How To Prepare an Above-Ground Pool for the Winter
In this post, which I will try to keep as brief as possible, you will see actionable tips for how to winterize an above-ground pool.
But first things first… When should I close my pool? I will show you.
When to winterize your pool: timing is everything
Keep an eye on your thermometer. If the days start getting colder, it will be time to think of winterizing your pool.
Depending on different sources, you can start to winterize your above ground pool when the water temperature drops to 18 degrees Celsius.
Other sources say that it is best to winterize the pool when the water temperature drops to 10 degrees Celsius.
Here, I would recommend you let the pool temperature to 10 degrees Celsius, or close to that. There is a good reason for this.
When the water is this cold, it is going to prevent the growth of algae, which survives in warmer temperatures.
Letting the water cool down is going to help you keep the swimming pool free of infestation.
Keep reading to see the instructions for winterizing your pool:
Above-ground pool winterizing instructions (for snow)
When you are preparing your pool for winter, you need to follow a set of instructions and guidelines. If you do that, you will be able to keep your swimming pool in great shape. Besides, you want your above ground swimming pool in good shape for many years.
Gather everything you will need
Winterizing any type of pool for the winter is a hectic job. It requires you to have a number of items, such as the following:
- Winterizing chemicals: full kit or pH, calcium hardness and alkalinity increaser, algaecide, and pool shock
- Air pillow for pool
- Return line and expansion plugs
- Winter pool cover
- Antifreeze for swimming pools—only if you need it
- Cover winch, plus cable
- Pool cleaning items
Chemical balancing and adjustment
This is the first step in winterizing your pool. You need to test the water for pH and chemical balance. You cannot add chemicals to your pool blindly.
At the same time, you might not be able to test the water on your own. You will need to take a sample and take it to the local swimming pool store so that they can test it for you.
Remember to do the testing of the water at least a week before closing the pool. The level of chlorine in the water should be 1.0–3.0 ppm. PPM means parts per million. If there is a need to reduce or increase the level, you will be amply advised.
The idea here is to maintain the pool pH level in the 7.4 to 7.6 range. You also need to balance the alkalinity of the pool to 100 to 120 PPM.
Your water will also be tested for calcium hardness, and it should be maintained at levels of 200 to 400 PPM.
Cleaning the swimming pool
Because the pool stays open in the summer, it collects a lot of debris, some of which is so fine that you cannot even see it.
Physical cleaning is when you have to remove the large debris that is floating in the pool. You can skim the water surface to capture the debris. Also, take this chance to scrub the pool clean using a brush.
Check the condition of the surfaces of the pool, meaning the walls and the floor. This is the time to clean out all the stains and leave the pool sparkling clean.
Proper swimming pool maintenance makes you feel good about yourself and your pool. Besides, you do not want to take any chances of germs finding a place to fester.
What to add to the swimming pool
You are advised to add a clarifier to the pool in the ratio of 60 ML to 45000 liters of water. The aim of using a clarifier in the pool is to capture all the fine particles, some of which are not even visible to the eyes.
Add a product that can help to coat metals. This can help with the above-ground pools made of steel frames. Besides, if the water contains minerals, this product will coat them and protect them from corrosion.
Adding a scale pill or MetalFree is going to help prevent the buildup of scale in the metal and other parts. Now that the pool is already clean, add your product of choice.
Add some algae control
Even when the water is cold, it might still allow some types of algae to grow in the pool. Therefore, you have to add something to prevent this. You can use a recommended algae control, which will, of course, come with its own usage instructions.
Using non-chlorine shock and raising the level of chlorine
Find a good non-chlorine shock for your pool and use it, at the rate of 2 lbs for 10,000 gallons of water.
To do this, spread the product around the perimeter of the pool and it will find its way to the rest of the water. Keep the pump running so that the product can go around all the water.
To increase the levels of chlorine in the water, again you need to use the right product for the job. For instance, you can use Chlorine granules, liquid, or powder. You should aim to raise the chlorine levels in the pool to levels between 2PPM and 4PPM.
Cleaning the filter
Before you get to cleaning the filter, you should make sure that your pool pump is running for about 8 hours, more if you can.
This means switching it on early in the morning so you can have enough time to clean the filter in the evening.
The cleaning process that you use for your filter will depend on the type of filter. For instance, if it has cartridges, you can remove them and clean them so that you can clean the filter easily. If the type of filter you have requires you to backwash the sand first, please do so.
Time to add your winterizing pill
Now, the swimming pool is clean, and the filter is clean. It is time to add the winterizing pill because you are now just about to close the pool.
