How To Winterize Your Pool

Taking your final summer swim during Labor Day weekend is bittersweet for pool owners and swimmers alike. While you may cherish all the fun you have in your pool, you probably don’t cherish the work that comes with closing up the pool. Even the most experienced pool owners can struggle to remember all the necessary steps to close the pool. Keep reading for the inside scoop on how to winterize your pool.

Thoroughly Clean Your Pool

This one may seem obvious, but forgetting to clean your pool before closing it can cause algae to grow, making reopening for the spring and summer much more difficult. Use a pool skimmer to remove debris floating around and a pool vacuum to remove debris from the bottom.

Test and Adjust Pool Water

By balancing your pool water, you’ll prevent damage that can occur on the pool’s surface due to overly acidic or alkaline water. Be sure to grab a pool test kit and be sure to test for alkalinity, pH levels, calcium hardness, totaled dissolved solids (TDS), bromine, chlorine, and cyanuric acid. Try to keep your pool within these ideal ranges:

  • Alkalinity: 80-150 ppm
  • pH Level: 7.2-7.6
  • Calcium hardness: 175-275 ppm
  • TDS: 500-1500 ppm
  • Bromine: 3-5 ppm
  • Chlorine: 1.0-3.0 ppm free chlorine
  • Cyanuric acid: 25-50 ppm

Lower Water Levels

Lowering the water level in your pool is especially important if you live somewhere that experiences freezing temperatures. When water freezes, it expands and can cause damage to your pool equipment.

Drain your water until it’s roughly four to six inches below the surface to accommodate a pool skimmer cover.

Cover Your Pool

After your pool is clean and the water is balanced and lowered, you’ll need a good pool cover. By covering your pool, you’ll prevent debris and algae growth, making reopening again when temperatures increase much easier.

Supplies and Equipment Needed To Close Your Pool for the Winter

Now that we’ve walked you through the necessary steps to closing your pool, we’ve made a list of all of the supplies you’ll need:

  • Pool skimmer
  • Pool vacuum
  • Water testing kit
  • Various pool chemicals, depending on water levels
  • Pool cover

Originally posted by SPS PoolCare.