Add this kit to your pool after balancing the water.

3. Lower the Water Level

Before you close your pool, you should lower the water level to prevent freezing water from damaging the pool’s tiles, walls, and equipment.

• Lower the water: Use a submersible pump or the pool's drainage system to lower the water level to about 4 to 6 inches below the skimmer. This helps prevent freezing damage to the skimmer and plumbing.

• Check local recommendations: Some pools may require a different water level based on the climate. For example, in areas with extreme winters, you may need to lower the water level more.

4. Blow Out and Winterize the Pool Plumbing

It’s crucial to clear out the pool’s plumbing to prevent the water from freezing and expanding inside the pipes.

• Blow out the lines: Use a pool air compressor or a wet/dry vacuum to blow out the water from the pool’s plumbing lines, including the skimmer, return lines, and main drain.

• Plug the lines: After blowing out the lines, insert winterizing plugs into the skimmer and return lines to prevent water from entering the plumbing.

• Protect the equipment: Drain the water from the pump, heater, and filter, and store any removable equipment indoors to protect it from freezing.

5. Install the Pool Cover

A pool cover is one of the most important components of winterizing your pool. It keeps debris out and prevents dirt, leaves, and snow from contaminating the water.

• Use the right cover: Choose a durable winter pool cover that fits snugly over your pool. Solid covers help prevent debris from entering the pool, while mesh covers allow water to drain off but still keep out leaves.

• Secure the cover: Make sure the cover is securely fastened and tightened to prevent it from shifting in windy conditions.

• Cover the pool equipment: Consider using a cover for your pool pump, filter, and other equipment to protect them from the elements.

6. Add a Pool Cover Pump

If you live in an area with heavy snow or rain, it’s a good idea to add a pool cover pump to help remove any standing water from the pool cover.

• Prevent damage: Standing water on the cover can cause it to sag, and the additional weight can potentially damage the cover or the pool structure.

• Keep the cover dry: The pump will keep water from accumulating on top of the cover, making sure it stays dry and in good condition.

7. Inspect the Pool Equipment

Before closing the pool, it’s important to inspect all pool equipment to ensure it’s functioning properly and free of damage.

• Inspect the pump, filter, and heater: Check for any issues or leaks and clean them thoroughly. Make sure all equipment is turned off and properly winterized.

• Store removable equipment indoors: Take out any removable pool accessories, such as ladders, diving boards, and pool cleaners, and store them indoors to protect them from freezing and damage.