Closing Your Pool

Closing Your Pool

No matter your climate, knowing how to close your swimming pool is essential to protecting your investment and increasing its longevity. Follow these steps to make closing your pool as simple as possible.

Cold Climate Closing Steps

Before leaves and snowflakes begin to fall, it's important for homeowners in the Snow Belt to winterize and close their pools. These step-by-step instructions will provide all the information needed to do this properly.



Step 1:
Adjust pH Levels

If not properly adjusted, your pool can become a test tube for algae to grow during the cold winter months. You don't want to take off your cover to reveal a green pool in the spring, right?

  • Adjust your pH to 7.2-7.8 to prevent stains, scaling and algae growth.
  • Then, shock the pool.
  • Run the filter for 24 to 48 hours to clear debris.

Step 2:
Clean and Vacuum Thoroughly

Another important part of closing your pool is cleaning and vacuuming it thoroughly. The cleaner your pool is before you close it, the easier time you will have opening it next spring.

Step 3:
Lower the Water Level

The majority of pools fare better in cold temperatures when they are filled only partially with water, as water expands when it freezes. It is typically advised to drain below the skimmer.

Step 4:
Shut Off All Equipment

Especially if you live in an area that faces frequent winter snow, it is incredibly important to protect equipment like your filter, pump and heater from the elements. All water must be removed from the equipment to prevent freezing damage. Blow out your lines to remove the water and close valves to prevent any water from re-entering the line.

Step: 5
Turn Off Power

Now that your equipment has been put away for the off-season, you can turn off all power being run to the pool.

Step 6:
Store Accessories

From slides to diving boards and everything in-between, it is important to get your favorite accessories out of the elements as the weather gets cold.

  • Remove and safely store pool ladders, slides, diving boards and any other accessories your in-ground pool may have.

Step 7:
Cover Pool

Once all the above steps are complete, it’s time to put your pool cover on. A quality cover will not only keep leaves and airborne dirt out of your pool, but it will also resist water, weather and pool chemicals from seeping in our out of the pool.

  • Cover pool securely and fill water bags halfway.
  • The edge of the cover should be sealed so that wind does not get under it.

Optional
Hire a Pool Professional

Remember, closing your pool properly to prevent costly repairs, and ensure a simple re-opening is most important. Hiring a professional to close the pool for you might be your best option for guaranteed results. Use our Dealer Locator to find a professional near you.

Mild Climate Closing Steps

For homeowners whose climate permits a longer (or year-round) swimming season, it may only be necessary to close your pool if there are many weeks that you will not be using it.

Step 1:
Cut Filtration in Half

  • Begin your pool’s downtime by reducing the amount of time your filter runs
  • Keep pH between 7.2-7.8 and free available chlorine between 1.0 and 3.0 parts per million (use tester).
  • Follow pool equipment manufacturer's instructions for proper care of equipment during this time.

Step 2:
Clean Skimmer Weekly

If you will not be putting a cover on your pool during its downtime, your skimmer will be working hard to keep dirt and debris from collecting in your pool.

  • Be sure to clean your skimmer weekly to maintain optimal performance.
  • Vacuum pool as needed.

Step 3:
Cover Pool

Tired of dealing with leaves and dirt? Covering your pool will keep this debris out, revealing crystal clear water when you are ready to swim more regularly again.

  • Before covering, perform a shock treatment so that no algae growth occurs beneath the pool cover.

Optional
Hire a Pool Professional

Remember, closing your pool properly to prevent costly repairs, and ensure a simple re-opening is most important. Hiring a professional to close the pool for you might be your best option for guaranteed results. Use our Dealer Locator to find a professional near you.

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