Your pool is your outdoor sanctuary and retreat, and for many it is the place that provides a precious staycation. With pool ownership comes the responsibility of important caretaking of this prized possession. To avoid heartache in the spring it is essential to follow some pool closing and winterization guidelines.
- THINK AHEAD
Keep your water as clean as possible—any debris could be harmful and change the chemistry of your pool. For a good, solid week prior to closing your pool it is important to keep your pool clear of dirt and debris. It is, also, recommended that you run your pump 24/7 leading up to your closing. Make sure you are cleaning out your skimmer, filters and brushing/vacuuming your pool daily. The water chemistry of your pool is essential for sanitization. We recommend bringing your water in a week prior to closing to have it tested. Make sure your chlorine reading is dropped to 0ppm before treating with your winter chemicals. Make sure you have the right chemicals for your closing—we offer winter kits to make the process easy for you. Speak to one of our retail specialists about the right closing advice for your pool.
Off-season Water Balancing Guidelines after lower water levels
Free chlorine: 1-3 ppm
Alkalinity: 80-120 ppm
pH: 7.4-7.6
Calcium hardness: 200-350 ppm
- CHEMICAL BALANCING FOR THE WINTER
Before you secure your pool’s winter cover make sure you are properly preparing it for hibernation. There are issues that can lurk throughout the winter, and you want to protect your investment. If you have a plaster pool you should add a stain and scale inhibitor or Pool Closing Complete.
- CLEAN FILTERS
To prevent any permanent damage, make sure your filters are properly cleaned, disconnected and stored. If you have a cartridge or D.E. filter, make sure both the inside of the tank and the cartridge(s) or grid assembly are clean. We recommend an off-season deep cleaning using a degreaser such as Kleen-it. If you have a sand filter you need to run a backwash and chemically clean the filter to remove debris and oil buildup. Make sure no excess water is trapped in your filters.
- INSPECT EQUIPMENT AND WINTER COVER
Inspect for damage, tears, cracks (even small) on both your cover as well as your equipment. Make sure your pool equipment is in good, working order and address any issues before closing. If you do have any issues, don’t panic—we are here to help. There are repair kits for some pool covers, and we have a warehouse full of in-stock parts and accessories to address your concerns. Regardless of your pool cover type it is important to keep it free from debris. Don’t let swampy, dirty water into your pool, and remove the pointy twigs that can damage your cover. To keep clean use a cover pump, blower or sweep debris off carefully. If you aren’t comfortable inspecting the equipment yourself, call our service department for assistance.
- LOWER WATER LEVEL
Your water level should be lowered to appropriate winterization level. The water reduction prevents expansion and freezing as the temperatures drop. Also, during the fall and winter after closing you should inspect your water level monthly to make sure it isn’t lowering in case there were any undetected issues. Ask our certified pool professionals for assistance.
STORE POOL ACCESSORIES
Take care of your pool and all of its accessories and features to enjoy them without delay when opening time comes. Remove your pool steps, ladders, and all other removable accessories to store in a dry, safe place until next year.
- KEEP YOUR POOL CLEAN ALL YEAR!
As the harsher weather comes and goes make sure to check regularly for cracks, tears or damage on your cover and equipment all season long. The cleaner the area and more protected from debris the safer you will be from issues. Don’t wait too long to schedule your pool opening—be proactive and get your pool opened and treated in early spring to avoid lingering issues.
If you are a new pool owner and would like to learn more hands-on information about how to care for your pool, call us today to schedule an on-site training with one of our certified pool professionals.
