Swimming Pool Store

Shorter days and cooler temperatures signal the end of the swimming season.  Closing your inground pool properly for the winter will greatly simplify the process of opening it again in the spring.  The process involves cleaning, disconnecting and storing the filter, cleaning the pool water, and covering the pool.  Here are some tips for closing your pool.

First you need to take out any toys or accessories that may still be floating in the pool.  Dry them off and store them together with other pool equipment so that you can find them again in the spring.   Give the pool a thorough cleaning with brush and vacuum cleaner.  By giving the pool a really good cleaning, you reduce the chances of algae getting a toehold in the pool and growing through the winter. 

Next,  make sure you have the pool at the right pH and chlorine level to make it through the winter.  This is recommended to be over 3.0 for the chlorine and 7.2-7.6 for the pH.  Add chemicals to get the water in shape and then give them time to circulate.  There are winterizing chemical kits that make this process easier.  These kits often contain an algaecide along with chlorine and a shock chemical.

The pool should be drained to below the level of the skimmer, but no more than 18 inches from the top of the pool.  Clean the filter and disconnect it.  If you are cleaning a sand filter or a DE filter, you will backwash it, and then disconnect it for storage.  If it is a cartridge type filter, clean the filters and disconnect.  Store in a safe, dry place.  Drain any lines, pumps, or valves and plug any resulting holes.  Store any fittings or other small pieces together in the skimmer basket for ease in finding them next year.

Finally you need to cover the pool with a winter cover.  If it is a water pillow cover, make sure the pillows don't leak.  Only fill them 85 percent full of water so that they have room for the water to expand and contract as it freezes and thaws through the winter.  Inspect the pool cover well to make sure it doesn't have any leaks.  You don't want rain water or debris to get into the pool.  Through the winter it is a good idea to check on the pool cover from time to time, to remove leaves or ice and make sure it is in place as it should be.