POOL WINTER CLOSING

If you live in an area where the ground will freeze it is very important to close your pool correctly for the winter so that your pipes don’t crack, and so that the walls of your pool don’t get pushed in as a result of frost heave. I have a chlorine pool and have no experience with a salt water pool.

Before closing the pool ensure that it is cleaned and your chemicals are properly balanced
I also vacuumed the bottom and sides before closing
Before draining the pool a bit I did a filter backwash to get the slime out of the filter
It definately had some slime in it
Now I will be draining the pool on waste setting. Check your municipality on drainage rules
This step took about an hour
I drained the pool until it was 6-10 inches below the skimmer and returns
I then set the filter to winter setting
I remove the filter drain to get the water out of the filter
There are two drain plugs on my pool pump
They both need to be removed
If water is in the pump over winter it could damage the pump
I now remove the jets on the end of the returns
This is the anti freeze that I use in my pool lines. I generally use 8-10 liters for my small pool
Previously I installed quick connects. This made winterization much easier this year
I also had a quick connect on the filter
These are the suction lines, one for the skimmer, one for the bottom drain
I use my shop vac on reverse setting to blow the water out of the line. This is the skimmer line
I run the vac until all water is out of the lines
This is now hooked up to the return lines
I run the shop vac until all water is out of the returns as well
I pour some anti freeze down the skimmer line
I pour some antifreeze in the drain line. My drain line has a back flow valve and can be blown back in reverse to get the water out
I also pour a few liters down the return line
I pour some anti freeze directly in the skimmer as well
I then plug the skimmer line. I go heavy on the teflon tape
I also pour some anti freeze into each of the two return jets. I use a funnel and a hose to do this
I then plug each of the return jets
I use an all in one pool closing chemical pack. The amount you need is based on the size of your pool
Pour them into the pool in order, this is chemical 1
Them pour in chemical 2 and 3
These foam blocks prevent ice in the skimmer from breaking the skimmer
There is also a foam cap that holds the skimmer blocks in place. This can be reused every year if it isn't broken
I use water bags to hold down my tarp. It takes a while to fill them up
Laying out the tarp is a two person job, but I do it myself
Add some water bags while getting the tarp in place
Allow the tarp to hang in the pool loosely if it is too tight the snow will pull the water bags in to the pool
Finally I put the quick connects back to gether so no little animals try and get in them for the winter