Must-Have Pool Closing Accessories
Owning a swimming pool is both a blessing and a burden. During the summer months, pool owners deal with pool cleaning and chemical balancing. In the fall, it’s time to close the pool and get it ready for winter. This year why not make pool winterizing quicker and easier than ever before? We’ve listed inexpensive pool closing accessories that will help protect costly equipment, and make closing a pool less of a chore.
Water tubes – Water tubes are used to hold down an inground pool cover. Place several water tubes along the edge of the cover to keep it from shifting position or being tossed around in a wind storm. These pool closing accessories are fairly inexpensive and are available in single or double tube styles. When purchasing water tubes, it’s best to pay a few dollars more for a heavier gauge vinyl, as they are thicker and more durable, and are thereby more resistant to rips and tears.
Equalizer pillow – An equalizer pillow is a necessary product to have when winterizing an above ground pool. It provides a padded cushion between the water and your cover, which is beneficial in several ways. The pillow also will keep the cover from freezing to the water in inclement weather. Additionally, this pool closing accessory will help the cover ‘tent’ in the middle to prevent water and/or snow from accumulating heavily on top of the cover. When the pillow is placed beneath the cover, it keeps the cover from moving out of place. An equalizer pillow is inexpensive and simply needs to be blown up with air to install.
Pool Pillow Pal – One of the toughest tasks of winterizing an above ground pool is keeping the equalizer pillow in place. The Pool Pillow Pal is a product that will only cost around $ 10.00, but will make this job much easier. The product is actually two separate patches that attach together. Each side is sticky, just like a pool patch. One side attaches to the equalizer pillow, the other attaches to the cover itself. When in place, the Pool Pillow Pal holds the two together, making it much easier to cover the pool for the winter.
Gizzmo – A pool Gizzmo is a device that you can use when closing a pool of any type. It is used to help protect and winterize the skimmer in the winter, as it absorbs ice that forms during cold months. This inexpensive device will cost around $ 10.00, but can keep your skimmer from cracking when it’s cold. Above ground pool owners will need a standard Gizzmo, while inground pool owners will need to purchase a Super Gizzmo, which is a little longer for deeper skimmer baskets.
Any of the pool closing accessories above can be purchased at your local pool supply store, or online. Don’t forget to buy pool antifreeze to protect your lines from freezing and cracking in the winter, too!
More from Jennifer Wagner:
Pool closing tips for all pool types
Affordable weekend home improvements with big impact
Extend the life of your household appliances
Source: Personal knowledge
