7 Steps to Closing Your Pool for the Winter

Sep 26th 2017

It looks like it’s time to close up your pool for the winter. Closing your pool up may seem like a time consuming & difficult task, but it doesn’t have to be. Follow our efficient guide to have your pool winterized in just a few steps.

Prepare Your Supplies

Before you begin closing your pool, it’s important to have all of the supplies you'll need readily available. Be sure you have the following:

Winter Pool Cover
Winter Tubes/Plugs
Winter Closing Kit
Cover Saver Siphon Pump (optional)

Step 1: Remove All Equipment & Deck Supplies

Remove the ladders, diving boards, rails & any other accessories you may have in your pool. Removing these first will make each subsequent step much easier to complete.

Step 2: Vacuum & Balance Your Water

Vacuum, skim & balance the pool water as you normally would. Cleaning your pool & removing as much debris as possible will make it easier to open your pool back up next year. Determine the pH, calcium & alkalinity level with a testing kit & make sure your pool water is balanced before moving onto the next step.

Step 3: Treat Your Pool

Once your pool is cleaned & balanced, you're ready to add in chemical treatments from the winter closing kit we linked above. The winter closing kit contains shock, conditioner & algaecide. These will keep your water as clear as possible, making it much easier to open next year.

Step 4: Clean & Prepare the Pool Filtration System

How to clean your system & prepare it for the winter varies depending on what filter you have, so it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for this step.

Step 5: Adjust the Water Level & Add Your Freeze Plugs

Make sure that your water level is ready for the winter. For freezing climates, drain the pool water level below the skimmer opening. It is generally recommended to drain it to 6” below the skimmer opening. This is especially the case for pools with tiles, as you do not want water to crack the tile as it freezes & expands. After draining the water, add your winter plugs.

Step 6: Add Your Winter Cover

for an in-ground pool, stretch the winter cover over the pool & secure it down with water tubes. People often use cinder blocks to secure their covers, but this is a dangerous risk. If the winds are strong enough to knock them into your pool, the cinder blocks could cause damage to your pool. Water tubes are strong & sturdy, but will cause no damage if they end up in the water.

For an above ground pool, stretch the winter cover over the pool and secure it down using your winter cover cable wire and a winter cover cable winch.

Note: Do Not Let Anyone Walk On The Pool Cover.

Step 7: Add a Rain Water Siphon Pump

An optional but extremely useful step in the pool closing process is adding a water siphon pump (linked above). This accessory will protect your pool cover from collecting too much rainwater or snow. It simply sits on the winter cover, protecting it from the elements & mildew damage. It's non-electric, but it does require your garden hose to work.

All Set For Winter

After these steps are completed, your pool should be ready for the winter. Keep in mind that if you live in a non-freezing climate, you most likely need to have a pool maintenance schedule to make sure your pool water remains balanced.