How to Winterize Your Above Ground Pool
As winter comes closer, there are many things that need to happen. Your home should be checked to ensure you do not have drafty areas and your car needs maintenance to ensure winter does not freeze up the water that is in the motor, and unfortunately, pools must be closed for the season. Some people do not realize how valuable their efforts now will be toward setting up a swimming pool for next year and those people often end up with pools that are slimy and green when summer comes back around. Then, instead of cleaning it up, they are left with draining it and starting fresh. Do you really want to waste that much water if you don’t have to? Instead, why not simply learn how to winterize your above ground pool? It only takes a little effort and your swimming pool will be nearly ready for next year.
Why Should You Winterize Your Pool?
In areas where ice is often a problem for people, pools also suffer a hit. As ice freezes, it will expand and as it thaws it will contract. Your pump, your filter, and your pipes will suffer from this steady pressure and release. In the southern areas, where freezing is not necessarily a major concern, you may have algae growth. Algae poses another problem because it can damage the way your pool looks and how much effort you have to put into cleaning it next year. Either way, the damage may mean spending a small fortune to replace parts that you would not have to if you took the time and put in a little effort toward learning the right steps toward winterizing your above ground pool.
How to Close An Above Ground Pool For Winter
Before you worry about a pool winterizing kit, you need to also consider stocking up your swimming pool with other chemicals as well. This means making sure your pH level, alkalinity, and calcium hardness are all balanced out. This may seem useless since you are closing the pool, but doing so can protect the pool’s surface area from stains and other issues. You should do this at least 24 hours before you start to clean your pool and yes, cleaning does mean for you to wipe down the inner walls and floor as well as vacuuming out any debris that may be present.
When that is completed, you will want to shock your pool with chlorine or use the winterizing supplies. Your filter should still be hooked up and running to circulate the chemicals. Now is also a great time to add in the algaecide to help prevent the growth of algae and other bacteria. You should keep the filter running for at least a 24 hour time period.
Now, it is time to drain a little water from your pool and remove all of your hoses. Most people suggest that you should let out enough water to put it about 6 inches below inlet lines and skimmers. Disconnecting the hoses is next because you want to remove and drain the pool filter and pump as well as other accessories you may have such as the above ground pool heater. It is important that you backwash your filter before you drain it though to ensure it does not hold any debris before you drain it.
As a final step, you will want to take all of the portable parts inside or at least cover them to keep the weather from them and check your swimming pool for leaks. It is also time to cover your pool with a winter pool cover. You may also want to put an air pillow into the center of your pool and then cover it with the pool covering. This will keep the cover from laying in the water. If your cover has a tie off area, you may also want to use a winch to tighten it so that it does not drop down when leaves or snow piles up on it.
That is it. You can now say that you know how to close an above ground pool for winter. The process may take a little time, but it will be well worth it when you are ready to go swimming again. The more effort you put in now, the less you will have to deal with when the snows melt and the temperatures climb.