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How to Close your Pool for the Winter
There are two main ways of winterizing your pool, which depend on the climate of your area. The first is to winterize your pool in non-freezing winter conditions and the second is how to winterize your pool in freezing winter conditions. It is up to you, the pool owner, to determine which set of instructions you will need to follow depending on your given climate.
Everything you need to winterize your pool can be found in our complete Pool Closing Kits.
Winterizing your Pool in non-freezing conditions:
- Brush and vacuum your pool thoroughly to remove any and all debris
- Bring the water level to the very top, to the point that it’s just about to overflow
- Add stain and scale prevention chemicals (ex.) (32 fluid ounces per 25,000 gallons of pool water
- Adjust Alkalinity into the 80 - 120 ppm range depending on what type of sanitizer you use
- Adjust the pH to somewhere between 7.4 to 7.6
- Bring the Calcium Hardness level into the 200 - 400 ppm range
- Add 1 quart of Algae Control per 25,000 gallons of pool water
- Shock your pool with 2 pounds of shock per 10,000 gallons of pool water
- Bring the chlorine level to 1.5 ppm
- Put a Winter Cover over your pool
- Place a mesh Leaf Cover on top of the Winter Cover. This will make it easier to remove leaves and other debris from your cover in the spring
- Set your timer to turn on the filter 2-4 hours per day
- Make sure that you check the chlorine level and water balance approximately once every two weeks. Any fluctuations should be adjusted accordingly
- Physically inspect your pool’s water at least once a month by peeling back a corner of your cover. Look for a change in water color, scaling, or staining. If this is the case, bring a sample to your nearest pool professional and have them address the problem
Save yourself some time and energy with our Winter Pool Closing Kits.
Winterizing your Pool in freezing conditions:
- Brush and vacuum your pool thoroughly to remove any and all debris
- Bring the water level to the very top, to the point that it’s just about to overflow
- Add stain and scale prevention chemicals (ex.) (32 fluid ounces per 25,000 gallons of pool water
- Adjust Alkalinity into the 80 - 120 ppm range depending on what type of sanitizer you use
- Adjust the pH to somewhere between 7.4 to 7.6
- Bring the Calcium Hardness level into the 200 - 400 ppm range
- Add 1 quart of Algae Control per 25,000 gallons of pool water
- Shock your pool with 2 pounds of shock per 10,000 gallons of pool water
- Bring the chlorine level to 1.5 ppm
- Let your pump run for 4-8 hours, allowing it to complete a full cycle after the chemicals have all been added.
- Backwash your filter and clean it with chemicals before closing up.
- Lower your pool’s water level down below the skimmer and all return lines with a Submersible Pump. This will let the excess water drain from within the pipes of the rest of your pool’s equipment.
- Remove all drain plugs, your pump’s strainer basket, heater, filter tank, and pump volute. Drain all automatic pool cleaners and automatic chlorinators, if your pool is equipped with them. Store all external equipment somewhere that will not experience freezing conditions, such as a basement.
- Once the water has drained from all your lines, put Winterizing Plugs into the skimmer and return lines.
- Add Swimming Pool Antifreeze to all your pool’s lines. Be sure not to use automotive antifreeze, as it is extremely harmful and will damage your pool.
- Inflate and set up your Pool Air Pillows. Place on the surface of your pool to relieve pressure from ice. Most pools need 2-3 Air Pillows for adequate support.
- Put a winter cover over your pool, followed by a mesh leaf cover.
- Physically check water and chemical balance approximately 1-2 times a month.
Does winterizing your pool sound like a hassle? Make things easy on yourself with a complete Winter Closing Kit.
