Winterizing Your Swimming Pool

If you are fortunate enough to live in an area of the country that is warm for all or most of the year, winterizing your swimming pool is probably not even a consideration for you. If, however, you live in a colder part of the country and you have not yet winterized your swimming pool, I would suggest expediency as Winter is just around the corner. Here are some tips for getting the job done so you can rest assured that your pool will be in tip-top condition when the warmer season rolls back around.

The first step is easy; cleaning up. Take down solar blanket, ladders, diving boards, handrails, water volley nets, toys, etc. Clean them and put them away for the season.

Second of all you need to vacuum the water completely. You can put the vacuum on filter if there is not a ‘waste’ setting on your dial. This ensures that the waste is coming completely out of the pool and not being stored within it for the long months that are ahead.

Check the literature for your pool to see what level of water is recommended for the winter, as well as what type of cover you will need. You may also want to purchase cover clips if you live in an area that can get quite windy during the winter months. If you do not have literature with your pool (i.e., you purchased a home with the pool already in place and no literature is to be found) consult your local swimming pool store and ask to speak to someone in the know. This is an important measure to take. Some people want to drain their pools completely, and while this is fine for some pools and recommended for others, there are those that cannot be drained lest they be completely ruined (the inground concrete pool).

Once your water level is at the appropriate level for winterizing, check the pH balance of your water and treat as recommended by your local pool store or pool literature. Again, this varies for each swimming pool so be sure you are acting appropriately as your particular type of pool dictates. It is important to remember that freezing temperatures can be harsh on the pool so treating the water to avoid corrosion is a necessity. You must be sure to add the proper chemicals to the pool that are created specifically for winterizing it.

The next step is to get those valves and pipes clear of water and protected for the harsh weather that is to come. Heaters should also be drained and completely eliminated of water. Use a professional pool vacuum if possible to blow any water out of underground lines. You can use a shop vac if nothing else is available. Plug lines. Optionally you can fill the lines with anti-freeze (while easy to do, you must again get your directions for this from a professional pool person to make sure you are doing it correctly and avoiding unnecessary problems that could occur).

After you have protected your valves and pipes, clean your filters and drain them completely. You can take the plugs out but make sure to apply a thick application of lube to them. This ensures that rust cannot move in and take over during the cold months of winter. You may also want to consider purchasing a filter cover to protect your pump during this particular season.

The ideal time to winterize your pool is before leaves fall but if you have not done it by then you must ensure that it gets done. Ice can cause exponential damage to a pool and even destroy it. A few steps of precaution can save you costly repairs or replacement fees in the future.