• Algaecide
• Enzymes
• Scale and Stain Prevention
• Non-Chlorine Shock
• Other Pool Supplies, like Air Pillows and Time-Release Floaters

Pool Winterizing and Closing Chemical Kit

This winterizing and closing chemical kit is designed to save you time and money by including all the necessary chemicals to close your pool. This kit includes winter algaecide, stain prevention, chlorine-free shock, an absorbing sponge, and a pool floater.

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These kits are a convenient, all-in-one package to keep your pool clean in the off-season and help pool opening go smoothly in the spring. But you might not necessarily need all of the chemicals inside. So before you buy a kit, here’s a breakdown of what it comes with, which chemicals you actually need to close your pool, and which products you don’t. Watch the quick video below or keep reading for the complete pool winterizing kit guide.

How to Prepare Your Pool for Closing

First, whether or not you decide to buy a winter closing kit, you’ll need to do a few things to prepare your pool before adding any winterizing chemicals. And keep in mind that you might need to lower your pool water level below the skimmer, depending on how you plan to winterize your plumbing or what kind of cover you have.

So give yourself a week to complete all of your pool closing tasks, especially if you plan to use chlorine shock. A little extra work now will save you from any pool-opening headaches and algae growth issues in the spring.

1. Skim, brush and vacuum your pool

Anything you leave floating in your water or clinging to your walls will just get worse over the winter, so give your pool one last clean before closing up.

2. Test and balance your water

The goal is to get your water as balanced and healthy as possible before closing. So test your water and adjust your pool chemical levels as you would normally. Pay extra attention to pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. Your pH and alkalinity levels will help your other chemicals do their job over the winter. And imbalanced calcium hardness levels can damage your pool surfaces or equipment.

By the way, if you feel confused about when and how to add chemicals, check out our Pool Care Video Course.

Frustrated by adding chemicals and trying to keep your pool clear all the time?

We cut out all the confusion of pool maintenance in this easy-to-read illustrated ebook and video course. It'll help you save $100 right away on pool care!

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3. Shock your pool with chlorine

Shocking your water will kill any lingering contaminants, especially algae. A cal-hypo shock is the most powerful chlorine shock treatment, but you’ll need to add it at night and wait at least 8 hours to let it circulate and dissolve. If you want to speed things up, you can use a fast-dissolving chlorine shock, like dichlor shock, or liquid chlorine to shock your water. Just watch your cyanuric acid levels if you use a dichlor shock. Then retest your water and wait until your chlorine levels have dropped back down to add more chemicals.

Pool Closing Kits: Which Chemicals Do You Need to Close Your Pool?

Now that you’ve prepped your pool, it’s time to talk about winterizing chemicals. Here’s what’s in a typical pool closing kit and here’s which of the chemicals and pool supplies you actually need:

1. Winter Algaecide

Adding an algaecide before covering your pool is a great way to prevent green water in the spring. This is especially important if temperatures reach 60°F while you still have your pool cover on. While most kits market their algaecide as a “winter” formula, you might already have the right kind of algaecide on hand. Look for a 60% Polyquat Algaecide. This is non-copper based with a powerful enough concentration to kill algae in the off-season. It’s more expensive than a copper-based algaecide, but it won’t stain. And it won’t foam.

Our Top Pick

Pool Algaecide 60 (Copper-Free)

$40.99 ($1.28 / Fl Oz)

A copper-free algaecide to help prevent your pool from turning green.

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01/26/2023 01:10 am GMT

2. Slow-Release Winter Ball or Winter Pill

A Winterizer Ball or Pill slowly releases a blend of enzymes, clarifier, and stain and scale prevention into your water during the off-season. And it won’t affect the rest of your water chemistry. So if you have water with high metal content or if you struggle with stains, scaling, or scum lines in the spring, this product can help. And it’s a convenient, easy-to-use alternative to buying enzymes, clarifiers, and stain remover separately. But this is optional, so it’s considered extra insurance for some pool owners.

WinterPill Time Release Pool Closing Treatment

This 4-in-1, slow-release treatment floats under your winter cover all season to help prevent scum, scale, stains, and cloudy water. Safe for all surfaces and filters.

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3. Stain and Scale Preventer

In addition to an all-in-one Winter Pill, many pool closing kits come with a separate chemical for stain removal and scale build-up prevention. But the best stain protection for your pool? A solid winter pool cover that keeps debris out of your water. And if you completely clean your pool before closing, you shouldn’t need additional stain and scale prevention.

4. Chlorine-Free Shock (Oxidizer)

Many kits come with an oxidizer, a.k.a. non-chlorine shock, to add to your water when closing. It doesn’t need circulating and it won’t damage your liner or surfaces. But if you’ve just shocked your water in the prep we mentioned before, you don’t need to add pool shock again. Check to make sure your free chlorine and total chlorine levels are in range. If they are, you don’t need to add an oxidizer.

5. Phosphate Removers

Phosphate removers are marketed as a way to starve algae by removing its food source. But you don’t need this if you’ve cleaned your pool, you have a good winter cover, and you’ve added an algaecide.

6. Time-Release Floaters or Absorbing Sponges

These products are found in some pool closing kits to provide ongoing protection throughout the winter. But again, if you’ve already cleaned your pool, balanced your water, and added algaecide, a floater or an oil-absorbing sponge isn’t needed.

7. Air Pillows

If you have an above ground pool, you should absolutely use an air pillow under your cover. This helps prevent ice damage and your pool walls from collapsing in the winter months. But if you have an inground pool (or you already own an air pillow), then you don’t need a closing kit with a pillow.

Winter Pool Cover Air Pillow For Above Ground Pools

$11.44

Made from 16 gauge vinyl, this air pillow absorbs pressure caused by ice expansion, protecting the swimming pool walls from damage during the winter months.

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01/26/2023 09:49 am GMT

Are Pool Closing Kits Worth It?

If you want extra protection and don’t want to have to buy individual chemicals, a closing chemical kit is a convenient purchase.

Pool Winterizing and Closing Chemical Kit

This winterizing and closing chemical kit is designed to save you time and money by including all the necessary chemicals to close your pool. This kit includes winter algaecide, stain prevention, chlorine-free shock, an absorbing sponge, and a pool floater.

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If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Otherwise, you really just need a 60% Polyquat Algaecide, and then use a WinterPill as an optional layer of protection. Regardless, make sure your pool is clean and use a good winter cover to prevent debris from getting into your pool.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pool Closing Kits

Need more help deciding if a winter closing kit is right for you? Here are some common questions and answers.

What size pool closing kit do I need?

Once you know the volume of your pool, check with the manufacturer to figure out the right size kit for your pool. Some winter kits include different sizes that cover up to 15,000 gallons or 35,000 gallons.

What algaecide should I use to close my pool?

We recommend using a copper-free algaecide to avoid staining. Look for a 60% Polyquat Algaecide, since its concentration is powerful enough to kill algae all winter long. While it’s a little more expensive than copper-based algaecide, it’s worth it to prevent staining, especially if you have high metal content in your water.

Should I shock my pool before closing?

Yes, shock your pool a few days before you plan to add winter chemicals and close your pool. Shocking will kill any bacteria and algae in the water. Use a chlorine-based shock. If you need more help deciding which shock to use, check out our guide on the Best Pool Shock.

How do I close my pool by myself?

If you need more help closing your pool yourself, be sure to check out our guide to How to Close an Inground Pool and How to Close an Above Ground Pool.

Need More Pool Maintenance Help?

• Download our free Pool Care Cheat Sheet. It’s a free, easy-to-use guide to help you keep track of taking care of your pool.
• Subscribe to our Swim University YouTube Channel. We publish free video tutorials throughout the pool season.
• Check out our Pool Care Course. You’ll get 30+ step-by-step videos and a downloadable guide with everything you need to know about pool maintenance.

The post Pool Closing Kits: What Chemicals Do You Actually Need to Close Your Pool? appeared first on Swim University®.

To keep rainwater, snow, leaves, and other debris from accumulating and damaging the pool cover, all you need is one small piece of equipment—a pool cover pump. But before you pick one up, make sure you read this entire buying guide to know what features to look for so you can choose the one that will work best for you.

