POOL CLOSING
Winterizing Your Pool
Once those cool fall nights
roll around, we stop thinking about swimming in favour of hockey
and hot drinks. To enjoy your pool for many years to come it is
very important to shut it down properly. A poorly closed pool can
result in big hassles in the spring due to cracked plumbing, broken
equipment and swamp-like water. To avoid unnecessary expenses, follow
these steps to close your pool the right way. If you don’t
want to worry about it or just don’t have the time, call Ashton
Pools and have our professionals do it for you.
Choose a warm and preferably sunny day to close
your pool, and make sure to bring out your radio and tune it to
a good station. You will probably get wet during a few steps, so
better weather will keep you in better spirits. Having an assistant
will make the job go much faster, but expect to spend at least a
few hours getting everything completed, especially if this is your
first time closing your pool. If you have any questions or need
last-minute supplies, don’t fret – Ashton Pools is open
7 days a week and our qualified staff can give you advice on solving
any pool problem.
8 Steps to Closing Your Pool
1. Balance the water
To make sure that you don’t find a swampy
green mess when you remove your cover in the spring, you will need
to balance the pool water and get rid of any algae problems before
closing it. Remember that anything left in the fall will only be
waiting for you in the spring – and it will have gotten worse.
As well, unbalanced water can cause scaling or corrosion that can
permanently damage your pool and require costly repairs. Bring in
a water sample for a free computerized analysis a week or so before
you intend to close the pool so that you will have time to make
any chemical adjustments.
2. Clean the pool
Remove leaves and other debris, brush the walls,
and vacuum. Get rid of any scum line or pink algae from around the
sides of the pool, as leaving them over the winter will make them
harder to remove in the spring.
3. Add winterizing chemicals.
It is very important to add the proper winterizing
chemicals to your pool. It is much easier and less expensive to
prevent algae, staining and scaling than it is to treat it, especially
since our winters can be quite long and any problems will go unchecked
until spring. Even though you are not using the pool and algae do
not grow well in cold temperatures, it is still important to add
the right amount of chlorine. Most closing kits will include a winterizing
shock, algaecide and stain & scale inhibitor. Some people choose
to add their chemicals after draining the water level down to eliminate
waste, but adding them while the pump is still running ensures good
circulation.
1. Add winter shock. Pre-dissolve granular shock
by adding to a bucket of water - this prevents bleaching of vinyl
liners.
2. Add a winterizing stain and scale inhibitor. This will prevent
any metal and calcium from forming deposits on your pool surfaces.
3. Add winter algaecide. You should allow the shock to circulate
and completely dissolve before adding the algaecide.
Allow your chemicals to circulate for a 20 or
30 minutes, and then proceed to turn off all of your equipment.
Adding chemicals after lowering water level: Ensure
that granular shock doesn’t settle on the pool bottom by pre-dissolving
in a bucket of water and broadcasting a few feet out from the pool
edges. Because of the lack of circulation after the pool is drained,
you will want to spread the chemicals out over as large an area
of the pool as possible, and you may even want to use your leaf
skimmer to stir them up if they don’t dissolve right away.
Always follow the directions on the packaging, or call an Ashton
Pools professional for advice.
Never leave pucks or tablets in your pool skimmer
or floater over the winter. They will not circulate through the
pool, and will likely damage the skimmer or pool surface.
4. Drain water down to winterizing level
You do not want water to enter the skimmer over
the winter, so drain the level down 12 to 18 inches below the skimmer
opening or just below the return lines. Plug the return lines with
winterizing plugs after you have blown the water out of them. An
easy way to blow out your lines is using a wet-dry vac. Removing
water from the lines can be done one of two ways. First, you have
the option of disconnecting the pipe at the equipment that returns
the water back to the pool. If you disconnect the pipe at the last
fitting before the pipe goes back underground, you can use the pressure
side of your vac to blow the water back into the pool. Simply take
the hose and cover it over the pipe until you see air coming out
of your return lines. Having two people makes this job much easier.
One person can blow the lines at the equipment, while another threads
in the winterizing plug.
You don’t want to drain your pool completely
over the winter, as the water in the pool keeps the vinyl liner
in place and prevents creases or wrinkles. If your pool is fiberglass
or concrete, draining it completely could cause it to crack or even
rise up out of the ground.
5. Drain equipment and plumbing
It is very important to drain the water from your
pump, filter, and plumbing. Water left over the winter will freeze
and expand, which can damage pipes and equipment. Anti-freeze can
be used in your pool as a second safety measure. Use pool anti-freeze
in your main drain and return lines after you blow them free of
water using your wet-dry vac. Pour the anti-freeze down the skimmer
into the main drain before you plug it. Use a Gizzmo (a plastic
threaded device) to plug your skimmer and prevent damage from water
that may seep in over the winter from rain or snow. You can add
anti-freeze to the return lines via exposed pipe by your equipment
(e.g. by removing pipe from one of the fittings). Never use automotive
antifreeze: it is corrosive in nature and will damage your plumbing.
