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Closing Your Pool
CLOSING YOUR POOL
If you
live in a Northern clime, you know how harsh winters can be. Exposure
to severe winter weather can be especially tough on your pool. Just
as you prepare yourself for the winter climate, there are steps you
must take to prepare your pool for the winter months.
Algae
and other problems can start even when the weather is cold. By the time
spring comes around, you may open your pool to a green mess that can
be expensive to fix. Therefore, it is important to properly winterize
your pool to prevent these types of problems. Proper winterization protects
pool surfaces, equipment, and makes spring start-up easier.
Winterization
not only involves balancing the water and adding preventative chemicals,
but cleaning surfaces and equipment preparation as well. Use
the following as a guideline for thinking about proper winterization:
1. BALANCE
YOUR POOL WATER:
Have
a sample of your water professionally tested by a pool professional.
Most pool and spa companies offer water testing as a free service
and can offer expert advice on water balance.
If needed,
adjust the pH to 7.4 - 7.6 and make sure the other balance factors
are within their proper range. Proper chemical balance is very important
if you expect to have a clear pool in the spring.
If you would like to do an online water test, click on the following link:
Water Test Do the test -then click your back button to come back to this site and go to the top of this page and click on products to order what you will need for your pool. You will be able to choose from a variety of brands, but to insure the best results choose "Generic" when doing the test which will include any brand.
2. CLEAN
YOUR POOL:
Brush
all pool surfaces and vacuum if needed. This includes the walls, bottom,
and steps. It also is a good idea to clean along the water line with
a pool SURFACE
CLEANER. See also: CHEMICAL
ALTERNATIVES for surface cleaners.
Clean
out the skimmer and the hair and lint trap.
Backwash
the filter and use FILTER
CLEANER to remove the body oils and grime that build
up in your filter. This ensures proper operation in the spring.
3. ADD
WINTERIZING PRODUCTS:
Add
winter shock to your pool at a rate of 1 lb. per 10,000 gallons. Scatter
the product evenly over the surface of your pool. Use a pool brush to
mix and dissolve any granules that settle on the bottom. See
WINTER CLOSING KIT.
4. PREPARE
YOUR EQUIPMENT:
Proper
winterization may include equipment removal and storage, partial draining,
and/or blowing out and plugging of all lines. POOL
ANTIFREEZE is an essential preventative measure,
but be sure to use pool antifreeze. Other forms of antifreeze are
not appropriate for pool use (i.e. automotive antifreeze).
Equipment
preparation is an important step that, if completed correctly, can
help prevent damage to your pool equipment. Trapped water in your
filter or return lines can freeze and lead to broken lines and damaged
filter parts. If you're not sure what to do, contact a local pool
professional for further instructions on proper winterization for
your type of pool or schedule a winter closing. For residents of Southwestern
Michigan or Northwestern Indiana, see our POOL
CLOSING SERVICES.
There
are many well-designed WINTER
COVERS that will keep your pool protected and free
from dirt, leaves and other debris during the winter season.
Covers
should be free of holes and held in place securely with WATER
TUBES or CABLES.
Proper anchoring is especially important. There is nothing worse than
a cover that falls into the pool during the winter. Moreover, improper
anchoring, for example with cement blocks, can lead to pool damage.
HELPFUL TIPS TO CONSIDER:
-
Solid Covers
a couple inches of water added onto the top of the cover will hold
it into place.
-
Mesh
Covers
it is a good idea to apply an additional treatment of winter shock
and winter algaecide about halfway through the winter to keep the
water clean of bacteria and algae spores that may enter with the precipitation
that leaks through your cover. Try our Natural Chemistry products:
POOL
MAGIC SPRING & FALL and POOL
MAGIC SPRING & FALL + PHOSfree.
-
Partially
Drained Pools we recommend using air bags under the cover
to help support the weight of winter precipitation.
OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS
it may be worthwhile to invest in some products that make pool opening
easier:
- LEAF
NETS
are a great way to avoid drudging the leaves off your cover in the spring.
- SIPHON
PUMPS help remove water from your pool cover during
the winter months. Siphons help prevent your cover from getting too
heavy and falling in.
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