August 22, 2023

Pool Closing Tips

As the leaves start to change and the air gets cooler, pool owners in Canada know it's time to start thinking about closing the pool. Properly closing your pool is essential in order to keep it in good condition and prevent damage during the colder months. Closing your pool properly will also make for an easier opening in the spring. In this blog, we will provide you with some fun and detailed pool closing tips to make the process easier.

1. Check the Chemical Levels

Before closing your pool, it's important to check the chemical levels and ensure that the water is balanced. As the water gets colder during the winter months, it naturally becomes acidic. Slightly increasing your pH before closing the pool, will help prevent aggressive water from attacking the pool surface. If the water chemistry is not thoroughly balanced, it can lead to problems such as algae growth, scale formation or wrinkled liners. One week prior to closing your pool, bring a water sample into your closest DPSW location for a free professional water analysis and personalized balancing instructions.

2. Clean the Pool

Cleaning the pool before closing is crucial. Make sure to remove any debris, including leaves, insects, and other organic matter, using a skimmer net. Brush the walls and floor of the pool to remove any algae or dirt that may be clinging to the surface and vacuum the pool floor to remove any remaining debris. When organic matter is left in the water, sanitizer levels are used up quickly. Organic matter will also cause water discolouration and often leads to organic staining on the surface of the pool.

3. Add Closing Chemicals

Using a good quality closing kit will help to keep the water clear over the winter months. Discounter’s offers a closing kit containing a shock treatment, scale prevention product and a combination enzyme treatment and phosphate remover. The kit should be added to the pool at least 48 hours before the pool is closed.

4. Lower the Water Level

It is important that you do not take too much water out of the pool. The water should be lowered approximately 1 ½ - 2 feet or just under the return jets. Taking the water down more than 2 feet will cause stress on the liner and it will start to pull out of the track.

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5. Drain and Winterize the Plumbing

Drain the pool's plumbing system to prevent damage from freezing. Use a shop vac to blow out the water from the pipes and equipment. Add antifreeze to the skimmer line to prevent any remaining water from freezing. Make sure you have threaded plugs for the returns and a freeze protector for the skimmer. Don’t forget to use Teflon tape for a tight seal.

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6. Cover the Pool

Once you have completed all the necessary steps, it's time to cover the pool. Ensure that the integrity of your winter cover is intact and secure it properly to prevent debris and wildlife from entering the pool. If you are using water bags to secure your winter cover, you should use enough to ensure each bag is overlapping slightly. It is also a good idea to have a few extra bags on hand in case a few pop throughout the winter.

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7. Winterize the Pool Equipment

Remove all equipment drain plugs and keep them in a safe place so you can easily find them in the spring. Once the water in the pump has been drained, you can put the drain plugs back in and fill the pump housing with antifreeze. This will prevent damage to the pump and keep the seal lubricated. Even if you store your pump in a heated space for the winter, you should use antifreeze to prevent the seal from drying out and cracking, as this will cause your pump to leak come the spring.

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8. Store Pool Accessories

Clean and store all pool accessories, such as pool toys, floats, and skimmer nets, in a dry and covered area to prevent damage from the elements. It is also a good idea to store your pool accessories on a high shelf or in a plastic bin to prevent rodents from making holes in them.

Closing your pool for the winter is an essential part of pool maintenance in Canada. By following these tips, your pool will stay in good condition and will be ready for use when the warmer weather returns. For a more detailed set of pool closing instructions, please click on the link you require below.

Above Ground Closing Instructions

Inground Closing Instructions

For more great advice on pool closing, reach out to us online or visit any of our locations and speak to a pool & spa specialist.