With fall right around the corner, it’s time to start preparing to close your pool for the winter months. Closing your pool properly ensures a prolonged the life of your pool and saving yourself potentially costly repairs.
- Examine Equipment: A couple of weeks prior to the date you plan to close your pool, examine your equipment and overall pool structure. Make sure everything is in working order; if it’s not, replace the non-functioning parts before the first freeze. Remove any equipment such as ladders, rails, diving boards, etc.
- Prep the Piping: Per your manufacturer’s instructions, drain and blow water out of all of the piping. Use a tank vacuum cleaner on reverse flow or an air compressor to blow water out of circulation lines. Once that’s done, add nontoxic antifreeze, available at your local pool supply store. This helps to protect your water from freezing.
- Lower the Level: How far you’ll need to lower your pool’s water depends on the type of swimming pool and cover that you have. For above-ground pools, a good rule of thumb is to lower the water below the returns (where the water jets into your pool). For in-ground pools, you can choose to drain it down past the skimmer, but if you’ve properly plugged your underground pipes, you don’t have to lower it. Never completely drain a pool!
- Winterize the Water: When the temperature drops, you don’t want your pool’s water to become corrosive. Therefore, you want to treat your pool with winterizing chemicals and make sure the water is chemically balanced. Your pH level should be somewhere between 7.2 – 7.6, your alkalinity should be 80 – 120 parts per million, and your calcium hardness should be 175 – 250 parts per million.
- Clean till it’s Clear: Skim and vacuum your pool thoroughly. Staining can occur if you leave debris or dirt in the pool when you close it, so make sure it’s as clean and clear as possible.
- Cover: Make sure your pool cover is properly sized and installed. Make sure your cover doesn’t have any holes, as this will allow rainwater and debris to contaminate your pool. If you’re covering an above-ground pool, make sure your cover is four feet larger than the pool’s opening. Anchor the cover securely.
For more information about swimming pool maintenance, contact Continental Pools, 8520 Corridor Rd., Ste. B, Savage, MD, 20763, or call 800-640-0062.