10 Things To Do Before Closing Your Pool

It's that time of year again...yes, time to close-up the pool for the season. While not quite upon us just yet, the prep work for winterizing should begin now - about two weeks before you close your pool. It makes the whole process considerably smoother if you tend to these seemingly minute details ahead of time.

Two Weeks Before Closing

1. Order your Pool Closing Kit and take stock of the pool chemicals that you may already have on-hand that you can use to help you close.

2. Order pool closing supplies. Take stock of your cover accessories, like the anchor hex key, brass anchors, and water bags or air pillows. Locate your pool closing accessories, like winter pool plugs, before pool closing.

One Week Before Closing

1. Balance the pool water. The first step in tending to pool chemistry is to make sure that your pH, Total Alkalinity, and Calcium Hardness levels are balanced.

2. Add stain and scale prevention like Metal Free, which needs a day to work by itself, before adding other pool closing chemicals. Try to remove any stains you have now before closing. Brush the pool several times during the week.

3. Use chlorine shock to kill off bacteria, algae, and to get your chlorine levels to a nice, strong level. Brush the pool afterwards, then vacuum well the following day.

4. For mesh safety covers, or any pool that opens up green in springtime - I highly recommend treatment with Pool Magic Spring & Fall, with PhosFree.

5. Over-filter the pool water by running the pump 24/7 for a few days before closing the pool - bonus points for adding a dose of clarifier. Extra filtering will make sure that your pool water is as pure as possible, to reduce potential for stains and algae during fall and winter.

6. Get a helper. Line up someone to help you put on the winter pool cover. You can do 90% of a pool winterization yourself, but the cover is best done with two people. For more pool cover tips, here's another post on the topic.

Pool Closing Day

1. Shock the pool with non-chlorine shock. Non-chlorine shock comes with all of our winter kits, to oxidize contaminants in the water, without affecting the winter algaecide.

2. Add algaecide to prevent it algae from growing in the upcoming months. Add the algaecide just before you cover the pool, after the water has been lowered.

Six Unique Pool Closing Items

Here are a few of the key items discussed below:

Winter Kits

Why pay someone to close your pool when you can do it yourself? We offer several winterizing kits to suit any need. From basic to ultimate, these pre-measured chlorine-free chemical kits will put your pool in top shape for winter closing. Some kits even include the popular WinterPill, by AquaPill.

Winter Plugs

Save time and water with this unique winterizing plug. Just replace the eyeball return fittings with the Bungee-Plug, and you’re all set! Your pool plumbing is safely winterized without having to drain any water from the pool. Other popular plugs include the Hayward SP1022C, threaded 1.5" plug for skimmers and wall returns. We also have the rubber expansion plugs too, to fit 3/4" to 2.0" pipes.

Skimmer Plug

Speaking of water conservation, another great way to avoid draining the pool for winter is to use a Skimmer Plug. Installation is a breeze, and no tools are required. Just snap it into your existing skimmer faceplate, and the skimmer is sealed for the winter! Skimmer Plugs are perfect for any pool, both inground and above ground. Better than Aquador, because you don't have to change the faceplate.

Skimmer Guard

Another great way to protect your skimmer from freezing damage is to insert a skimmer guard or Gizzmo, which absorbs the force of the expanding ice and prevents your skimmer from cracking. With a Blowout Skimmer Guard, you can use the pipe to connect your Cyclone Blower. Using this method, you won’t have to lower the pool water level or add antifreeze to the lines, saving you both time and money when compared to other skimmer guards.

Aqua Blocks

If you’ve ever used a winter cover, you know how important it is to weigh down the edges for closing. The most popular method is to use water tubes. However, these thin tubes tear and puncture easily, and most users are lucky if they get a couple seasons out of a set of tubes. That’s not the case with Aqua Blocks. These rugged, leak-proof tubs are built to last, promised to not crack or leak in freezing temperatures, and the UV resistant material will hold up for years and years of use.

Furniture Covers

It’s easy to stay focused on the swimming pool while going through your winterizing routine. But what are you doing to protect your patio furniture from winter weather? These patio furniture covers, made of heavy-duty Rain-Tite fabric, will keep your chairs, lounges, tables and umbrellas protected all winter long. Elastic hems ensure a snug fit, while cord loops can be secured around the furniture legs to keep them secure. No matter what Mother Nature throws your way, these furniture covers aren’t going anywhere!

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Most of these steps should be part of your regular pool routine. Now is the time to ramp up your efforts to get a good head of steam for the long winter months that lie ahead.

Following these steps leading up to closing your pool will not only make the winterizing process smoother, it will make your pool opening easier too!