NOTE: These pool cover pumps are available to buy on either Amazon and InTheSwim.com. Check both sites for availability. All the links are affiliate links which means if you click a link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. It helps us keep the lights on

The Best Pool Cover Pump for an Inground Pool

Our Top Pick

WAYNE Automatic Pool Cover Pump (1/4 HP)

$182.33

Set it and forget it! The built-in iSwitch technology turns the pump on and off by sensing the presence of water and includes automatic freeze protection to prevent damage during the winter.

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01/26/2023 10:56 am GMT

If you really want to be hands-off, the Wayne automatic pool cover utility pump is the way to go. It’s an energy-efficient, fully submersible pump perfect for keeping on your pool cover all winter. It has iSwitch technology that turns the pump on and off at a certain water level.

It has a removable intake screen to keep debris from clogging and tipping over the pump, so you can leave it to its own water-removing devices without worrying.

The pump itself can pump up to 3,000 gph (gallons an hour) with just a 1.25-inch drain hose. Its powerful flow rate can remove 50 gallons of water per minute.

It has a long 25-foot power cord and automatic freeze protection technology to protect the motor if you accidentally leave it out in freezing conditions. The kit even includes a 25-foot rope to help position the pump on the pool cover.

The Best Pool Cover Pump for an Above Ground Pool

Our Top Pick

Little Giant Above Ground Pool Cover Pump

This lightweight pool cover pump removes standing water from above ground pool covers. Includes a removable intake screen for easy cleaning and maintenance, 3/4-inch garden hose connection, and a 550-gallon per hour flow rate.

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The Little Giant pool cover pump is a fully submersible, relatively inexpensive, lightweight, yet heavy-duty option for above ground pools. Simply attach a 0.75-inch garden hose, plug it in, and start pumping. The Little Giant has an intake screen to prevent debris from clogging up your hose. And it includes a cord length of 25 feet, which should have no problem reaching any part of your pool.

It can remove water from your pool cover at about 550 gph (gallons per hour) or roughly 9 gallons of water per minute. But if you keep a regular maintenance schedule, it’ll still make quick work of standing water. The motor itself is entirely submersible, so you don’t need to worry about whether or not it’s big enough to tackle the job.

Note: This is not an automatic pool cover pump for water removal. It’s a manual pool cover pump. So pool owners must add and remove the pump manually from the cover. Do not leave the pump on the cover. Freezing could damage the pump.

Why Do You Need a Swimming Pool Cover Pump?

Your winter pool cover keeps rain, melted snow, and debris like leaves and twigs out of your pool when it’s closed. But unfortunately, all those things don’t magically bounce off the cover. (Hmm … trampoline as pool cover? Nah.) They have to go somewhere, and that usually means on top of your cover.

As water accumulates and becomes heavier, it will begin to gather in the center of the cover. Just one inch of rain on a square foot weighs 5.2 pounds. If your cover has a surface of approximately 280 square feet (just a little under a 12 by 24-foot pool), that’s 1,456 pounds of water on your pool cover after just an inch of rain. Leaving three-quarters of a ton of water sitting on your pool cover will speed up the need for replacement.

You also have to plan for opening your pool later. That standing water will have to come off sometime, which means you’ll either have to do it yourself or pay someone else to take care of it if it’s too big a job. That’s if your winter pool cover has held up under several hundred pounds of water for a few months.

Before we continue, are you tired of paying hundreds to have your pool closed for the winter? You can save yourself a lot of money by learning how to close and winterize your own swimming pool. Our step-by-step video course will show you exactly what to do, even if you’ve never opened or closed a pool before! It works for inground, above ground, and Intex/blow-up pools!

Click here right now to access our Pool Winterization Video Course today!

Ready To Close Your Pool For The Winter?

Save over $300 by winterizing your pool in our step-by-step video course. Works for inground, above ground, and inflatable pools.

Click Here to Learn More

What Does a Pool Cover Pump Do?

First, it keeps that water and small debris from building up on the cover by pumping it out and into the yard, or wherever you direct it. Second, it keeps your pool from overflowing from rain and melted snow that seeps in past the cover. No pool cover is airtight.

A note about snow: A pool cover pump removes water, not snow. You don’t want to leave snow sitting on your cover and wait for it to melt because it may turn to ice instead, and then you’ll have an even bigger problem. Use a snow removal tool with a non-abrasive foam head that won’t tear the pool cover to gently push snow off your cover to keep it from getting too heavy and causing any damage. Learn more about removing snow from your pool cover.

Manual or Automatic?

If you can splurge, an automatic cover pump is a worthwhile investment. If you’re saving, a manual cover pump will still get the job done, just with a little more effort on your part.

If you choose a manual pump, you’re not going to have to stand outside with a hose on your pool cover, pumping a lever up and down to remove the water yourself.

That would be a great workout, but it’s not necessary. Instead, this simply means you’ll have to keep an eye on your cover, and when you see water beginning to accumulate, you’ll have to manually turn the pump on. Forget to check for a couple of days, and you could have a little trouble on your hands.

An automatic pool cover pump is exactly what it sounds like. Left in the center of your cover, it will automatically turn on and begin working when it detects that water has reached a certain level. You’ll still want to keep an eye on things to ensure it’s working properly, but you can rest a little easier.

Whatever pump you decide to invest in, just make sure it has a long power cord, a good warranty, high flow, and comes with a garden hose adapter.

Do You Need a Pump for Your Pool Cover?

Whether you go with manual or automatic, adding a pool cover pump to your maintenance arsenal can save you a lot of energy, money, and time. Not to mention the peace of mind you’ll get knowing your pool and your winter cover are protected during the harsh weather months.

Plus, used regularly during the off-season, a pump means less cleaning for you when you open your pool. And that means you’ll be able to get back to the fun that much sooner.

Happy Swimming!

The post The Best Pool Cover Pumps For Winter Maintenance appeared first on Swim University®.

But there you are, standing on your patio, staring at a dirty pool cover, wondering what kind of horrors await you underneath it. Pool opening seems like so much work, doesn’t it? Don’t worry. Grab a friend and a few other essentials, and you’ll be back to backstroking in no time.

Getting Ready to Open Your Swimming Pool

Before you begin, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got all the tools you need lined up poolside and ready to go. You’ll probably already have some of the items on hand, such as a garden hose, but you may need to pick up a few other things, most importantly, some protective gear.

Every year, thousands of pool owners end up in emergency rooms due to poisoning from pool chemicals. Most of those injuries occurred because people were not wearing protective gear when handling pool chemicals. So when you’re stocking up on all your other supplies, don’t skip the safety gear. It matters.

By the way, if you need a little more help with caring for your pool once it’s open, you’ll find more information in The Pool Care Handbook and Video Course. Don’t maintain your pool without it!

Frustrated by adding chemicals and trying to keep your pool clear all the time?

We cut out all the confusion of pool maintenance in this easy-to-read illustrated ebook and video course. It'll help you save $100 right away on pool care!

Click Here to Learn More

NOTE: The following links are affiliate links which means if you click a link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. It helps us keep the lights on

You’ll need:

• Pool cover pump
• Soft broom
• Winter cover cleaner or car wash soap
• Start-up chemical kit
• Pool gasket lubricant
• Thread seal tape
• Skimmer on a telescoping pole
• Garden hose
• Pool brush
• Safety goggles
• Chemical-resistant gloves
• Pool shock
• Test strips
• A friend to help

Start-Up Chemicals

Depending on the results of your water test, you may need a few pool chemicals in addition to shock to balance your water chemistry.

You may buy a start-up chemical kit that should include everything you need, or you can test your water, then buy only the chemicals your pool requires.

You may also need:

• Chlorine
• pH increaser
• pH decreaser
• Alkalinity increaser
• Calcium hardness increaser
• Metal sequestrant
• Water clarifier
• Algaecide

How to Open Your Inground Swimming Pool

You won’t need to wear protective gear through all these steps, so don’t put on your safety goggles just yet. But you might want to slather on a good amount of sweat-proof sunscreen.

1. Get the Gunk Off Your Pool Cover

Use the soft broom to sweep away any dead leaves or other large debris from your winter cover. Next, use your pool cover pump to remove any standing water from your cover.

