Closing Your In-Ground Pool

Ten steps to close down swim season

It’s tough to imagine, but with Labor Day upon us and temperatures beginning to drop, pool owners everywhere have to start thinking about closing their pool for winter.  And while the project isn’t that tough of an assignment, doing it incorrectly or failing to do it at all is a nearly foolproof way to create a lot of extra work and repair when spring rolls back around.

To help you out we’ve put together a quick checklist that many of our customers find to be helpful.  Give it a read – we think it is helpful.  And let us suggest that while you’re reading through it that you run a mental checklist to make sure you’ve got the necessary products on hand before you get going.  If you’re running low or don’t have something you think you’ll need, visit our winterizing accessories page to get in stock.  

1.  Check your supplies and make sure you have what you need.  Is your pool cover in good shape?       Do you have the proper chemicals on hand?  How about skimmers, plugs and tubes?

2.  Remove all deck equipment and toys as well as any skimmer baskets from your skimmers.

3.  Check that your pump basket is clear of debris.

4.  Test your water.  Having proper chemical balances going into winter can make a huge difference in the amount of work required when you open your pool months later.  We recommend a pH level between 7.2 – 7.6 with an alkalinity read coming in between 100-150 ppm.  Customers have told us in previous years that a higher reading at the start of winter is good since the ranges tend to fall as winter wears on.

5.  Clean your pool one last time.  Vacuum, brush and skim.

6.  Treat your pool with your winter chemical kit.

7.  Clean your pump and filter. 

8.  Blow out the water from your plumbing lines.  This very important step can save pool owners a great deal of expense as long as it is done properly.  Lines that hold water heading into a freeze can result in cracking and breaking and that translates into a costly repair job in the spring.  Many customers have likened this step to the same one they have done every fall with their in-ground sprinkler system and we suppose that’s a pretty good comparison.

9.  Put on your winter pool cover.  Check it for rips or tears.  Make sure it’s tight and then secure it with one of our winter cover water tubes.  Not sure how many you need, our handy chart can help you with that decision.

10.  Label and store your equipment for the winter.  Go inside, light a fire and start dreaming of the tan you’re going to have……..next summer!