If you live in areas with mild winters, you are lucky not to need to prepare your pool against the ravages of winter. But if you live in areas where winter can come with snow, frost, and freezing cold, knowing how to winterize your above ground pool is essential.
1. Collect the Pool Winterizing Essentials
Start by gathering all the necessary supplies. For winterizing the pool, you can either get a pool winterizing kit or get the winterizing chemicals yourself. The chemicals include:
Besides these, you’re going to need other essentials such as:
- Expansion plugs
- Return line plugs
- Winter above ground pool skimmer cover
- Above ground pool winter cover
- Cover clips
- Cover winch and cable
- Swimming pool antifreeze (if needed)
- Pool air pillow
2. Wash and Dry Pool Items before Storing
Once you have the essentials, begin by collecting and drying the items you use alongside the pool. Wash and dry the skimmer, step ladder, pump/filter, and the hose-pipes. Make sure they’re completely dry before storing them in a room temperature.
3. Adjust Water pH, Calcium Hardness, and Total Alkalinity
Adjust the water pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness using the increasers. The water pH should be 7.2 to 7.4, the TA is 80 to 120, and ppm, Ca should then be 180 to 220. Follow the instructions in the pool shock and algaecide to ensure that the water is as sanitary as possible.
4. Clean the Pool One Last Time
It’s essential to clean up the pool one last time before closing it to maintain the water’s cleanliness. Remove any pool cleaner near the pool or those in the ladders or steps. Skim the surface, brush the walls, and vacuum the entire pool to keep it completely clean.
5. Lower the Pool’s Water Level
After cleaning the pool, the next step is to reduce the water level to below the mouth of the skimmer. This way, you can get the water out and prevent the skimmer from being wrecked when the water freezes there.
6. Cover the Pool Tightly
Pull the cover over the pool and use the cover clips to prevent the cover from rolling out and getting blasted off due to strong winds. If there are any holes in the cover, make sure to have them patched up so that snowmelt or rain won’t come together with the pool water.
Use an air pillow underneath the pool cover. It helps so that the cover is raised in the center. It also keeps the rain off the pool and works as an ice equalizer. With the air pillow, you can maintain the ice sheet from freezing too hard throughout the pool.
7. Remove Pump and Filter System
Lastly, clear the pump and filter system away. Get them all inside your house, if possible. For a cartridge type of pool filter, you can take out the components and hose. Allow them to dry out before you put them in the filter rack.
With these, your above ground pool is ready for the upcoming winter. You have entirely ensured it can survive the ravages of the winter and that you’ll have more years of fun in your pool with the sun ahead.
Thank you for sharing such helpful information. I wanted to add that it’s important to check the pool water chemistry every 6-8 weeks. If any of the above water chemistry items are off, your pool might form more mineral scales of salt and reduce your winter chemicals’ effectiveness.