Some of these pumps can be a bit slow at removing water, while others will suck up debris and just about anything else that gets in their way. Know what your pool cover pump is capable of so you won’t overwork it.

Our Top Pick

WAYNE Automatic Pool Cover Pump (1/4 HP)

$182.33

Set it and forget it! The built-in iSwitch technology turns the pump on and off by sensing the presence of water and includes automatic freeze protection to prevent damage during the winter.

Buy Now

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01/26/2023 10:56 am GMT

2. Whisk Away the Winter Pool Cover

This when having an extra set of hands will be a big help. You’ll need to lay it flat somewhere to clean it without getting cover cleaner into your pool water, and you’ll have to get it to that flat spot without dragging it over any rough surfaces.

Have your partner stand on the opposite side of the pool from you to help you lift and fold the cover back and forth on itself, like an accordian.

Pool opening is also a good time to inspect your cover to see how it fared over the winter. If it’s damaged, now’s the time to replace your pool cover so you have a new one waiting for you when you close your pool after the season. Not to mention, if it’s beyond help, you can skip the pool cover cleaning and storing. Win-win!

Blue Wave Inground Pool Safety Cover - 16 ft. x 32 ft.

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3. Clean and Store Your Pool Cover

With your cover folded up, have your friend help you move it to your yard, and spread it out flat. That small step will help make your pool cover cleaning easier and go much more quickly. Apply pool cover cleaner or car wash soap and use a soft broom to scrub it gently. Avoid using any abrasive or sharp tools or harsh chemical cleaners, which could destroy your pool cover.

Rinse away all the cleaner or soap. Dry the cover with a towel or leaf blower before folding it up again. Store the cover inside a storage bag or heavy-duty container with a lid. And voilà! Your pool cover cleaning is done!

Important: Do not store your pool cover on the ground or the floor of your shed or garage. That’s just an invitation for bugs, rodents, and other pests to make their home in it over the summer. Then, when it comes time to close your pool, you’ll be buying a new cover.

Tip: If you used water weights, empty them and allow them to dry completely before storing.

4. Skim the Pool

Use your skimmer to grab anything that fell from your cover during removal and any large debris that could clog your filtration system when you turn it back on. You’ll be doing more cleaning later, but getting all the big stuff out now will make all the other cleaning you do easier.

5. Remove Plugs and Ice Compensator

When you closed your inground swimming pool for the winter, you blew out the pipes and installed winterizing plugs to prevent water from getting back into them and freezing. (You did do that, right?) You’ll need to walk around the pool and remove all those plugs.

You should see some bubbles as the pool water flows back into the pipes. This is normal. Whether you used an ice compensator or a soda bottle, you’ll need to remove it and the winterizing plugs from your skimmer.

6. Reinstall the Chutes and Ladders

Do you have a pool ladder, diving board, step rails, slide, or other accessories you removed for the winter? Reinstall all the items you removed at the end of pool season.

Tip: This is a good time to lubricate bolts and grease your diving boards hinges.

7. Just Add Water

You’ve probably lost a few inches of water over the season, even with a winter cover on your pool. While the cover does offer some protection from evaporation, its main purpose it to keep things out of your pool—not really to keep the water in it.

Bring your water level up to normal now to avoid needing to balance your water chemistry twice in this process. Water first, chemicals and filtering after. Be sure to use a hose filter to prevent metals and other contaminants from getting into your pool.

Our Top Pick

Hose Filter with Flexible Hose Protector

Fill your pool or hot tub with this hose filter that'll filter your water so you can have a fresh start with water chemistry.

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8. Set up and Run Your Filter and Pump

Reinstall the drain plugs in your pump and filter using thread seal tape. Lubricate any O-rings with pool gasket lubricant to protect them.

Use the same lubricant on your pump housing O-ring. If you see any cracks in that O-ring, replace it immediately to avoid sucking air into your pump. Your pool heater and chlorinator, if you have them, also have drain plugs.

Next, open your return side valves to be sure the water being pulled into your pump has somewhere to go. If you have a multiport valve, turn the handle to waste, and replace the air bleeder, sight glass, and pressure gauge.

Flip your circuit breaker, then turn on your pump. Once water is flowing through, your pump is primed. Take a look at your filter. Wash or replace it, if necessary. Switch your multiport valve to filter.

If you used antifreeze when you closed your pool, this process will expel from the lines. Most of it will come out while the valve is turned to waste, but a little of it may still make it into your pool water. Don’t be concerned. The antifreeze made for pools is non-toxic, and the rest of it will be filtered out in subsequent filtering cycles.

Tip: If your pressure gauge shows a sudden spike, shut off your pump immediately. Check to make sure nothing is impeding water flow through your system. If necessary, you can prime the pool pump again.

9. Turn That Heavy Metal Down

It might seem counterintuitive, but while your pool water sat stagnant through the winter, metal levels may have increased.

You also probably just topped off your pool with tap water. We hope you used a hose filter to help keep those minerals out of your pool. But to avoid the staining and buildup caused by any metal in your pool water, add a metal sequestrant.

Pool Mate Metal Out Sequestrant and Stain Inhibitor

$25.75 ($0.80 / Fl Oz)

Helps prevent staining by removing iron, calcium, manganese, copper and other metals from your pool water. Also helps protect plumbing and pool walls from rust, stain, and scale. Used for all pool openings and closings.

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01/26/2023 04:09 am GMT

10. Balance the Water

Though you may use your usual test strips, may want to run a water sample over to your pool supply store when you open your swimming pool for the season. This will give you an accurate baseline to work from for the rest of the season.

Once you know what needs adjusting, start balancing your water. Remember, basic pool chemistry tells you to adjust alkalinity first, then pH, and finally calcium hardness. Avoid adding any chemicals you don’t need.

11. Brush and Vacuum the Pool

You don’t have to brush your pool at this point, but it can help to head off algae problems while helping your pool shock be more effective. If you’ve got the time, brush your pool surfaces. Next, vacuum your pool manually to pick up any sediment left on your pool floor.

12. Shock That Pool!

To kill algae spores, bacteria, and get your water sparkling clean, you’ll need pool shock. Effectively shocking your system requires you to achieve something called breakpoint chlorination, which you can calculate based on free chlorine levels from your water test.

We recommend double shocking at pool opening. To double shock, you’ll use two pounds of chlorine shock (for chlorine systems) per 10,000 gallons of water.

Our Top Pick

Calcium Hypochlorite Pool Shock (Cal-Hypo Shock)

This fast-acting, quick-dissolving swimming pool shock from DryTec kills bacteria, controls algae, and destroys organic contaminants in pools. It comes in easy-to-use 1-pound bags.

Use the entire contents of the bag when opened. If any granules settle to the bottom of the pool use brush to disperse them. Add the right dosage of this product during evening hours while the filter pump is running.

Buy Now On Amazon Buy on InTheSwim.com

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Before you add chlorine to your pool, you’ll want to don your safety goggles and chemical-resistant gloves. Avoid pouring shock into your filter basket as it may cause damage.

You can pour shock straight into your pool water, slowly, as you walk around the perimeter of your pool. You may also put some water into a 5-gallon bucket, then dissolve the shock in the water. Pour the solution straight into your pool.

Warning: Putting different types of shock into the same bucket, even if you’ve rinsed it between uses may be explosively dangerous—literally. If you use the bucket method, never use the same bucket for other chemicals.

13. Filter, Filter, and Filter Some More

All your hard work is done! Just leave your filtration system running for at least 24 hours to mix up the shock and filter remaining debris, dead algae spores, and any other gunk.

By the next day, your pool should be crystal clear and ready for swimmers. If it looks a little cloudy, that may be from the shock. You can either wait a little longer for it to dissipate, or add a dose of pool water clarifier to clear it more quickly.

Our Top Pick

Pool Water Clarifier by Swim University

Clears cloudy pool water by combining particles making it easier for your filter to remove. Let your filter do all the work! This fast-acting formula improves filter efficiency for the more effective removal of dead algae and organic debris. Apply clarifier directly to the pool. Great for all pools including inground, above ground, concrete, plaster, vinyl liner, and fiberglass. It's also compatible with salt water, mineral, ozone, and non-chlorine pool water. 

