When you close your swimming pool for the winter season is largely dependent on your local weather and location. As a rule of thumb, it is usually time to close your pool when daytime temperatures consistently drop below 70°F. Most seasonal pool owners will close their pools sometime between Labor Day and Halloween.
Winterizing your pool protects pool surfaces and equipment. Properly closing your pool can also help to save time on maintenance during next season’s pool opening. Follow these steps to close your swimming pool.
Clean Pool Water and Surfaces
Give your pool a deep cleaning. Vacuum and brush your pool surfaces, skim water and empty skimmer baskets. Pay close attention to areas around ladders, in pool corners, pool lights and other areas of little to no water flow.
Test and Balance Water
Test your pool with pool test strips or a liquid test kit. Apply the appropriate products to balance you pool water to the ideal ranges. Pay special attention to your Free Chlorine and pH parameters to ensure your water is sanitized and equipment is protected. Always maintain Free Chlorine between 1 – 4 ppm and pH between 7.2 to 7.6.
Clean Filter
Backwash, if possible, or chemically clean your filter to remove built up contaminants. Always follow your filter manufacturer’s directions.
Apply a Shock
Apply a shock to give your pool one last chlorine boost and remove microscopic contaminants before closing.
Apply an Algaecide
Use an algaecide to prevent and kill any algae that may be lingering in your water. Apply a multi-functional algaecide that treats and prevents the three main types of pool algae.
Shutdown
Turn off all your pool equipment and drain plumbing lines. Follow your owner’s manual to plug skimmer and return lines with the appropriate winterizing plugs, if applicable. Remove and store ladders, handrails and other accessories. Install a pool cover if desired.
