If you live in the northern part of the United States or any part of Canada and you have a pool, listen up. Though it may be a sad day, sometime in the fall you will have to close that pool. I know, it’s a terrible thing, gone are the hot days perfect for basking in the sun and splashing around in the pool, but putting some thought into it now will make it all the easier to get it back up and running again come late spring. And hey, winter won’t last forever!
If you have a temporary pool simply drain it, wipe the liner down well so it’s dry before you package it back up and wait out the winter. Toss the old filter, make sure all of the water is out of the piping and you are all set.
If, however you have a permanent pool whether it be inground or above ground you’ll have to do a little more in the way of winter preparation. Start by cleaning the sides of the pool and vacuuming the gunk and debris from the bottom. This will make the pool clean before you start closing it up. Next it’s time to take the water down. Ideally the water level should end up below the skimmer intake hole as you don’t want the left over water to freeze around anything important for the pool to work for the next year.
Make sure all the hoses and pipes are free from water and it’s a good idea to store them in a tote or box that can house all of the little clips and piping together, so nothing gets lost over the winter. Some people house the little things in the filter itself, just make sure all the water is out and the inside has been fully dried before storing anything inside.
When it’s time for the cover make sure it’s securely on the pool, and it’s a good idea to put a little water on top just to keep it down. We all know the wind can be very unpredictable in the fall. The more care you put into putting the pool to bed for the winter, the easier it will be come next spring to find all the necessary pieces and put it back together so you can once again enjoy splashing and swimming in the hot sun of summer.
