Whether you’re a first-time pool owner or a seasoned veteran, this guide will provide you with the essential steps for winterizing your pool and help you maintain your pool during the cold season. With the right preparation and routine maintenance, you can ensure that your pool will be ready for use when the weather warms up.
Why is winterizing your pool important?
Winterizing your pool is an essential part of pool maintenance that protects your pool from damage caused by freezing temperatures or heavy snowfall. If your pool is not properly winterized, the water will freeze, leading to cracks and other damage to the pool surface and walls. The worst-case scenario is that your pool may break and require expensive repairs.
If you live in an area where temperatures frequently fall below freezing, it is important to winterize your pool to protect it from damage, even if you are not planning to use it. Pool water can freeze at a temperature as low as 32 degrees Fahrenheit. If the water temperature in your pool drops below this, ice will begin to form on the surface, causing cracks and holes, and damaging the pool surface. If this happens, you may need to replace the surface of your entire pool.
Closing the pool
Before you close your pool for the winter, there are a few essential steps you should take to properly close it. Below are all of the things you should do before closing it.
Inspect the equipment
Before the winter arrives, make sure to inspect all of the equipment around your pool, including the pump, filter, and heater. If there are any broken or damaged pieces, make sure to replace them before the winter.
Clean the pool
You should always thoroughly clean your pool before closing it. That way, balancing the water before winterization (which is a must) will be a much easier task. You should first remove any debris by skimming the surface, remove any debris in the skimmer, then scrub the walls with a brush, and vacuum the pool.
Add chemicals to prevent damage from freezing temperatures
If you don’t plan on draining your pool, you should make sure you properly balance the water before closing it for the winter. Doing so will make it much easier for you come summer when it’s time to open the pool again. Use a pool test kit to first determine the pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness of the water. Keep the pH between 7.2 and 7.6, the alkalinity between 80 ppm and 120 ppm, and the calcium hardness between 180 ppm and 200 ppm.
Additionally, you should shock your pool before you close it and aim to get the chlorine levels between 1 ppm and 3 ppm. Then, add algaecide so that you don’t find yourself opening a swamp come summertime! You can also add phosphate remover as well as stain and scale chemicals to prevent metal buildup.
Keep the water level consistent
Before shutting your pool for the season, it’s crucial to decrease the water level if your location puts the water in danger of freezing. Your pool’s cover determines the exact water level. For those with mesh coverings, the water level should be 3 to 6 inches below the tile, while for those with solid covers, it should be 12 to 18 inches below the skimmer.
Keep in mind that this step might not be essential if you reside in a warm area where temperatures don’t go below freezing.
Remove all accessories
Next, take out all pool equipment, including ladders and diving boards, to make sure the winter pool cover fits properly. You don’t want to add a pool cover only to find a ton of debris from the gaps the accessories caused. Moreover, if you don’t remove them from your pool, your pool chemicals can damage the accessories, even causing them to rust. Skimmer baskets and other wall fixtures should be taken out of the pool as well. Clean the accessories before storing them in a clean and dry area for the winter.
Drain the water from your pipes
During the winter, it is important to make sure that water does not get trapped in your pipes. Frozen water in your pipes can cause expansion and cracking of equipment, so you should aim to have them be as dry as possible before closing. You can do this by draining the water from your pipes before the weather starts to cool. Usually, pool closings occur in September and October.
Common mistakes to avoid when winterizing your pool
There are a few common mistakes to avoid when winterizing your pool, including not cleaning your pool before closing it and not adjusting the water level to make sure it fits under the winter cover. If your pool is not clean before closing it for the winter, debris and dirt could get trapped in the water and cause damage to your pool in the spring.
If you leave the water level at its normal level, your pool may overflow during the winter, causing damage to your yard. Make sure to clean your pool and adjust the water level to ensure that your pool is ready for the winter.
Once spring has arrived and the cold weather has passed, you can open your pool again and enjoy the warm weather once more. Before you open your pool, be sure to clean and sanitize the water. You can use a chlorine-based pool chemical or a chlorine-based shock treatment to sanitize the water. You can also use a pool water test kit to test the pH, alkalinity, and other water parameters to make sure they’re within their designated range.
Once you’ve cleaned and sanitized the water, you’re ready to open your pool. Open the winterizing cover and remove the pump and filter. Turn on the pump, and the water will circulate through the pump and filter. The pump will begin moving the water, and the filter will begin cleaning the water. The water will then be ready for use again.
If you need help opening or closing your pool, contact a pool professional. Your professional can come on a weekly basis to carry out basic pool maintenance or teach you how to do it yourself. One thing’s for sure — you will never doubt the safety of your pool if you have a professional take care of it for you!
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