Winterizing your pool is essential to protect your pool equipment and plumbing from damage during the winter months. This quick guide covers the basic steps needed to close your swimming pool and get it ready for the winter.
Steps to Close a Swimming Pool
1. Gather all tools and equipment needed
- Start by gathering all the necessary tools, parts, and equipment to close your pool. This includes your pool cleaning equipment, a water pump, a blower or shop vac to blow out the lines and equipment, and all the winterizing parts, like the cover, plugs, and skimmer anti-freeze bag/Gizzmo.
2. Balance pool chemicals and clean the pool
- First, ensure the pool chemistry is within the proper levels and adjust them if necessary. The Opening/Closing chemicals can be added now or you can wait until after the water is pumped down. Next, vacuum the pool to remove all debris on the bottom. Lastly, the filters can be backwashed or taken out and cleaned.
3. Remove Accessories
- Remove all railings, ladders, steps, diving board, skimmer basket, and return fittings from the pool and store them for the winter.
4: Lower water level
- Lower the water level to a couple of inches below the skimmer. This water level works for all covers. If the Opening/Closing chemicals weren’t added before, they should be added now.
5. Blowing lines and equipment
- Next, use a blower or shop vac to blow out the lines with air. Blow all lines until air bubbles start coming out of the returns and skimmer. While the air is still blowing, plug all the returns and skimmer.
6. Skimmer winterizing
- The skimmer needs either a Skimmer Anti-freeze bag or a Gizzmo to protect it from ice expansion. For the anti-freeze bag, place it into the skimmer. The Gizzmo needs to be screwed into the unused plug hole or it can be used as a plug.
7. Put on the cover
- Now pull the cover out over the pool. It can then be secured, using the proper method for the type of cover being used: vinyl, tarp, or safety cover.
8. Shut off power and gas
- Turn off all switches and electrical breakers to the pool equipment and the gas valve going to the heater.
This quick guide covers the basic steps needed to close your pool and have it ready for winter. If you need more information on how to close your pool, check out our detailed guide, which is linked below.