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Safety First and Always

To ensure everyone’s safety in and around your pool, take a few more steps before using your inground pool for the first time after you’ve opened it.

• Spray your pool deck down thoroughly with a hose to rinse away any chemicals that may have spilled where swimmers could step in them.
• Test your water again to ensure chlorine levels are appropriate and water chemistry is balanced. Swimmers could get sick or develop rashes if your water chemistry and sanitizer levels are wrong.
• Just like you should test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly, be sure to test all the safeguards around your pool area, such as gate locks and door alarms. If anything isn’t working properly, fix it as soon as possible.
• Put your winter cover somewhere animals or children cannot climb in and get trapped. Storing it in a strong container and out of sunlight will ensure it works effectively next winter, too.
• Store your chemicals safely, and out of reach of children and pets so they won’t become a health hazard. Keep them in a cool, dry place in their original packaging. Be sure the containers are closed properly.

The Pool is Open!

When you’re standing next to your pool wishing the debris and water on the pool cover would magically disappear, remember that with just a little work, by this time tomorrow, you could be swimming in crystal-clear water.

Open your swimming pool the right way, and you’ll set the stage for easy maintenance throughout the rest of the season.

Happy Swimming!

The post How to Open an Inground Pool in 13 Steps appeared first on Swim University®.

Once you learn how to open an above ground pool, the process will become easier every year. All you need is a friend, the right supplies, and a little elbow grease, and you’ll be swimming again in no time.

Why You Need to Know How to Open an Above Ground Pool

Your pool’s been covered all winter. As convenient as it would be to just pull the cover off and dive right in, think for a minute—that water’s been sitting there, stagnant, all winter long. Do you really want to submerge yourself in that? Didn’t think so.

Knowing the above ground pool opening process will ensure that when you do finally get back into the pool, it’s in clean, clear, non-swampy water.

What You Need to Open Your Above Ground Pool

The basic supplies for opening your pool are probably already at hand in your pool shed. Except your friend, of course. Please don’t store friends in your pool shed if you plan on keeping them as friends.

NOTE: The following links are affiliate links which means if you click a link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. It helps us keep the lights on

You’ll need:

• Pool cover pump
• Soft broom or skimmer net
• Winter cover cleaner or car wash soap
• Start-up chemical kit
• A friend to help

Pool Chemical Spring Start-Up Kit - Up To 15,000 gal. (more sizes available)

$39.96

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01/26/2023 05:04 am GMT

1. Clear Your Winter Pool Cover

Whether you have a pool safety cover or a winterized cover, your first priority is removing a winter’s worth of water, leaves and debris. A submersible pool cover pump makes short work of any excess water. You can also use a regular sump pump if you don’t have a pool cover pump.

To remove leaves and other debris, use a Soft broom or skimmer net. Use a gentle touch. Sharp equipment or overly enthusiastic sweeping can damage your cover.

Try to remove as much of the debris as you can. The more crud you remove now, the less you have to worry about falling into the water when you remove the cover.

Our Top Pick

WAYNE Automatic Pool Cover Pump (1/4 HP)

$182.33

Set it and forget it! The built-in iSwitch technology turns the pump on and off by sensing the presence of water and includes automatic freeze protection to prevent damage during the winter.

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01/26/2023 10:56 am GMT

2. Remove Your Winter Pool Cover

Once you’ve tidied things up, with your friend’s help, carefully remove the cover. Don’t drag it, and take care to keep any lingering debris from falling into the pool.

A little dirt and debris falling into the water isn’t the end of the world. But thinking ahead can save you headaches later when you break out your chemicals and tools in pursuit of a truly clean pool.

If you’ve installed a pool air pillow with your cover, be sure to remove it along with your cover. You can deflate the air pillow once it’s safely out of your pool.

Winter Pool Cover Air Pillow For Above Ground Pools

$11.44

Made from 16 gauge vinyl, this air pillow absorbs pressure caused by ice expansion, protecting the swimming pool walls from damage during the winter months.

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01/26/2023 09:49 am GMT

3. Clean and Store Your Winter Pool Cover

Find a large, easily accessible area like your lawn, deck, or driveway, and spread the cover flat. Make sure the area’s clear of sharp objects and other potentially damaging items.

Wash your cover with water, cover cleaner (or car wash soap), and a scrub brush or rubber broom.

Scrub it thoroughly, but gently. You’ll ensure a longer life for your pool cover, which can save you quite a bit of money since you won’t have to replace it. Make sure you allow your cover to dry thoroughly before storing it to avoid damage from moisture and mold.

Stash your winter cover in a durable, tightly sealed plastic tub or other large storage container during the off season. This will keep rats and other critters from making a nest in your expensive cover or, worse yet, chomping it into tiny bits.

Lifetime Extra Large Deck Storage Box

$149.98

Perfect for storing pool maintenance equipment like cleaners, nets, brushes, hoses, and more. Also great protecting your pool gear from the sun and critters all year long.

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01/26/2023 02:34 am GMT

4. Remove Winter Pool Plugs and Ice Compensators

With the cover safely stashed or drying in a sunny place, you can start removing winterizing pool plugs. Carefully check all around your pool, and remove the plugs from all openings, including the return jets (also called eyeball fittings) and skimmer bucket.

If you use an ice compensator in your skimmer bucket, be sure to remove that, too.

Reinstall all your skimmer baskets and return jets into the return line. If you used a skimmer plate (also called a skimmer cover) over the winter, make sure you remove it.

A skimmer plate is designed to keep water out of your skimmer during the winter while allowing you to keep your pool filled. Once it’s gone, water can flow easily when you reactivate your pool’s filter system.

Our Top Pick

Aquador Pool Skimmer Cover For Winterization

$26.48

We recommend using a skimmer plate when winterizing your pool to prevent water from entering your plastic skimmer, freezing, and cracking. This is a Tupperware-like cover that's easy to take on and off when needed.

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01/26/2023 12:24 pm GMT

Skimmers and filters and plugs, oh my! You can get more details about all these things and much more in The Pool Care Handbook and Video Course.

Frustrated by adding chemicals and trying to keep your pool clear all the time?

We cut out all the confusion of pool maintenance in this easy-to-read illustrated ebook and video course. It'll help you save $100 right away on pool care!

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5. Add Water To Your Pool

Depending on how you closed your pool, you may need to add water to reach the proper level. When you add water, use a hose filter to screen out impurities, and make sure your pool is filled to the halfway mark of your skimmer’s opening.

Our Top Pick

Hose Filter with Flexible Hose Protector

Fill your pool or hot tub with this hose filter that'll filter your water so you can have a fresh start with water chemistry.

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6. Reinstall Your Deck Equipment

This might seem like a page from How to Open an Above Ground Pool 101, but you’ll need to reinstall your deck gear to use your pool. This includes ladders, steps, or lifts.

Double-check each component for rust or other damage. If anything seems flimsy, damaged, or worn out, now’s the perfect time to replace it.

7. Set Up Your Pump, Filter and Other Equipment

You’ll need to bring your pool’s hardware back to life after a long winter’s slumber. The mad scientist goggles and lab coat are optional.

First, put back all the plugs to the drains and pressure gauges to your pool filter system, pump, and other equipment.

Next, attach your system’s hoses to your equipment, and double-check the connections.

1. Connect the skimmer to the pool pump.
2. Connect the pump to the filter.
3. Connect the filter to the heater, chlorinator, and any other extra filter equipment. If you don’t have any, attach the hose directly to the return inlet.

If you have a multiport valve, make sure it’s turned to the filter position.

8. Start Your Pump and Filter

Fire it up! Make sure the system starts, and check for any leaks or drips. Don’t forget to make sure the ground wires are properly connected to the pump.

If you find your system is running dry, you may need to prime the pool pump. You can do this by shutting off your filter system, removing the pump lid, and adding water from your garden hose or a bucket of pool water.

This will give the pump the boost it needs to start pulling water. Put the pump lid back on, tighten it up, and restart the system.

Whether your filter uses sand or the tiny fossilized organisms known as diatomaceous earth (DE), backwash it after you start your filter system up. The differences in technique between how to backwash a sand filter and how to backwash a DE filter are small but important. The biggest difference is adding DE after you backwash filters that use it.

Always follow your manufacturer’s instructions when backwashing any filter.

