It’s Pool Closing Season! Here’s What You Need to Do

With summer officially at an end and temperatures beginning to drop, pool closing season is at hand.

Here are some essential tips to follow as you close your pool for the unfortunately long winter months.

Inspect for Damage

First things first, you need to inspect your pool for cracks, leaks or tears in the pool or the liner. Any issues need to be repaired before you close the pool.

If you find anything, your first step will be to access how severe the damage is. Small tears can be easily repaired, but a liner with large tears and leaks will need to be replaced entirely. 

This can be done either before you close your pool or when you open it next season — but keep in mind that the longer you wait, the higher the odds your pool foundation suffers serious damage become. 

Ensure Your Pool is Balanced

Algae infestations can occur even if your pool is closed. To safeguard against this, make sure your pool is chemically balanced before closing. Test your pool and add the correct chemicals to balance it out, using your standard chemical testing gear you use throughout the summer months. 

Remember, if something seems especially off or you don’t feel confident that you can balance your pool correctly, contact an expert who can easily take care of this.   

Remove All Equipment

Diving boards, ladders, skimmer baskets — remove them all from the pool and store in a safe, dry environment. Keeping these items attached or in these pools increases the odds that they suffer cold-related damages.

Blow Out Pool Equipment and Lines

To prevent your pool lines from freezing, backwash both the filter and your pool heater to get rid of excess water. This way you won’t risk this water freezing and causing hard-to-repair (and expensive) cracks. 

Partially Drain Pool

Never drain your pool completely, as this could potentially cause damages to your liner in cold temperatures. Instead, slightly drain the pool based off of your liner material. To learn more about how much water you should leave in your specific pool, click here. 

This task is best left to pool professionals, but if you’d like to do it yourself, you’ll have to first rent a sump pump and ensure you have a hydrostatic valve installed on your pool. Then you’ll use the pump to lower the water to the correct level.

Remember to Check Your Pool Cover 

When it gets cold, you better check to see that your winter cover is in good condition. Check for tears and to ensure that the cover is still on tight; you never know when it might loosen and let the outside elements in. 

Also, be sure to keep the cover free of any debris like leaves, dirt or snow. Too much weight could lead to a tear or collapse.

Need Help?

Have more questions about closing your pool or keeping it in good condition during the winter? Give us a call at 847-499-6040.