Winterizing Your Pool
Once those cool fall nights roll around, we stop thinking about swimming in favour of hockey and hot drinks. To enjoy your pool for many years to come it is very important to have a pool closing done properly. A poorly closed pool can result in big hassles in the spring due to cracked plumbing, broken equipment and swamp-like water. To avoid unnecessary expenses, follow these steps to close your pool the right way.
Choose a warm and preferably sunny day to close your pool, and make sure to bring out your radio and tune it to a good station. You will probably get wet during a few steps, so better weather will keep you in better spirits. Having an assistant will make the job go much faster, but expect to spend at least a few hours getting everything completed, especially if this is your first time closing your pool. If you have any questions or need last-minute supplies, don’t fret – if you’re an Imagine Fiberglass Pools customer, we can walk you through it.
8 Steps to Closing Your Pool
1. Balance the water
To make sure that you don’t find a swampy green mess when you remove your cover in the spring, you will need to balance the pool water and get rid of any algae problems before closing it. Remember that anything left in the fall will only be waiting for you in the spring – and it will have gotten worse. As well, unbalanced water can cause scaling or corrosion that can permanently damage your pool and require costly repairs. Bring in a water sample for a free computerized analysis a week or so before you intend to close the pool so that you will have time to make any chemical adjustments.
2. Clean the pool
Remove leaves and other debris, brush the walls, and vacuum. Get rid of any scum line or pink algae from around the sides of the pool, as leaving them over the winter will make them harder to remove in the spring.
3. Add winterizing chemicals.
It is very important to add the proper winterizing chemicals to your pool. It is much easier and less expensive to prevent algae, staining and scaling than it is to treat it, especially since our winters can be quite long and any problems will go unchecked until spring. Even though you are not using the pool and algae do not grow well in cold temperatures, it is still important to add the right amount of chlorine. Most closing kits will include a winterizing shock, algaecide and stain & scale inhibitor. Some people choose to add their chemicals after draining the water level down to eliminate waste, but adding them while the pump is still running ensures good circulation throughout the pool.
1. Add winter shock. Pre-dissolve granular shock by adding to a bucket of water – this prevents bleaching of vinyl liners.
2. Add a stain and scale inhibitor. This will prevent any metal and calcium from forming deposits on your pool surfaces.
3. Add algaecide. You should allow the shock to circulate and completely dissolve before adding the algaecide.
Allow your chemicals to circulate for a 20 or 30 minutes, and then proceed to turn off all of your equipment.
Adding chemicals after lowering water level: Ensure that granular shock doesn’t settle on the pool bottom by pre-dissolving in a bucket of water and broadcasting a few feet out from the pool edges. Because of the lack of circulation after the pool is drained, you will want to spread the chemicals out over as large an area of the pool as possible, and you may even want to use your leaf skimmer to stir them up if they don’t dissolve right away. Always follow the directions on the packaging, or call an Ashton Pools professional for advice.
Never leave pucks or tablets in your pool skimmer or floater over the winter. They will not circulate through the pool, and will likely damage the skimmer or pool surface.
4. Drain water down to winterizing level
You do not want water to enter the skimmer over the winter, so drain the level down 12 to 18 inches below the skimmer opening or just below the return lines. Plug the return lines with winterizing plugs after you have blown the water out of them. An easy way to blow out your lines is using a wet-dry vac. Removing water from the lines can be done one of two ways. First, you have the option of disconnecting the pipe at the equipment that returns the water back to the pool. If you disconnect the pipe at the last fitting before the pipe goes back underground, you can use the pressure side of your vac to blow the water back into the pool. Simply take the hose and cover it over the pipe until you see air coming out of your return lines. Having two people makes this job much easier. One person can blow the lines at the equipment, while another threads in the winterizing plug.
You don’t want to drain your pool completely over the winter, as the water in the pool keeps the vinyl liner in place and prevents creases or wrinkles. If your pool is fiberglass or concrete, draining it completely could cause it to crack or even rise up out of the ground.
5. Drain equipment and plumbing
It is very important to drain the water from your pump, filter, and plumbing. Water left over the winter will freeze and expand, which can damage pipes and equipment. Anti-freeze can be used in your pool as a second safety measure. Use pool anti-freeze in your main drain and return lines after you blow them free of water using your wet-dry vac. Pour the anti-freeze down the skimmer into the main drain before you plug it. Use a Gizzmo (a plastic threaded device) to plug your skimmer and prevent damage from water that may seep in over the winter from rain or snow. You can add anti-freeze to the return lines via exposed pipe by your equipment (e.g. by removing pipe from one of the fittings). Never use automotive antifreeze: it is corrosive in nature and will damage your plumbing. You can also use foam rope in your main drain to prevent damage from freezing. As water turns to ice, it will expand and crush the foam rope rather than put pressure on the pipe.
