Swimming Pool Store

Everyone is sorry to see cooler weather and shorter days because it means the end of the swimming season.  Remember that summer will be back before you know it.  Be ready for next summer by properly closing your above ground pool at the end of the season.

First of all, be sure to clean your pool well one last time.  Use the brush and the vacuum.  Check the pool for leaks and fix them.  If you have a metal sided pool, touch up any spots where there may be rust or peeling paint with a little new paint.  Any leaks or rust damage are likely to get worse through the winter if you do not tend to them now.

Next, reduce the level of water in the pool to below the level of the skimmer.  You do not want to completely drain the pool!  It is much better to treat the water and leave the pool covered through the winter.  When the water level is below the level of the skimmer, you can add winterizing chemicals.  These chemicals are available in winterizing kits.  A kit will take the guesswork out of adding chemicals during the pool closing process.  Some people place a large sponge in the skimmer basket to keep the skimmer from filling with water.

Remove the pump and filter apparatus, and plug the resulting holes.  Clean the pump according to manufacturer's suggestions and then store it in a shed or garage.  Don't forget where you put it, however.  Now you are ready to cover the pool.

Make sure your pool cover is clean and free of any holes.  If you can't get it clean or get the holes fixed you should probably get a new pool cover.  A winterizing cover needs to be waterproof.  You don't want a cover that lets rainwater through.  The cover should be laid loosely across the top of the water.  It should not be tight, but it does need to be secured very well so it will stay on during those winter winds.  It's a good idea to have someone else on hand to help you handle the pool cover.  You can use a cable and winch to secure the cover.

Do make sure you have stored any accessory items where they will be out of harm's way but where you can find them again next spring.  Hopefully, if you have done all this, it won't be much trouble next summer when it's time to get the pool open and running again.