Our Top Pick

Diatomaceous Earth Powder (for D.E. Filters)

Filter media for backwashing and cleaning D.E. pool filters.

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9. Clean Up Your Pool

If you’ve reached this stage and you have a pristine, sparkling pool, you can proceed with opening it. But, since you probably don’t have magic elves helping you in their spare time, you’ll probably need to get your hands dirty.

Your pool must be clean before you can add any start-up chemicals. Brush your pool, including the walls and any hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. While you’re at it, vacuum the pool, too. The floors need love and scrubbing after a long winter.

If the friend you recruited is still around, they’ll probably be happy to help in exchange for a free pool pass during the summer.

Once you’ve finished cleaning the pool, skim the surface of the water to collect any floating leaves, bugs, or other debris that may have snuck in while you’ve been busy doing everything else.

10. Add Start-Up Chemicals

Having brushed your pool, it’s time to brush up on your chemistry. Break out your test strips or liquid test kit, and test your pool water to make sure all the chemicals are properly balanced.

If you’d rather not do it yourself, or if you just want to establish a baseline reading to follow through the rest of pool season, you can take a sample of your pool water to your nearest pool dealer and have them test it for you.

How to Shock Your Pool

Once you’ve got your water balanced, you’ll want to shock your pool.

Use 2 pounds of pool shock for every 10,000 gallons of pool water, or 5 gallons of liquid shock for every 20,000 gallons of pool water. This is a double shock, using twice the normal amount. This will give your pool a sanitizing whammy to make sure the water’s ready for swimming.

Important: Don’t forget to shock at night or at dusk to keep sunlight from burning off the shock too quickly.

Our Top Pick

Calcium Hypochlorite Pool Shock (Cal-Hypo Shock)

This fast-acting, quick-dissolving swimming pool shock from DryTec kills bacteria, controls algae, and destroys organic contaminants in pools. It comes in easy-to-use 1-pound bags.

Use the entire contents of the bag when opened. If any granules settle to the bottom of the pool use brush to disperse them. Add the right dosage of this product during evening hours while the filter pump is running.

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11. Get Your Pump Running

After you’ve got everything ready, let your pool pump run for at least 24 hours. Vacuum out any debris that appears. Retest your pool water, and if the results are where you want them to be, grab your swimsuit and jump in!

Understanding how to open an above ground pool makes jumpstarting your pool season a lot easier. As you’re going through the opening steps, take a little time to create a pool maintenance schedule to keep things running smoothly all season.

Just be sure to make some time to enjoy all your hard work. Or what’s a pool for?

Happy Swimming!

The post How to Open an Above Ground Pool in 11 Steps appeared first on Swim University®.

So here’s how to watch for the right pool-opening weather in your area.

Before we dive in if you’re looking for help keeping your pool clean and clear throughout the season, check out our FREE Pool Care Cheat Sheet. It’s a totally free, easy-to-use guide to help you keep track of taking care of your pool.

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When should you open your pool?

As a general rule of thumb, you should open your pool when the outside daytime temperature stays consistently above 70 degrees (or 21 degrees celsius). 70 degrees is still a little too cold to go swimming, but it’s not too cold for algae.

As the weather starts to warm up, algae can start to grow in your pool water – especially if you use a mesh pool cover and the water is exposed to sunlight.

Springtime is also “pollen season,” and that can start collecting in your pool (here’s a guide on getting rid of pollen in your pool). So to help prevent algae and stop pollen from collecting in your water, open your pool and run your filter and pump when daytime temps are a steady 70 degrees.

What month should you open your pool?

We surveyed 1,900 pool owners and found a majority of pool owners open their swimming pools between May 1st and May 15th.

In the U.S. pool industry, the unofficial start of the pool season is Memorial Day Weekend (end of May). That’s when pool stores are the busiest (at least in the northeast part of the country). It’s a good idea to open your pool before that to get a headstart on the season and to beat the crowds in the pool stores.

What if you have a heated pool?

The same rule applies: you’ll still want to wait for consistent 70-degree weather. You just may not be able to swim in your pool if it isn’t heated.

Whether your pool is heated or not, plan on opening up your pool 2-3 weeks before you plan on using it. That’ll give you enough time to troubleshoot equipment and clear up any water chemistry issues.

If you don’t have a heated pool and want to learn more about how to keep your pool heated so you can open it earlier, check out our pool heating guide here.

What is the first thing you do when you open your pool?

If you closed your pool correctly and opened it earlier in the season, then hopefully you’ll have clear water. The opening process is very easy.

1. Fill up the water to the middle of the skimmer.
2. Get your pump and filter system circulating again.
3. Test the water.
4. Add any chemicals needed.
5. Swim!

If you want a more detailed explanation of what you need to do to open your pool, check out our guides on how to open an inground pool or above ground pool.

On the other hand, if you opened your pool and it’s either green or cloudy, you’ll need to check out our guides on how to get rid of algae and how to clear a cloudy pool.

How do you know if the weather will stay above 70 degrees?

Start by checking out the historical weather averages in your area. Depending on where you live, you may hit the 70-degree sweet spot sooner than you think.

In the U.S., people tend to think about opening their pool around the middle to end of May. While this feels like a good time to start swimming, it actually might be too late to open your pool.

Remember, if the temperature has stayed consistently above 70 degrees, you could be opening up your pool to an algae nightmare. And if EVERYONE opens their pool at the same time, pool chemicals and equipment might be out of stock, and pool service companies might already be booked solid.

So, when it comes to opening up your pool, the sooner the better!

The post When Is The Right Time To Open Your Pool? appeared first on Swim University®.

It’ll keep out dirt and debris, reduce the number of opening chores you’ll have to do, and especially in the case of an above ground pool, it’ll protect the pool from damage.

What is a Winter Pool Cover?

The name is pretty self-explanatory, but you may be asking what the difference is between a winter pool cover and any other type of pool cover. It’s easy to explain:

• Automatic Pool Cover: An inground cover deployed by an automated mechanism. It sits very close to the top of the water, and below the lip of the pool.
• Solar Pool Cover: A blanket made up of bubbled plastic (it looks like bubble wrap), it sits directly on top of the water and concentrates solar energy to heat the water below it.
• Pool Safety Cover: A strong cover secured by pins or ties, it lies flat over an inground pool, even with the deck. It’s pulled taut, and while it does keep debris out, its primary purpose is to prevent people and animals from falling into the pool.
• Winter Pool Cover: A plain cover (sometimes even just a tarp) laid over the pool, and secured on the deck with water-filled bags. On above ground pools, a winter cover sits on top of the pool and is secured to the walls with cable tied through grommets and tightened with a winch. Its purpose is to keep debris out of the water while the pool is closed, and it offers little to no safety benefit.

If you don’t have children, and you don’t have any worries of pets or other animals possibly falling into the pool, a winter pool cover is all you need to protect the pool while it’s closed.

Double Chamber Winter Pool Cover Water Tubes

$27.94

We recommend double-chamber water tubes over single-chamber when it comes to holding down you winter cover for both inground and above ground pools.

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01/26/2023 01:46 pm GMT

How to Protect an Above Ground Winter Pool Cover

While they’re usually less expensive than other types, but you still don’t want to have to buy a new cover every year. It’ll last longer if you take proper care of it. Don’t winterize your above ground pool without one.

Secure the Cover

If you’re buying an above ground winter pool cover for the first time, make sure you buy a good heavy-duty cover with grommets. These are holes around the edge of the cover with metal rings. If you just use a plastic tarp, it may not have grommets, and it’ll be more difficult to secure.

If you buy a winter cover designed for above ground pools, it should come with a cable and a winch to ratchet down the cover. Wrap the winter cover under the rails and loop the cable through the grommets. Make sure it’s nice and tight when you ratchet it down.

Here is how you properly loop the cable through the grommets on an above ground winter pool cover.

Ready To Close Your Pool For The Winter?

Save over $300 by winterizing your pool in our step-by-step video course. Works for inground, above ground, and inflatable pools.

Click Here to Learn More

Use Cover Clips

We recommend using these in addition to the cable-and-grommet cover. The clips are just an added level of security.

They’re simple devices that clip on the cover directly under the above ground pool rail. They’re inexpensive, so the more you use, the better.