You can also fill some plastic milk jugs about1/2 full with water and let them float on the surface of the pool to help prevent damage to walls. Like the Gizzmo or foam rope, the jugs will be crushed instead of your pool walls.
Pool Heaters: Most heaters use natural gas or propane to be more energy efficient. If you are not familiar with how to winterize your heater, follow the steps given by the manufacturer or use our general guidelines to help you through it. It is a good idea to know how to shut your heater down, as most pool companies that offer closings do not have a registered gas fitter on staff. TSSA standards dictate that no one but a registered gas fitter should handle your heater. This means you will have to shut it down on your own or hire a professional to do it for you.
General Winterizing Tips for a Gas/Propane Pool Heater
1. Shut off the gas valve that supplies the heater.
2. For heaters with a standing pilot, make sure that you turn the pilot off.
3. Some heaters will have drain plugs that you can remove to let the water out of the grid. Others will require you to take off the unions and blow air through lines using the pressure side of your shop vac. Either way, you want to make sure that there is no water left in the grid that could freeze over the winter.
4. If your heater is electronic ignition, turn off or disconnect the power supply.
5. Remove the pressure switch to let water out and leave unplugged.
6. While you do not need to cover your heater or bring it indoors over the winter, putting a tarp over it will offer protection from the elements.
6. Protect your equipment and chemicals.
Some people choose to disconnect their pump and place it in a shed or their garage for the winter, but you can keep your equipment safely outside using a tarp as long as it has been drained of water. Always make sure that any exposed pipe is covered. Remove the pressure gauge from the sand filter and bring it inside, as it will not last the winter outside. Bring everything inside that you wouldn’t want stolen or damaged by the weather, such as vacuum hose, maintenance and safety equipment and your ladders and diving board. Remember – the better you care for your equipment the longer it will last.
Do not leave your chemicals or testing supplies outside over the winter. Chlorine or bromine pucks, sticks or granules should last over the winter in your garage or shed, but liquid supplies will not. It is best to properly dispose of any liquid products such as algaecide or liquid chlorine at the end of the season as they usually expire by the time spring rolls around. If your liquid products ever freeze, dispose of them immediately, as they will be useless and may burst. As well, you should replace liquid testing supplies each year so do not bother keeping these in storage. Keep chemicals sealed tightly in a well-ventilated area away from heat and water. Always keep any chemical out of reach of children.
This is also a good time to pack up your patio furniture and any loose deck items if you haven’t done so already. This will prevent them from blowing into the pool and damaging the cover.
7. Place winter cover and water bags.
Your winter cover should be in good repair with no holes or tears. Even the smallest hole can allow dirty water and debris to seep into the pool, which can result in algae and discoloration and possibly even permanent staining. You can patch a small hole or tear with a patch kit, but if there are multiple holes and tears you will probably just want to get a new cover. You should have as many water bags as needed to cover the entire perimeter of the pool without gaps, thus preventing wind damage. Water bags should be ½ to ¾ full to allow for expansion.
If you have a snap-in winter cover that fits into a track on your coping, make sure that it fits in snugly and securely. Use liner lock in the track to tighten any loose areas.
Safety covers are gaining in popularity, as they protect you, your pets and your loved ones from accidentally falling into the pool over the winter. They are also a visually attractive alternative to a tarp and water bags. See our Safety Covers section for more details.
8. Congratulations! Your pool is closed!
Kick back and relax knowing that you have taken the right steps in making your pool more fun and less work. Closing your pool properly in the fall will make your spring opening a fast and easy process. It can also save you a lot of money in pool repairs from any damage such as staining, scaling, and cracked plumbing. It is a good idea to check on your pool every now and then to make sure the cover is still in place and the water level isn’t too high (reaching the skimmer). Removing heavy debris from the cover over the winter as it builds up will also reduce your spring workload and take a great deal of pressure off the cover. This will reduce the chances of the cover tearing or ripping or falling into the pool, which allows all kinds of gunk and grime into your pool water. If this does happen, feel good knowing that Ashton Pools is open all four seasons if you need any advice or supplies.
Have a wonderful winter, and we look forward to seeing you in the spring!
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