There are different types of winterizing pills, with WinterPill being the most popular of them all. You can buy this one on Amazon.com.
Before using it, read the instructions from the manufacturer so that you can place the pill in the water appropriately.
Power down everything
You are almost done, but not yet. There are still a couple more steps. First, you have to turn off the power.
Check the time clock remove the on/off trippers, and turn off the main power of the pool by turning off the breaker.
Insert the winterizing plug
Before you can insert the winterizing plug, you have to remove the inlet fitting. You can check for it just about 12 inches below the water line. In some pools, it can be about 6 inches below the water line.
If you have been doing your swimming pool maintenance, you know where to find the plug.
Reduce the amount of water in the pool
You will need to lower the water below the skimmer by about 4 to 6 inches. You can use a garden hose and drain the water using gravity. If that does not work, you will have to use an immersible pump.
Remove all drain plugs
There are many drain plugs, such as one from the pump valve, filter tank, heater, and the housing for the strainer basket.
Disconnect the filtering hoses from the pool return fitting and the skimmer fitting. If you use an automatic chlorine feeder, drain it.
Safe storage for your items
You can gather all of the drain plugs in the strainer basket and take the hoses and other equipment to your store. The store must be non-freezing.
Take all the temporary fixtures that you use at the pool, such as ladders, floating toys, hoses, skimmers, floats and others, to storage, again in a non-freezing location. An automatic pool cleaner should be drained out completely.
Inflate your air pillows
Air pillows are very important because they absorb the pressure that the water will create when it freezes. When water turns to ice, it expands.
This is why you need one, two, or even more air pillows. After placing them appropriately, you can move to the last step below.
Covering the pool
This is the last step of how to winterize an above-ground pool. It is hefty, but you are almost done. If you want to cover the walls, this is the time.
Stretch the cover over the pool using a winch, and if you like, you can add a leaf net to trap all the leaves falling on the pool.
How to winterize a swimming pool for warm winters
If you live in the tropics, in the Canary Islands, Galapagos Islands, Fiji, Kenya, Mali, some parts of Spain, and Australia, you know the winters are warm and snow-free.
If this is the case, you cannot winterize your swimming pool the same way you would in places that get frosty.
You can add some, or almost all, of the chemicals that we have listed here. However, you need to do some things differently.
For example, fill the water to the brim, perhaps with an inch to spare. Remember, in frosty conditions, we said you should empty the pool to almost halfway.
Maintaining this pool should not be hard at all. In fact, you do not even have to remove some of the non-permanent fixtures, such as ladders, unless you want to.
It is important to keep the water circulating in the pool throughout the cold season. To do this, run the pump for 2 to 4 hours every day.
Hire a professional team to winterize your above-ground pool
If you are busy by the time fall sets in, knowing how to winterize above-ground pools can be too hectic for you.
You can hire a professional maintenance team to winterize your in-ground or above-ground pool. That way, they will take care of all the small details and leave your pool intact for the next swimming season.
Remember, it is important that you do not miss any of the aforementioned above-ground pool winterizing instructions. For instance, water expands when it turns into ice. Without air pillows, this expansion can cause your pool walls to start breaking.
Is it important to close your pool for winter?
Closing the pool is very important. It can help in many ways. Here are some of the things that closing a pool helps with:
It prevents debris from getting into the pool
In the winter, there will be wind, which can blow debris into the pool. You do not want the pool to get dirty. To prevent this from happening, keep the swimming pool closed. If there are trees nearby, include a net to trap the falling leaves.
It keeps the pool germ-free
When debris collects inside the pool, it creates the nutrients that bacteria need to thrive. Even having shocked the pool, germs can still breed when debris mixes with water.
It protects the pool structure
Closing the pool means preparing it thoroughly in anticipation of the cold, frost, and freezing that will come in winter. For instance, if you do not use air pillows for the pool, the water will turn into ice and expand.
It will start to affect the pipes and even the general structure of the pool. The damage will not happen in the first winter. It might also not be evident in the second or third one, but eventually, the damage will manifest.
Conclusion
Having a swimming pool will increase the value of your home a great deal if you plan to sell it in the future.
Even so, it requires some serious maintenance.
Learning how to winterize an above-ground pool helps to increase its longevity. With proper care and maintenance, this kind of swimming pool can last up to 20 years.
Even after closing your pool for winter, check it every couple of weeks if you can, and give it a physical check.
It is always a good idea to be aware of the physical condition of your swimming pool since it is a costly investment.