Winter Cover Clips for Above Ground Pool Cover (20 Pack)

$18.48

Highly recommended to secure your winter cover to your above ground pool in conjunction with a cable and winch system. Add 1-3 per railing section for the best security.

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01/26/2023 02:34 pm GMT

Add Water to the Cover

Even tied down, a cover is susceptible to the wind. One good gust under the cover can blow it off, and repeated gusts can tear it.

Adding just one to three inches of water on the cover top will help protect it from wind damage. Remember to keep an eye on the water level, though. If it rains, and you get too much water on top, the cover may sink down into the pool water. Keep a pool cover pump handy to remove excess water.

The same goes for snow. If you allow too much to accumulate, the weight will push the cover down into the pool. Make sure you remove snow from the pool cover before it gets to that point.

Pool Mate Winter Cover for Round Above Ground Pools - 28 ft.

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Use an Air Pillow

Also called an ice compensator, a pool pillow helps protect your above ground pool from ice damage.

If the pool water freezes during the winter, and the ice expands, it can push the pool apart, sending all that water gushing into your yard. It can also possibly damage the pool to the point where you’ll need to replace it altogether.

The pillow under the cover will absorb the expansion and protect the pool walls from damage.

Winter Pool Cover Air Pillow For Above Ground Pools

$11.44

Made from 16 gauge vinyl, this air pillow absorbs pressure caused by ice expansion, protecting the swimming pool walls from damage during the winter months.

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01/26/2023 09:49 am GMT

How to Protect an Inground Winter Pool Cover

While there’s no danger of your pool collapsing if anything happens to the cover, it’s still advisable to take some steps to help the cover do its job throughout the winter season. When you close your inground pool, make cover care part of the routine.

Remove Ice

To protect the cover against ice, let the ice melt so you can remove it with a cover pump. Don’t try to remove frozen ice because it can have sharp edges and possibly tear the cover.

Put Water on the Cover

The weight of even just one to three inches of water on the cover can protect it from wind gusts that can make it flap and tear, or possibly even blow it off the pool.

Remove Rain and Snow

To keep rain and melted snow from weighing the cover down and causing it to sink, remove excess water (more than the one to three inches you’re keeping there to fight wind) with a cover pump.

Our Top Pick

WAYNE Automatic Pool Cover Pump (1/4 HP)

$182.33

Set it and forget it! The built-in iSwitch technology turns the pump on and off by sensing the presence of water and includes automatic freeze protection to prevent damage during the winter.

Buy Now

If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

01/26/2023 10:56 am GMT

Remove Overhanging Tree Limbs

The fastest way for any pool cover to tear is for a dead tree limb to fall onto it. You just don’t want limbs falling into your pool anyway.

To protect your cover and pool, hire a professional tree specialist to remove any overhanging tree limbs that may land in your pool.

Keep Animals Out

Install a sturdy pool fence to keep pets and other critters off the winter pool cover and out of the pool. A five- or six-foot fence is usually enough to keep out most four-legged animals.

Also, keep the cover clean so animals won’t be as attracted to your pool.

Patch Holes Immediately

If your cover has suffered some damage and is in need of a repair, you can temporarily fix it with duct tape. Is there anything you can’t fix with duct tape? No, there is not. Patch holes and tears promptly to prevent them from spreading.

Gorilla Crystal Clear Duct Tape

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It’s a Cover-Up!

But in this case, that’s a good thing. Protect your pool during the winter and make opening less work in the spring just by using a simple winter pool cover. Your future self will be glad you did.

Happy Winterizing!

The post The Complete Guide to Winter Pool Covers appeared first on Swim University®.

This is easily remedied. You just need to keep the right pool cover snow removal tools on hand, and take action before any damage is done.

Why Remove Snow from a Pool Cover?

Have you ever been to the beach? Maybe you got a little sand on your legs or arms, but you didn’t even notice it because just a few grains are seemingly weightless.

Now, have you ever been buried in sand at the beach? The sand on your body was quite a bit heavier, wasn’t it? You may have still been able to move, but not without some difficulty.

It’s the same situation with snow. One or two flakes are nothing. But millions upon millions sticking together eventually becomes very heavy.

How Heavy is Snow?

The weight of snow depends on the type. Time for some math!

On second thought, we’re going to skip the math and use a snow weight calculator.

Snow Weight Calculator

Inch Calculator

Let’s say your pool is ten feet long and eight feet wide, and you allow one foot of light, fluffy snow to accumulate across that entire area. That snow will weigh somewhere between 250 and 350 pounds.

Then the temperature warms up just a bit, and the snow starts to melt, and now you have one foot of wet, slushy snow on the pool cover. Now the snow weighs somewhere between 1,998 and 4,146 pounds.

You read that right.

For an above ground pool that’s ten feet in diameter, the weight of that one foot of snow increases to between 2,497 and 5,182 pounds.

You read that right again.

Think about this: Once you put a cover on your pool, would you dare walk out onto it? And how much do you weigh? If you’re not keen on putting just your body weight on the pool cover, you’ll understand why pool cover snow removal is crucial.

That much weight put on something that was never meant to hold it will cause damage. And what’s the point of avoiding pool damage? Saving money.

If snow builds on the pool cover to the point of ruining anything, it’ll cost you money to repair or replace whatever’s ruined. The type of damage will depend on the type of pool you have.

Ready To Close Your Pool For The Winter?

Save over $300 by winterizing your pool in our step-by-step video course. Works for inground, above ground, and inflatable pools.

Click Here to Learn More

Above Ground Pool

The walls and rail on your above ground pool are strong. They have to be to contain hundreds of gallons of pool water. But that’s just it. They’re built to hold in a certain amount of water and weight.

If you allow snow on the pool cover to accumulate, it will slowly increase in weight, putting more and more strain on the cover. And because the cover is attached to the pool walls, that weight will strain the top rail and walls as well, pulling them inward toward the center of the pool. They’re not made for that.

Let it go too long, and get too heavy, and the walls could collapse altogether, leaving you with a huge mess to clean up, and the expense of replacing the pool in the spring

Tip: Remember to use a pool pillow with your winter cover to protect your pool even more.

Winter Pool Cover Air Pillow For Above Ground Pools

$11.44

Made from 16 gauge vinyl, this air pillow absorbs pressure caused by ice expansion, protecting the swimming pool walls from damage during the winter months.

Buy Now On Amazon

If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

01/26/2023 09:49 am GMT

Inground Pool

There’s no danger of your inground pool collapsing under the weight of too much snow on the pool cover. But the cover itself can stretch under that weight, which means it won’t cover your pool the way it’s supposed to.

Let’s be honest: High-quality inground pool covers can be expensive. Save yourself some money, and practice pool cover snow removal all winter long.

Safety covers can be even more expensive. If you have an higher-priced mesh or solid pool safety cover, it’s even more important to keep it free of snow to prevent stretching and tearing. The weight could also pop out the cover anchors or even your pool’s coping. And there’s more money you’ll have to spend.

Blue Wave Rectangular Inground Pool Safety Cover - 16 ft. x 32 ft. - 4 ft. x 8 ft. Center Step

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Remove Snow from Cover Before it Causes Damage

Keep just a few tools on hand, and get snow off the cover before it becomes too heavy to remove.

• Use long, soft-bristled broom to push new, fluffy snow off the cover.
• Use a pool cover snow removal tool for older, heavier snow; it’s made specifically for that purpose.
• DO NOT use a shovel or anything with sharp edges; this can tear the cover.
• If the snowfall is light, you may also be able to use a leaf blower to keep it from accumulating.
• If snow did accumulate, but has melted as daytime temperature rises, you can use a pool cover pump to remove the water and keep it from freezing when temperatures drop again.

Our Top Pick

WAYNE Automatic Pool Cover Pump (1/4 HP)

$182.33

Set it and forget it! The built-in iSwitch technology turns the pump on and off by sensing the presence of water and includes automatic freeze protection to prevent damage during the winter.

Buy Now

If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

01/26/2023 10:56 am GMT

Keep the Snow Miser at Bay

With just a few tools and a little vigilance, you can keep snow off your pool cover and protect your investment. Plus, who doesn’t like to play in the snow?!

