How do you take care of a pool in the winter?

Author: Elta Stanton IV  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 28, 2022

How To Winterize Your Pool in 8 Easy Steps
  1. Clean the pool.
  2. Balance the water.
  3. Remove pool accessories.
  4. Clean and backwash the filter.
  5. Lower the water level.
  6. Drain your pump, filters, heaters, and chlorinating equipment.
  7. Empty your chemical feeder.
  8. Cover your pool.

How do you maintain a pool in the winter?

Here are our top 10 winter care tips for your pool:
  1. Prevent the System from Freezing. ...
  2. Dry the Pool Cover. ...
  3. Make Sure the Pool Cover Fits. ...
  4. Add Mid-Winter Algaecide. ...
  5. Reduce the Water Level. ...
  6. Adding Chemicals. ...
  7. Store Pool Accessories Away. ...
  8. Check the Pool at Regular Intervals.

Do I need to put chemicals in my pool during the winter?

Ideally, your pool's chemistry should remain as balanced as possible throughout the winter. Keeping everything balanced is easily accomplished by testing the water at least once per week. There's a low chance that you'll need to add chlorine as long as the pool isn't being used and there is no water circulation.

Can I leave my pool full in the winter?

Pools very rarely need to be drained completely. If you have a vinyl-lined above-ground pool, leaving it full for the winter will protect the vinyl liner from shrinkage and other damage. Since these pools are above ground level, keeping them full ensures that the wind will not damage the walls, liner, or frame.

What do you do with an outdoor pool in the winter?

How to Close Your Above Ground Pool in 10 Steps
  1. Step 1: Deep Clean. ...
  2. Step 2: Balance your Water. ...
  3. Step 3: Add Winterizing Chemicals. ...
  4. Step 4: Add Pump Protector. ...
  5. Step 5: Protect Your Return and Skimmer. ...
  6. Step 6: Prepare Your Filter for Hibernation. ...
  7. Step 7: Clear the Pool. ...
  8. Step 8: Set Up Ice Equalizer Pillow.

How To Keep Your POOL Open All WINTER (Follow These Safety Measures!) | Swim University

Should I empty pool for winter?

Close the pool for winter – but don't drain it.

In winter, the water in your pool is still your friend. Especially when properly winterized, it helps to protect the pool liner, keep it clean and prevent unnecessary damage from debris, harsh weather and other factors.

How often should I shock my pool in the winter?

Whether you decide to use pool shock or not, it's still important to test and monitor the water chemistry of a covered, winterized pool during the off-season. Do this at least twice a month when the water in your pool is not frozen.

What happens if I dont close my pool for winter?

Without winterizing your pool, the water could turn green with algae. If the chlorine system stops functioning, you'll say adieu to the beautiful blue pool you know and love. Come spring, your pool will be a homely sight and cause a real dent in your wallet. Bacteria that feed on algae could even cause health risks.

Does pool water freeze in winter?

Mild climate pools often freeze across the surface overnight. However, if the ice sheet becomes thicker than ¼” to ½”, it will put pressure on your pool tile and skimmers as the ice expands. Most pool tile is frost-free, but you should keep the water under the perimeter pool tile band to be safe.

Do I have to close my pool?

When the weather is chilly, and rain and snow may come as a surprise, apartments and hotels may close their pools. If you don't plan on using your pool during the winter, winterizing your pool should be considered. If you are wondering, do I have to winterize my pool in California, it's recommended that you do.

Do you add salt to pool in winter?

Lower The Salt Level

Use salt test strips for an accurate reading and when the season starts cooling down, do not add anymore salt to the pool. It is better not to have a lot of salt in your pool toward the end of the season.

Should I put chlorine in my pool during the winter?

On a monthly basis throughout the winter, you'll need to perform some routine chemical maintenance. Never use chlorine tablets during the winter: you'll want to opt for Assault 73 Shock or Quick Shock granular chlorine once a month (1 pound per 10,000 gallons.)

Should I add chlorine to pool in winter?

Add Chlorine to Your Pool to Ensure a Clean Opening

In the fall, make sure to add chlorine and algaecide to your pool for over the winter. Don't add too much chlorine though. If the chlorine level is too high over the winter, you can bleach the liner.

Do pools need to be drained?

Even with proper and regular pool maintenance, it's often necessary to drain your pool — completely or partially — every 3-5 years. Draining your pool often isn't necessary, especially if you're following a proper and regular maintenance program.

Can salt water pools freeze?

Will My Saltwater Pool Freeze? Yes, they will! Saltwater pools only have a fraction of the salinity of ocean water, so they will freeze in Ottawa's cold winter temperatures. This is why it's important to drain the water to below the skimmer and blow out any lines when closing the pool for the winter.

Can you leave above ground pool up all year?

A common question asked is, “Can above ground pools stay up year round?” And although the easy answer is that “Yes, they can,” whether you want to leave them up year-round really depends on the type of pool you have. Dismantling some above ground pools for the winter may be more hassle than it's worth.

What is the difference between shock and chlorine?

Chlorine is a sanitizer, and (unless you use Baquacil products) is necessary for maintaining a clear and healthy pool. Shock is chlorine, in a high dose, meant to shock your pool and raise the chlorine level quickly.

Do you need to shock salt water pools?

So, not only is shocking a saltwater pool okay, but it's actually important to your pool's health. Shocking is the process in which you overload your pool with chlorine (3-5 times the normal amount) to improve your pool's cleanliness and kill off organic matter.

How often should swimming pool water be changed?

Generally, pool water needs to be replaced once every five to seven years. This should be done during mild weather so that your pool surface is not at risk from strong sunlight and heat. Your pool maintenance company can recommend when it is time to drain your pool.

Can you leave an above-ground pool empty during winter?

The answer is always NO. Above ground pools need the weight of the water in them to provide an optimal level of stability. Without water supporting the wall you run the risk of the pool wall coming out of the track.

Can you leave easy set pool up winter?

The lightweight materials Intex uses make it fast and easy to set up a pool. But this ease comes with the downside of the pool being more vulnerable to ice damage. Leaving your Intex pool out in colder temperatures can completely rupture your pool lining.

Does a salt water pool use chlorine tablets?

A saltwater pool is an alternative to a traditional chlorine pool. Although you don't add chlorine tablets to a saltwater pool, it does still contain chlorine. It just has a smaller amount that's generated through the filter system. A saltwater pool contains 10 times less salt than the ocean.

What chemicals do you put in a pool for winter?

What Pool Closing Chemicals Do You Need?
  • Chlorine-Free Pool Shock: Add 2 days before closing the pool.
  • Stain & Scale Treatment: Add 1 day before closing the pool.
  • Winter Algaecide: Pour into the pool just before covering.
  • Winter Floater: Place into the pool just before covering.

Do you have to drain a saltwater pool every year?

Answer: It depends on a few factors. 1) are you closing your pool every year and therefore draining and refilling with fresh water at least a bit. 2) water chemistry - the more you have to add, the more your total dissolved solids will increase leading to the need to drain and refill.

What month should you close your pool?

Freezing temperatures

September and October are a good time to close the pool because the weather is ideal. It's still warm to be outside, enjoying the sun, even if you hate to say goodbye to summer. But once those temperatures start dropping significantly, you're going to kick yourself for not closing the pool sooner.

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