Closing Your Inground Pool

Closing Your Inground Pool

Properly closing your inground pool is very important. Not only will it protect your pool throughout the winter, it will ensure you’re not met with a mess come spring when you take the cover off. Without a cover, all that debris from the winter, such as leaves and sticks, will slowly rot and sink to the bottom. This will clog the skimmer, eat away at your liner, and throw off your water chemistry. Here’s how to do it right. In New Jersey, where we experience freezing winters, you will need to remove the water to prevent ice damage. You’ll have to balance the water and add some additives, plus use a winter cover to prevent accidental drownings and to keep your water clear. You’ll have to blow the water out of your pump to avoid freezing and cracking pipes.

Supplies You Will Need

Here’s what you’ll need to close your pool:

• Tools to remove pool accessories like steps and ladders
• Air compressor
• Shock
• Test kit or strips
• Sanitizer
• pH increaser and decreaser
• Alkalinity increaser
• Calcium hardness increaser
• Algaecide
• Cyanuric acid
• Metal sequestrant
• Pool cover
• Water tubes
• Pool brush
• Rubber plugs
• Skimmer plate
• Vacuum
• Telescoping pole

Cleaning Your Pool

Clean your pool with a brush attached to a telescoping pole, scrubbing the walls and floor. Vacuum the resulting dirt and debris. Use an algae brush if you have stubborn algae buildup.

Test Your Water

Test the water to make sure your pH and alkalinity levels are balanced.

Add Winterizing Chemicals

Once you have your chlorine levels where you want them, add a non-chlorine shock, then the other chemicals, then close the pool up. OR you can just balance your water and put the cover on, and pray for the best. If you do this, though, you could be uncovering a green pool come spring. Depending on the type of water you have, you may not need to add all these winterizing chemicals:

Algaecide

Add a dose of this to prevent spore growth over the winter.

Metal Sequestrant

If you have hard water, add this.

Pool Enzymes

These can attack organic contaminants.

Winter Pill

This contains sanitizer and clarifier, slowly dissolving under your cover.

Antifreeze

You don’t need to add this if you have blown out the lines.

Shock the Pool

The day before you put the cover on, shock the pool. If you notice algae blooms, you may want to double or triple up on the dose. Run the pump overnight, then test the water the next morning.

Lower the Water Level

This will prevent freeze damage and overflow. Make sure it’s below the tile border.

Backwash, Then Clean the Filter and Pump

Remove the cartridge filter, wash it, then rinse and dry before storing. If you have a sand filter, clean it with a cleaner meant for such filters, or backwash it. Same with DE filters.

Blow Out the Lines

This part is best left up to professionals, but entails the following steps:

• Take off all return fittings and skimmer baskets.
• Remove all drain plugs from the filter.
• Switch the multiport valve to recirculate.
• Set the valve to the skimmer line.
• Attach the air compressor to the drain plug opening.
• Blow air through the system.
• Use a Shop-Vac to suck out the water until dry.
• Plug the hole in the skimmer’s bottom with a rubber plug.
• Install rubber plugs in each return line.
• Switch the valve to the main drain setting.
• Run for one minute.
• Switch the pump valve to the skimmer line.
• Switch off the air compressor.
• Plug the pump up in case of leaks.

Remove Pool Accessories

You don’t want to leave ladders and rails in place all winter, as the finish can be damaged, they could rust, they could allow critters and kids to get into the pool, and their placement prevents a snug fit with the cover. Clean and dry each, storing in a dry place. Take out fittings from the return lines, then clean your skimmer baskets.

Install a Winter Cover

A standard winter cover will keep contaminants out and maintain somewhat of a balance with your chemistry. To prevent sinking or gaps, place water tubes or weights at the appropriate places. Use your pump to remove extra water from the cover. Use a push broom to remove debris and snow over the winter, but don’t use anything sharp like a shovel. You could also shell out a few more bucks and opt for a pool safety cover which pulls double duty. First, it keeps debris out and second, it prevents people and animals from falling in. You can get them in solid, mesh and hybrid styles.