Happy Pool Cover Snow Removal!

(Photo Credits: pat00139)

The post How to Remove Snow From a Pool Cover appeared first on Swim University®.

Sure, it’s a bummer when summer draws to a close. And nobody’s lining up for extra chores. But if you know how to properly close your above ground pool, you can get it done in a matter of hours and enjoy peace of mind while you wait for swim season on the other side of the thaw.

Why You Need to Know How to Winterize an Above Ground Pool

If you’re fortunate enough to live somewhere with mild winters, you might not have considered what a pool needs to weather a frigid off season, and you might not close it at all. But if you live in a climate where winter comes to call with frost, snow, and deep cold, winterizing your pool—preparing it for and protecting it against winter’s ravages—is essential to keeping your pool in good working order.

During the sunny days of summer, your pool is wide open and a tempting target for insects, leaves, branches, and the occasional lost critter. That’s no big deal during swim season, because you’re performing regular maintenance.

But in the winter, your pool is unused, and it’s not so rewarding to grab a skimmer and head out in the blizzard to hunt for debris.

If you leave your pool uncovered, you’ll have serious work ahead of you come spring. In addition to having to clean out your pool, you’ll need to rebalance the water, and maybe even deal with freeze damage.

Winterizing your pool minimizes your risk of contamination and cold damage to sensitive components. You’ll save time, money, and frustration. Really, what more incentive do you need?

When to Winterize Your Above Ground Pool

Depending on where you live, your closing times will vary. But as a rule, if temperatures typically drop, and stay, below 65°F (18°C) during the off season, wait until the temperature falls below that point to close.

Why? Algae, like orchids or William Faulkner novels, need heat to thrive, and cold temps help keep your water clear of infestation. Plus, leaving your pool open until the mercury drops gives you plenty of time to clean, test, and balance your pool before closing.

If you live in an area where the temperatures occasionally rise above 65°F (18°C) for a few days during the winter, you can take advantage of the warm spell to test and balance the water chemistry. These tweaks will help you keep your water clean and clear until spring returns.

Ready To Close Your Pool For The Winter?

Save over $300 by winterizing your pool in our step-by-step video course. Works for inground, above ground, and inflatable pools.

Click Here to Learn More

How to Do It: Just 11 Steps to Winterization

Frigid winters can be hard on just about any kind of swimming pool. With the right gear and preparation, you can soften the blow and make sure your above ground pool is ready to rock for years to come.

1. Gather Your Pool Closing Essentials

Before you winterize your above ground pool, make sure you’ve got the necessary supplies:

• Winterizing chemical kit or pH increaser, Alkalinity increaser, Calcium hardness increaser, Pool shock, and Algaecide
• Clarifying enzyme supplement (optional, but recommended)
• Above ground pool skimmer cover
• Expansion plugs
• Return line plugs
• Above ground pool winter cover
• Cover winch and cable
• Cover clips
• Water bags (if you have a walk-around deck)
• Swimming pool antifreeze (if necessary)
• Pool air pillow (a must-have!)

Winter Pool Cover Air Pillow For Above Ground Pools

$11.44

Made from 16 gauge vinyl, this air pillow absorbs pressure caused by ice expansion, protecting the swimming pool walls from damage during the winter months.

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01/26/2023 09:49 am GMT

2. Clean Your Pool One Last Time

You wouldn’t put a coffee cup away dirty (at least, we hope not). So why do it to your pool? Head into the off season with a clear conscience. Before you winterize, clean your pool. Vacuum the entire pool, brush down the walls, and skim the surface.

A little prep now will save you from some potentially nasty surprises when you open your pool next spring. A clean pool makes it much easier to properly balance your water. It also ensures nothing is left behind to feed algae or mold that might develop during your pool’s long winter’s nap.

Our Top Pick

Heavy Duty Round Pool Brush

The wide pool brush has 360 degrees of strong bristles to clean hard-to-reach pool surfaces fast, including steps, ladders, slides, diving boards, and tough corners/crevices in every type of pool. This one-of-a-kind pool brush eliminates back and hip pains associated with one-sided brushes.

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3. Test and Tweak Your Water for Winter

Open or closed, knowing what’s up with your water chemistry is essential to keeping your pool in tip-top condition. Take a few minutes to test your pool water before you begin closing.

You can test the water yourself with test strips or a water testing kit for a little more accuracy. If you want the most accurate results possible, you can also take a water sample to your local pool store and have them test it for you.

Your goal is a pH between 7.4 and 7.6, and alkalinity between 100 parts per million (ppm) and 150 ppm, with 125 ppm being ideal. Also make sure the calcium hardness is between 175 ppm to 225 ppm, and that the chlorine is between 1 ppm and 3 ppm. If you use a different sanitizer, just make sure it’s at the proper level for whatever you’re using. Since you won’t be adjusting the water balance during the off season, it’s better to be on the high side of these ranges when you close your pool because they’ll naturally decrease over time.

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Complete Liquid Test Kit for Pools and Hot Tubs

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4. Add Winterizing Chemicals

Unlike Snow Miser or poor old Bucky Barnes, the chemicals you add to your above ground pool during closing are there to help during the cold season.

Why balance your water when winterizing an above ground pool? Balanced water is less likely to cause damage to your pool liner and other components.

Use a Winter Closing Kit

If you’re not in the mood to break out your lab coat and beakers, grab a winterizing chemical kit for your above ground pool. Follow the directions on the label, and you’ll be good to go.

Note: Some winter chemical kits don’t require you to run the filter when you add them. Double-check the directions and verify which type of kit you have. You might be able to skip a few steps when finishing your close.

Pool Winterizing and Closing Chemical Kit

This winterizing and closing chemical kit is designed to save you time and money by including all the necessary chemicals to close your pool. This kit includes winter algaecide, stain prevention, chlorine-free shock, an absorbing sponge, and a pool floater.

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Adjust the Alkalinity

Alkalinity is the measure of carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides and other alkaline substances in water. You can think of it as pH’s trusty sidekick in the battle for balanced water.

You can tweak your water’s alkalinity in a couple of ways. Bump it up by adding a base, such an alkalinity increaser or sodium bicarbonate to your pool water. Knock it down by adding muriatic acid.

Don’t forget, the ideal range is for alkalinity is 100 to 150 ppm. And as with alkalinity, a higher level is better when you’re winterizing. And always remember to adjust alkalinity beforepH.

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Pool Alkalinity Increaser

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Make Sure the pH is Perfect

Your pool’s pH level is a measure of how acidic or basic the water is. The lower the level, the more acidic the water is. The higher it is, the more basic the water is.

If your water is acidic, add a base to lower the acidity. If your water’s too basic, add a pH increaser to bring it into proper balance.

Remember, you’re shooting for a pH in the range of 7.4 to 7.6. And as with alkalinity, a higher level is better when you’re winterizing.

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pH Increaser for Pools

This is a proven way to make the water less acidic when swimming in pools. This chemical helps maintain the right level of pH.

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Zero in on calcium hardness

A frozen pool might be the ultimate in “hard water,” but it’s calcium hardness we’re worried about. Hard water deposits calcium in your pool and plumbing, forming an unsightly, crusty build-up over time.

Conversely, if your water is too soft, it will try to draw the calcium it needs from inside the pool, which can damage tiled pools in the process by feasting on the plaster and grout. Too-soft water can also corrode metal.

Plaster loss might not be a concern for above ground pools with vinyl liners, but avoiding metal damage definitely is.

If your water’s too hard, you can purchase chemicals to lower the hardness, or just dilute your pool water with fresh water that isn’t hard. Water too soft? You can boost the level by adding a calcium hardness increaser or simple calcium chloride.

The ideal calcium hardness range is 175 ppm to 225 ppm, or 200 ppm to 275 ppm if you have a concrete or plaster pool.

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Calcium Hardness Increaser for Pools

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Shock The Pool Before You Close

Sure, you could whisper a dark secret into the filter or perform the lambada, but that’s not the kind of shock you’re after. Add pool shock to power up your sanitizer for the winter. Consult the directions for each to make sure you’re adding the right amount for your pool’s capacity.

Since you’re closing the pool, you can use a fast-dissolving shock before you put the cover on instead of using a typical calcium hypochlorite shock that takes anywhere from 8 to 24 hours to work.

