How do I close my in-ground pool for the winter?

As we near the end of the year, make sure you winterize your pool the right way!  Take a look at the steps our experts put together for an easy process ahead of you:

Clean the Pool

Before you pack up your pool for the winter months ahead, it is important to remove any accessories and do a deep-clean of your pool.  Make sure to balance pH levels, scrub the pool walls to get rid of algae, and thoroughly clean the water with a skimmer.  After skimming, it is best practice to vacuum and brush the bottom and sides of the pool to filter out leftover debris and smaller particles.

Lower Water Levels

Check the pool cover directions to see if a specific water level is needed for winterization.  If you have a mesh cover, you will need to lower the water level about one foot from the typical waterline, whereas thicker covers only require lowering the water a few inches.

Clean the Pool Filter

Your pool’s filter should be removed and thoroughly cleaned out before putting it away for the winter.  If your pool has a diatomaceous earth filter, make sure to pay special attention to the cleaning, as there tends to be more dust and particles that get stuck in this filter type.

Add Additional Chemicals

Look online for a basic “closing” or winterization chemical kit that uses slow-release floaters to keep the water and walls clean during the winter.

Make sure you use a kit rated for your in-ground pool filtration type. And read instructions carefully to avoid making any mistakes. After you shut down your pool for the winter check out these nine home energy conservation tips for the winter.

Blow Out Pool Lines

Blowing out pool lines is a good idea, since water stuck in the lines can freeze if temperatures drop below freezing.  Get access to an air compressor or wet-rated vacuum, and then blow out all pump component, including heaters and filter components.

Remove Drain Plugs

It is important to remove all the drain plugs in your pool; but be careful, some may be hidden!  Check your pool manual to make sure you locate and remove all plugs before winterizing.  You can change out these drain plugs with expansion plugs to prevent damage done by freezing water.

Shock Your Pool

Shocking your pool is optional, but some winterization kits recommend doing so with a set of chemicals right before covering your pool up.  Check your winterization kit’s recommendation to make sure shocking is not part of the final winterization process.

Cover the Pool

Before winter hits, you will want to purchase a custom-made pool cover.  As some covers are more affordable than others, we recommend avoiding mesh covers and choosing one that is best for winter use.

If you need any help with winterization steps for your pool, get in contact with one of our pool & spa experts.