Closing Your In-Ground Pool

• Pool winter cover
• Water tubes (needed if you don’t have a safety cover)
• Winter plugs for the return jets
• Gizmo(s) to plug and protect your skimmers
• Winter Closing Kit
• Air compressor/blower/shop-vac
• Anti Freeze

You need to balance the pool's chemistry about five days before closing your pool for winter.
Adjust the pH to a level between 7.4-7.6 (7.5 optimal)
Adjust Free Chlorine to a level between: 1-3 ppm
Adjust the alkalinity to 80 to 140 ppm Free Chlorine: 1-3 ppm
Adjust the Calcium Hardness to 220 to 350 ppm.

In order to kill bacteria and algae shock your pool with extra strong chlorine.

After few days add a winterizing algaecide but first confirm that the chlorine level is between 1 and 3 parts per million. Presence of algae will affect your pool negatively by discolouring pool water, bad smell and clogging the filter. Use extra strength algaecide for this purpose.

After your pool chemicals are balanced, remove skimmer baskets, any wall fittings, vacuums, pool cleaners, ladders, handrails, diving board or anything else that shouldn't be in the pool.

Next step is to perform backwash. After backwash, move the valve to "rinse" status" and run it for 30 seconds.

After backwash and rinse, place the valve to the "winterize" setting on the top mount valve. This will drain water from the valve.

Now completely drain the water from the filter tank. To do this you need to remove the drain cap on filter barrel bottom. Lastly disconnect all of the hoses from the filter. Place sand filter, pump, hoses, and the drain cap in a dry, safe place.

Use either filter pump or submersible pump to lower your pool water level. Lower your water level about 3"-5" below the plumbing line, normally the water return line. At least water level should be below the skimmer. If using swimming pool pump to drain your pool water don't forget to turn your skimmer valve off. Turn it back on when blowing out the line.

There is a drain plug with your pump, filter, heater and chlorinator. You can drain water from these plugs but it is better if you get your old Shop-Vac and blow the line out ensuring that no water is left inside the plumbing lines.

For a DE pool filter or a cartridge filter, take the grids or cartridge out, clean them, and store them away for the winter.

Take these plugs out of these units because If you plug them back up and water get into them, they might freeze over and crack your equipment.

Put the plugs in the pump basket so you know where they are next spring.

For sand filter, put the Multi-Port valve in the "winterize" position and remove pressure gauges if any.

After draining the pump, turn it on for a second or two to get the water out of the impeller.

Check your heater instructions to see whether the manufacturer recommends removing the heater tray.

Use your Shop-Vac to blowout the plumbing lines and use the discharge to blow water from each plumbing line of filtration system.

You can blow out the plumbing lines for pool winterize using, again, your Shop-Vac. Use the discharge of the Shop-Vac to blow water from each plumbing line of the filtration system. You'll see bubbles as the water is purged from the lines. Ensure each plug has "O" ring or gasket for a tight fit. It is important otherwise water can go back into the line creating issues in future.

Using a skimmer Gizzmo, you can seal the skimmer throat. It is a hollow tube that will collapse if the water gets into the skimmer and freezes.

Don't forget to drain and empty your chemical feeder. If you don't empty your chemical feeder, it can damage your equipment.

Cover your in-ground pool with a winter cover or safety cover to keep the debris out of the pool. The cover will help preserve all the hard work you put into getting your pool ready for winter.