You can also use foam rope in your main drain to prevent damage
from freezing. As water turns to ice, it will expand and crush the
foam rope rather than put pressure on the pipe.
You can also fill some plastic milk jugs about1/2
full with water and let them float on the surface of the pool to
help prevent damage to walls. Like the Gizzmo or foam rope, the
jugs will be crushed instead of your pool walls.
Pool Heaters: Most heaters use
natural gas or propane to be more energy efficient. If you are not
familiar with how to winterize your heater, follow the steps given
by the manufacturer or use our general guidelines to help you through
it. It is a good idea to know how to shut your heater down, as most
pool companies that offer closings do not have a registered gas
fitter on staff. TSSA standards dictate that no one but a registered
gas fitter should handle your heater. This means you will have to
shut it down on your own or hire a professional to do it for you.
General Winterizing Tips for a Gas/Propane
Pool Heater
1. Shut off the gas valve that supplies the heater.
2. For heaters with a standing pilot, make sure that you turn the
pilot off.
3. Some heaters will have drain plugs that you can remove to let
the water out of the grid. Others will require you to take off the
unions and blow air through lines using the pressure side of your
shop vac. Either way, you want to make sure that there is no water
left in the grid that could freeze over the winter.
4. If your heater is electronic ignition, turn off or disconnect
the power supply.
5. Remove the pressure switch to let water out and leave unplugged.
6. While you do not need to cover your heater or bring it indoors
over the winter, putting a tarp over it will offer protection from
the elements.
6. Protect your equipment and chemicals.
Some people choose to disconnect their pump and
place it in a shed or their garage for the winter, but you can keep
your equipment safely outside using a tarp as long as it has been
drained of water. Always make sure that any exposed pipe is covered.
Remove the pressure gauge from the sand filter and bring it inside,
as it will not last the winter outside. Bring everything inside
that you wouldn’t want stolen or damaged by the weather, such
as vacuum hose, maintenance and safety equipment and your ladders
and diving board. Remember - the better you care for your equipment
the longer it will last.
Do not leave your chemicals or testing supplies
outside over the winter. Chlorine or bromine pucks, sticks or granules
should last over the winter in your garage or shed, but liquid supplies
will not. It is best to dispose of any liquid products such as algaecide
or liquid chlorine at the end of the season as they usually expire
by the time spring rolls around. If your liquid products ever freeze,
dispose of them immediately, as they will be useless and may burst.
As well, you should replace liquid testing supplies each year so
do not bother keeping these in storage. Keep chemicals sealed tightly
in a well-ventilated area away from heat and water. Always keep
any chemical out of reach of children.
This is also a good time to pack up your patio
furniture and any loose deck items if you haven’t done so
already. This will prevent them from blowing into the pool and damaging
the cover.
7. Place winter cover and water bags.
Your winter cover should be in good repair with
no holes or tears. Even the smallest hole can allow dirty water
and debris to seep into the pool, which can result in algae and
discoloration and possibly even permanent staining. You can patch
a small hole or tear with a patch kit, but if there are multiple
holes and tears you will probably just want to get a new cover.
You should have as many water bags as needed to cover the entire
perimeter of the pool without gaps, thus preventing wind damage.
Water bags should be ½ to ¾ full to allow for expansion.
If you have a snap-in winter cover that fits into
a track on your coping, make sure that it fits in snugly and securely.
Use liner lock in the track to tighten any loose areas.
Safety covers are gaining in popularity, as they
protect you, your pets and your loved ones from accidentally falling
into the pool over the winter. They are also a visually attractive
alternative to a tarp and water bags. See our Safety Covers section
for more details.
8. Congratulations! Your pool is closed!
Kick back and relax knowing that you have taken
the right steps in making your pool more fun and less work. Closing
your pool properly in the fall will make your spring opening a fast
and easy process. It can also save you a lot of money in pool repairs
from any damage such as staining, scaling, and cracked plumbing.
It is a good idea to check on your pool every now and then to make
sure the cover is still in place and the water level isn’t
too high (reaching the skimmer). Removing heavy debris from the
cover over the winter as it builds up will also reduce your spring
workload and take a great deal of pressure off the cover. This will
reduce the chances of the cover tearing or ripping or falling into
the pool, which allows all kinds of gunk and grime into your pool
water. If this does happen, feel good knowing that Ashton Pools
is open all four seasons if you need any advice or supplies.
Have a wonderful winter, and we look forward to
seeing you in the spring!
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