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When the days are becoming too cool to comfortably use your aboveground swimming pool, you know it is time to think about closing up your pool for the winter. This can seem like a daunting challenge if you have never done it before. Here are a few of the basic principles of preparing a pool to survive the winter.
First of all, it may seem like it would be necessary to drain an aboveground pool before freezing temperatures set in. Actually, draining is not recommended. Instead, you should get your pool as clean as possible and adjust the chemicals. Any debris or dirt that remains in the pool will grow into algae and make the pool that much dirtier in the spring. After cleaning and adjusting chemicals, the pool needs to be covered with a waterproof cover to keep out rain and debris through the winter.
Once you clean your pool for the final time, using the pool vacuum and brush, you need to add winterizing chemicals. There are kits you can get that include chemicals for winterizing a pool. The goal is to leave the pool with a slightly high pH since it will lower through the winter. A typical kit might contain an agent for reducing rust and scale as well as an algaecide. Add a non-chlorine shock product as well. Let these chemicals circulate a few hours before disconnecting the pump.
As much as possible, all of your pool accessories should be stored in a garage or storage shed through the winter. This includes the filter unit, cords, and flexible tube plumbing. You will need to remove the filter unit and tubes, and put plugs in the resulting holes. These plugs should have been included with your pool when you bought it, or you can look for them at a pool supplier. Remove the ladder and store it inside, too, if possible.
Before you finally cover the pool, it is a good idea to check it for any leaks. You can do this by marking the water level one day and checking it 48 hours later. If it seems to have gone down more than mere evaporation would account for, look for a leak and patch it. Leaks can get much worse through the course of a winter.
Finally, you need to cover the pool. You may want to use an air pillow to reduce the likelihood of damage from freezing water. An air pillow is a 4 by 4 foot vinyl inflatable pillow you can place in the center of the pool before covering it. The cover should be waterproof, clean, and free of any holes. Tie it on firmly and secure with clamps to keep it from being blown off in high winds.
If you follow all these principles, you should be able to remove the cover when spring days begin to get warm enough for swimming, and have only a little chemical adjusting to do to get the pool ready for swimming.
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