Begin Preparing For Winter: Close Your Swimming Pool
Colder climates are slowly creeping upon us. If you have a swimming pool at your home, you should begin the process of preparing your pool to be closed for the winter.
When to Close Your Swimming Pool
Closing your pool for the winter takes a bit of time and effort if you want to do it right. However, doing it right will help you have a more successful opening when spring comes back around. You should not think about closing your swimming pool until the water is about 65 degrees or below. This should be when the temperatures during the daytime are in the 60s to the low 70s and night time temperatures are in the 40s.
Things to do Before Closing Your Swimming Pool
During the weeks before you actually prepare your pool for closing, there are several things you can be doing. Some of these include balancing the water, brushing and vacuuming, shocking the pool, cleaning all of the pool furniture, as well as putting all of the games, floats, and other things around the pool area in a secure place.
Closing Your Swimming Pool
Here are some things you should do when you are ready to close your swimming pool for the winter:
Drain the pool water to below skimmer.
Plug the return with a stopper.
Add special antifreeze for pools to skimmer lines.
Drain the filter of water.
Disconnect the pump/filter unit and store them where freezing is not possible. If you can not store them, then you should cover the unit securely.
Roll the swimming pool cover out over the pool and secure it.
During the fall season, the pool cover will collect leaves and water. You should try to pump off the excess water before winter comes. Keeping the cover as clean as possible will help save you time when you open your swimming pool again in the spring.
