Winter is Coming: How to Prepare Your Pool for the Cold Months

As winter approaches, pool owners need to take the necessary steps to protect their investments. Freezing temperatures and snow can wreak havoc on a pool if it’s not properly prepared. But with a little planning and effort, you can keep your pool in tip-top shape for the next swimming season. Let’s walk through some crucial steps on how to prepare your pool for the cold months.

Balance Your Pool’s Chemistry

The first step to preparing your pool for the winter season is to balance its chemistry. When preparing your pool, make sure the oxidizer levels, pH balance, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness are all at the recommended levels The basis rule of thumb is to close your pool for the winter with the water chemistry balance at the level you’d like it to be when you open the pool in the spring. This will help protect your pool from the harsh effects of winter weather. For more information on proper water chemistry, visit this page.

Important Tip: Always circulate your pool water for 24 hours prior to closing your pool. Most chemicals, particularly chlorine, are heavier than water and will concentrate at the bottom of the pool. Those concentrations can damage the pool surface, be it vinyl, fiberglass, or concrete. Circulating your water for 24 hours after adding the required chemicals is best practice.

Clean Your Pool Thoroughly

Before covering up your pool for the winter, make sure it’s thoroughly cleaned. Start by removing all the debris such as leaves, twigs, and dust. Scrub the walls, stairs, and ladder to make sure that all the dirt and algae are removed. Then, vacuum the pool floor and check the filter system to ensure it’s clean and functioning correctly.

 Prepare the Pool Equipment & Plumbing

As winter approaches, it’s important to ensure that all equipment related to your pool is prepared properly. If you live where there are extended periods of temperatures at or below freezing, you’ll want to winterize your pool plumbing and equipment. If you live where there are a limited number of times the temperature drops to or below freezing, then you’ll want to leave your equipment operational all year. This includes your pump, filter, heater, and any other components.

A freeze actuator, which is available as standard equipment on most variable speed pumps, should be installed so that the pump will turn on in case the temperature falls below a certain temperature. Without a freeze actuator, you’ll need to manually turn the pump to its highest setting during periods when temperatures dip down near freezing. In areas where temperatures are near, at, or below freezing, you’ll need to winterize your pool equipment and plumbing as part of an annual pool-closing process. This includes:

• Draining the pool below the inlet or return fittings.
• Blowing the water from the pool plumbing lines for the skimmer, returns, and water features.
• Adding pool anti-freeze to the plumbing lines.
• Draining your pump, filter, heater, and other equipment completely by removing all drain plugs (storing all drain plugs in the pump basket is best practice, so you’ll be able to find them next spring).
• Shutting down the electrical supply to the equipment.
• Moving all valves to the closed position according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
• Plugging all your pool lines, including the skimmer, inlets, and other plumbing features. Use a Gizmo or add a small unfilled and capped plastic bottle to your skimmer to allow for ice expansion.
• Refilling your pool to just below the skimmer.
• Installing your pool cover.

Important Tip: Winterizing your pool where temperatures are at or below freezing for extended periods is critical for the care of your pool. Improper winterization can lead to costly damaged plumbing. If you are inexperienced or unsure how to properly winterize your pool in harsh climates, consult your local pool professional to winterize and close your pool.

Cover Up Your Pool

Covering up your pool is a critical step in preparing your pool for winter. A high-quality pool cover protects your pool from falling debris, contaminants, and extreme weather conditions. Ensure that the cover fits tightly to the pool to avoid any debris or animals from entering the pool. Furthermore, never walk on the cover of the pool. Regardless of the type of cover you have, Pool Fits encourages staying off the cover as best practice in terms of safety and the proper care of your pool cover.

Regular Maintenance During Winter

If you have fully winterized and closed your pool, your job is done until spring arrives and it is time to open your pool again, when you’ll have a well-maintained pool for the next swimming season. Scheduling regular maintenance checks during the winter months is essential. This includes periodically checking the pool’s water chemistry, water level, and inspecting the cover. During winter, it is okay for the water level to be slightly lower than usual, if your pool pump and filter are shut down.

Winterizing your pool not only protects it from the harsh winter season but also helps to prolong its lifespan. Proper pool maintenance throughout the winter is just as essential as pool maintenance during the summer. By following these simple steps, you can have a well-maintained pool that will be ready to use when the warm weather returns. So, before the snow starts falling, take action, and prepare your pool for winter.