Massachusetts winters bring an abundance of snow and frigid temperatures. If you live in New England, or in another place where the temperature dips below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, you will need to winterize your swimming pool before the cold months.
The good news? We have put together an easy-to-follow checklist to help you close like a pro and set you up for an easy opening in the spring.
1. Perform Inspection & Repairs
☐ Is your equipment all functioning properly?
☐ Is your swimming pool structurally sound?
☐ Does your pool cover over have any rips or tears that need patching? Stop by our Retail Store for a safety cover patch if yours needs repair.
☐ Fix any issues prior to winterizing.
2. Clean it Like You Mean it
☐ Thoroughly vacuum and skim your pool to remove all debris, or run your robotic pool cleaner a few times prior to closing.
☐ Backwash or clean the pool filter to remove all dirt from the system.
3. Work on Your Water
☐ Check your water chemistry 5-7 days before closing.
☐ Test and balance your alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness.
☐ Shock your pool with chlorine a 2-3 days after balancing the water. We recommend a cold weather enzyme treatment like Natural Chemistry Pool Magic Spring and Fall.
☐ Add a winterizing algaecide right before covering your pool. Be sure you’ve waited the requisite 2-3 days after adding shock, when chlorine levels return to somewhere between 1-3 ppm.
☐ Water must be lowered for the closing. We recommend lowering the water 18-24” below the top of the pool. This allows for rain to replenish the level to at least 18” below the cover before the snow and ice accumulate.
- Pools with tarp covers must have the water level 2-3″
below the skimmer. - Be careful not to lower the water too much in vinyl pools, the liner can float and cause serious problems.
- If your water level goes down further than 18″, your pool cover can stretch, rip or cause damage to cover springs and anchors.
- Rain and snow will fill the pool over the winter. Continue to monitor your pool water level, ensuring it is below the tile line but not more than 18” below the cover.
- “Maintaining the proper water level in your pool is a key
factor in supporting the weight of any debris (including snow and ice) that may collect on the pool cover. Water levels that fall below the recommended level may put excess stress on the cover, which might result in damage and voiding of the cover’s warranty. You can check the water levels by clearing any debris that has collected in the skimmer box. If the levels are low, be sure to add enough water to reach the recommended levels.” – LOOP-LOC - Guidelines for mesh and solid safety covers:
- Mesh & Solid Pool Covers: 18″ below the top of the pool.
4. Protect Your Plumbing
☐ Drain all water from your plumbing lines including your pump, filter, heater, chlorinators and chemical feeders. Draining your lines completely (or blowing them out with a Shop-Vac) will ensure that your pipes won’t crack in freezing temperatures and cause major issues in the spring.
☐ “If you have an in-ground pool, you should blow out the lines from the skimmer, through the equipment and back to the pool, then plug the lines at the pool using expansion plugs. If you don’t blow the lines, add swimming pool antifreeze into the lines following manufacturer’s package directions. If you have an above-ground pool, you usually just need to disconnect the hoses to and from the pump and filter and plug the wall outlets.” – Hayward Pool Products
5. Remove the Extras
☐ Put away your ladders, toys, ropes, baskets, hoses, fittings, pumps, heaters, filters and any other equipment from your pool area. Rinse everything off, allow it to dry and consider storing it all in a waterproof container that animals cannot get into.
☐ Fully drain your robotic cleaner and remove the reusable filter bag. Neatly coil up the power cable and store your robotic pool cleaner and accessories in a warm,
dry location.
☐ Store the eyeball fittings, drain caps, plugs, and gauges in the skimmer basket so you know exactly where to find them in the spring.
☐ Store any equipment plugs in the pump basket so they don’t get lost.
☐ Keep everything clean, dry and organized to help you
prolong the life of your pool and equipment.
6. Cover Time
☐ Make sure you have an intact, properly fitting pool cover.
- Covers that do not fit properly (you can see gaps) will leave your pool exposed to the elements.
- Use a mesh or solid pool cover and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure proper installation.
The closing process varies for in-ground and above ground pools. For additional pool closing information, be sure to check out the links below for pool-specific tips from our friends at Swim University.
How to Close An Inground Pool in 9 Steps
How to Winterize An Above Ground Pool in 11 Steps
It is a bummer that pool season has come to an end, but when spring rolls around you will be happy to have taken the necessary steps in the fall for an easier opening in the spring.
I just wanted to thank you for going over some tips for a pool in the winter. I’m glad that you mentioned it’s important to make sure that the plumbing system, like the heater and whatnot, is drained of water. I can definitely see the benefits of this, especially if you live in an area where temperatures get really cold. I’m curious to learn if this is the case for places that don’t get extremely cold in the winter as well.
Hello Taylor,
Thank you for your question! In locations where winter temperatures do not regularly drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, you do not necessarily HAVE to drain your pool plumbing to “winterize” it. Keep your pool pump running through winter, but for shorter lengths of time compared to summer, and run the pump during the night during the coldest hours. If you live in a location that doesn’t get very cold in the winter, you can still winterize the plumbing in your pool if you prefer. Drain all of your equipment as referenced in the blog to ensure no water is left in the pipes to freeze if temperatures do drop below freezing.
It is still a good idea to remove the water from the plumbing lines and equipment when a pool is shut down for an extended period. Water that sits will stagnate, especially inside equipment and pipes that have oils, organics, and bacteria from a pool with no sunlight, movement, or sanitization anymore. Even in climates where freezing is not a concern, it would still be a good idea.
Thank you for sharing such a comprehensive guide! I want to add a little bit more information about pool water chemistry: alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness. They should measure within the following ranges: pH levels: 7.2-7.8; total alkalinity: 80-120 ppm; calcium hardness: 200-400 ppm.
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. Consider checking your pool water chemistry every 6-8 weeks.