Keep the pump, chlorinator, and hoses indoors to prolong their lives. If you do use a winter skimmer plate, simply remove the hose from your skimmer so it can drain properly, and install the plate, and you won’t have to drain your pool. Head into the off season with a clear conscience. You'll get spring blues too if you don't use a winter pool cover, the easiest way to protect your pool in the off-season. This will reduce air loss due to leaks and bolster the pillows’ strength.

Also make sure the calcium hardness is between 175 ppm to 225 ppm, and that the chlorine is between 1 ppm and 3 ppm. Add pool shock to power up your sanitizer for the winter. Before you winterize your above ground pool, make sure you’ve got the necessary supplies: Made from 16 gauge vinyl, this air pillow absorbs pressure caused by ice expansion, protecting the swimming pool walls from damage during the winter months. Wait for the water to settle, then skim once more to capture any contaminants you might have missed. If you have a solid cover, draining the water below the return lines can put added pressure on your cover when rain water and snow collect on top. Unlike Snow Miser or poor old Bucky Barnes, the chemicals you add to your above ground pool during closing are there to help during the cold season. If you get a heapin’ helpin’ of precipitation during the winter, a skimmer cover can save you big headaches down the road. Bring your filter indoors for winter storage. You might be able to skip a few steps when finishing your close. Sand: Set your multiport valve to “Winterize,” and remove the drain plug at the bottom to allow the filter to drain completely. Test the pH of your water using a pH test kit, which you can find at any pool supply store. Frigid winters can be hard on just about any kind of swimming pool. With the plugs removed, freezing water or condensation that builds up inside the filter tank won’t crack it. You’ll need to keep draining water off the cover with a pump or siphon to protect it from damage. Adjust your filter program to keep the pump running 24 hours a day until your green water problem has cleared up. If your water is acidic, add a base to lower the acidity. However, continuous rain will adversely affect the water's chemical balances. Replace the filter if necessary. After a heavy rain, you also have a lot of extra water in the pool that can dilute the chemistry. Vacuum the entire pool, brush down the walls, and skim the surface. Store all the drain plugs (including the ones from the filter) in the pump basket so that you keep them all together and you won’t have to go hunting for them in the spring. Adding calcium hardness to your pool water will protect and extend the life of your pool walls including vinyl, fiberglass, and concrete. I remove the cover when it rains or rain is forecast, If you forget to remove the cover before the rain, let the sun and the wind dry it off before trying to remove it. The secret to winterizing success lies in inflating the air pillow to around 50% or 60% of its capacity. Strong and sturdy that will last for years. In cold climates, placing a pool air pillow—also known as an ice compensator because it compensates for the pressure of the snow and ice on top of the cover—under the cover protects the sides of the cover and the walls of your pool from damage. Winterizing your pool minimizes your risk of contamination and cold damage to sensitive components. How?

The higher it is, the more basic the water is. If you’re concerned about freezing and cracking, and don’t use a winter skimmer cover plate, then you should drain the water level below the skimmer and returns.

And as with alkalinity, a higher level is better when you’re winterizing. Follow the directions on the back of the package for the proper dose (usually the same dose recommended when starting the pool for the first time). Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Overnight the pool will have cleared up if done properly and you'll be able to see the sediment at the bottom of your pool, if any. If the pH falls below 7.2, add soda ash to increase it. This is a Tupperware-like cover that's easy to take on and off when needed. Do you need to drain any water when winterizing an above ground pool? You can boost the level by adding a calcium hardness increaser or simple calcium chloride. Your water is balanced, pristine, and sanitary. Even the cheaper ones will do the job if measured and applied correctly. Plus, leaving your pool open until the mercury drops gives you plenty of time to clean, test, and balance your pool before closing. If so, you may want to take a look at this thread for draining the flow away from the pool.

Check the water's pH level first. Snow on your pool cover may look pretty, but too much, and you're just asking for damage to the cover and your pool. Wipe Out 6012 All Purpose Surface Cleaner for Swimming Pools - 1 qt.

During the sunny days of summer, your pool is wide open and a tempting target for insects, leaves, branches, and the occasional lost critter. If you want the most accurate results possible, you can also take a water sample to your local pool store and have them test it for you. You can tweak your water’s alkalinity in a couple of ways. If your multiport valve has a bleeder valve and a sight glass, remove those too, and store them in the pump basket for easy retrieval next season. And always remember to adjust alkalinity beforepH. But for now, you can rest easy, knowing your pool is prepared for even the worst winter can throw at it. There are some basic strategies to follow before and after a rain to maintain a pool's chemical balance. If your pool uses a salt water system, switch the chlorine generator to the “winter” setting, if it has one. It's not only easy, it's necessary for your pool's—and your—health and safety. A clean pool makes it much easier to properly balance your water. Typically, chlorine reading below 1.5 parts per million (PPM) will require adding enough chemical to raise the level to 2.0 PPM. Important: Never drain an above ground pool completely when winterizing. With the chlorination tablets do not throw them into the pool directly. Temperatures drop. In a matter of hours you will see a clear difference.

The method you use for winterizing your above ground pool will depend on which type of filter you have. This can affect anything from the pH balance to alkalinity levels and more. Tony Guerra served more than 20 years in the U.S. Navy. Don’t close your pool without a pool pillow. It’s a pretty straightforward process.

Taking care of your pool doesn't end when you put the cover on. And as with alkalinity, a higher level is better when you’re winterizing. Cloudy pool after rain – sometimes this can be really infuriating. Open or closed, knowing what’s up with your water chemistry is essential to keeping your pool in tip-top condition. Before you winterize, clean your pool. If you live in an area where the temperatures occasionally rise above 65°F (18°C) for a few days during the winter, you can take advantage of the warm spell to test and balance the water chemistry. A winter skimmer cover is a plate that covers the entire skimmer, sealing out the elements. Pool Mate Pool Alkalinity Increaser - 25 lbs. If you’re fortunate enough to live somewhere with mild winters, you might not have considered what a pool needs to weather a frigid off season, and you might not close it at all. Blow up the air pillow and place it in the middle of the pool. Dry Ground Needed: Along with making the soil too wet for crews to resume work, rain can mean other negative consequences to the pace of your pool’s construction. Knowing how to close an above ground pool means mastering the mystical art of the inflatable.

Even the cheaper ones will do the job if measured and applied correctly. Rainwater is known to have acidic properties that can negatively affect your pool water chemistry balance.

Your vinyl liner can dry out, shortening its life considerably. Corroded metal can contaminate your water and cause serious hardware problems. What To Do If Your Basement Floods From Rain.

Sure, you could whisper a dark secret into the filter or perform the lambada, but that’s not the kind of shock you’re after. With the chlorination tablets do not throw them into the pool directly.

Balanced water is less likely to cause damage to your pool liner and other components. That’s no big deal during swim season, because you’re performing regular maintenance. Letting them dry is crucial unless you want to find mold in them next season. A frozen pool might be the ultimate in “hard water,” but it’s calcium hardness we’re worried about. A combination of winter cover clips and a cable and winch will ensure a snug fit and give you greater peace of mind. Then store them in a clean, dry place, away from direct sunlight, until spring. You can test the water yourself with test strips or a water testing kit for a little more accuracy.