Tip: If you’d rather use regular shock, just make sure you add it to the pool the night before you want to close it so the shock has time to work its magic.

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Calcium Hypochlorite Pool Shock (Cal-Hypo Shock)

This fast-acting, quick-dissolving swimming pool shock from DryTec kills bacteria, controls algae, and destroys organic contaminants in pools. It comes in easy-to-use 1-pound bags.

Use the entire contents of the bag when opened. If any granules settle to the bottom of the pool use brush to disperse them. Add the right dosage of this product during evening hours while the filter pump is running.

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Add a Dash of Winter Algaecide

While it’s completely optional, you can add an algaecide to your pool just before closing it to keep algae from invading over the winter. Follow the directions on the back of the package for the proper dose (usually the same dose recommended when starting the pool for the first time).

You can also add a clarifying enzyme treatment to further reduce algae growth, liner stains, and contaminant build-up. This comes in either a bottle or a convenient ball or “pill” you puncture and add to the water, where they release their payload all winter to help you greet spring with a clear pool.

If you’ve struggled with a green, murky pool at opening in the past, or want to avoid one in the future, these little supplements can help immensely.

Our Top Pick

Pool Algaecide 60 (Copper-Free)

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01/26/2023 01:10 am GMT

5. Clear and Store the Lines

Just like the plumbing in your house, your pool lines can be damaged by ice expansion. Even if winters are mild in your area, clearing, removing, and storing the lines will make for easier setup next spring.

Simply disconnect the lines, allow all the water to run out, let them air dry, then store them in a dry place out of direct sunlight. Letting them dry is crucial unless you want to find mold in them next season.

6. Protect Your Skimmer

You have a couple of options when you’re winterizing your skimmer. The first step is to remove the skimmer basket and store it somewhere safe and dry for the winter.

You can then decide whether you’d like to cover your skimmer for the season or not. A winter skimmer cover is a plate that covers the entire skimmer, sealing out the elements. If you use one of these, you won’t have to drain your pool below the skimmer line, saving you a bit of time and hassle.

If you choose not to cover your skimmer, keep an eye on your skimmer during the winter to make sure water can drain out if it rains. Keep the bottom of the skimmer free and clear—don’t plug it up.

Note: If water accumulates in your skimmer over the winter and then freezes, the expanding ice cause your skimmer to crack. Also, if the snow or water load is too great, the weight could compromise your skimmer wall. If you get a heapin’ helpin’ of precipitation during the winter, a skimmer cover can save you big headaches down the road.

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Aquador Pool Skimmer Cover For Winterization

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We recommend using a skimmer plate when winterizing your pool to prevent water from entering your plastic skimmer, freezing, and cracking. This is a Tupperware-like cover that's easy to take on and off when needed.

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01/26/2023 12:24 pm GMT

7. Winterize The Filter and Pump

One of the lesser pool closing concerns is packing away the filter and pump. It’s a pretty straightforward process.

The Pump

Completely remove all drain plugs to drain and remove the pool pump, chlorinator (if you have one), and all the hoses. Store all the drain plugs (including the ones from the filter) in the pump basket so that you keep them all together and you won’t have to go hunting for them in the spring. Keep the pump, chlorinator, and hoses indoors to prolong their lives.

The Filter

The method you use for winterizing your above ground pool will depend on which type of filter you have.

Sand: Set your multiport valve to “Winterize,” and remove the drain plug at the bottom to allow the filter to drain completely. If your multiport valve has a bleeder valve and a sight glass, remove those too, and store them in the pump basket for easy retrieval next season.

Bring your filter indoors for winter storage. If the weight of the sand makes this too difficult, you can leave it outside if you remove all the drain plugs. With the plugs removed, freezing water or condensation that builds up inside the filter tank won’t crack it.

Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.): Drain it, then rinse off the grids (or fingers) with a hose to remove excess D.E. Leave the valves open.

Cartridge Drain it, then rinse off the cartridge with a hose. Leave the valves open, and store the cartridge indoors for the winter.

Note: Moving your hardware indoors after you disconnect it really is the best option. It extends your gear’s useful life and protects it from damage. Protect your investment and bring your filter, pump, chlorinator, heater, and any other equipment in from the cold.

If You Have a Salt Water Pool …

If your pool uses a salt water system, switch the chlorine generator to the “winter” setting, if it has one. If it doesn’t, most chlorine generators have a removable electrolytic cell you can access by unscrewing the end caps. Remove the cell, or your entire salt system if you prefer, and store it inside for the winter.

Note: Take a few moments to clean the cell before storing. It’ll prolong its life and help reduce the risk of hardware problems when it’s time to reopen your pool.

8. Clean and Stash Your Accessories

When you’re closing your pool for the winter, don’t overlook your above ground pool ladder, toys, and any other accessories you may have. Leaving them in the pool can damage the items or, even worse, your pool. They could puncture the lining or start to rust. Corroded metal can contaminate your water and cause serious hardware problems.

Gather up all your accessories, then give them a good cleaning with a multi-purpose pool surface cleaner, and let them dry. Then store them in a clean, dry place, away from direct sunlight, until spring.

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9. Lower the Pool Water (If Necessary)

Do you need to drain any water when winterizing an above ground pool? The answer hinges on how you protect your skimmer during the winter. If you’re concerned about freezing and cracking, and don’t use a winter skimmer cover plate, then you should drain the water level below the skimmer and returns.

If you do use a winter skimmer plate, simply remove the hose from your skimmer so it can drain properly, and install the plate, and you won’t have to drain your pool. Keeping the water level at its normal level is better for your winter cover.

How? If you have a solid cover, draining the water below the return lines can put added pressure on your cover when rain water and snow collect on top. You’ll need to keep draining water off the cover with a pump or siphon to protect it from damage.

Important: Never drain an above ground pool completely when winterizing. Your vinyl liner can dry out, shortening its life considerably.

10. Install the Pool Pillow

Knowing how to close an above ground pool means mastering the mystical art of the inflatable. In cold climates, placing a pool air pillow—also known as an ice compensator because it compensates for the pressure of the snow and ice on top of the cover—under the cover protects the sides of the cover and the walls of your pool from damage.

Even if you don’t live in a cold climate but you close and cover your pool, you can use an air pillow to keep water and debris off to the side of the pool for an easy spring clean-up.

The secret to winterizing success lies in inflating the air pillow to around 50% or 60% of its capacity. This allows the pillow to compress without immediately popping after the first substantial snowfall.

Blow up the air pillow and place it in the middle of the pool. You can use a thin rope to secure it to either side of the pool so that it stays in the middle, or use an accessory designed to center your pillow automatically. Some pillows also come with built-in grommets to allow you to secure them on all four corners for easy centering.

Note: While you don’t absolutely need the pillow to stay centered all winter, doing so protects your pool cover and walls from ice more effectively.

You can prolong the life of your pool pillows by sealing the seams and valves with duct tape once you’ve inflated the pillows. This will reduce air loss due to leaks and bolster the pillows’ strength.

11. Install the Pool Cover

Almost done! Place the pool cover over your pool—and the air pillow—and secure it by using the cable and winch, or a combination of winter cover clips and a cable.

Sometimes, more really is more. A combination of winter cover clips and a cable and winch will ensure a snug fit and give you greater peace of mind. If your pool has a walk-around deck, you can also add water bags to help secure your cover.

Don’t use bricks, stones, stray elephants, or anything else that might damage your liner if it were to fall into the pool.

Throughout the winter, keep an eye on your cover and do your best to keep it dry. We recommend buying an above ground pool cover pump to help remove excess water and keep your pool cover in good shape.

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Little Giant Above Ground Pool Cover Pump

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Your Winterizing Worries are a Thing of the Past

Your pool is cleaner than Mr. Monk’s kitchen. Your water is balanced, pristine, and sanitary. Your hardware is safe, dry, and secure. And your pool is snuggled up with a pillow and blankie. Well, y’know, kinda. Congratulations, grasshopper—the arcane secrets of how to winterize an above ground pool are now yours to command.

There’ll be many more years of fun in the sun ahead. But for now, you can rest easy, knowing your pool is prepared for even the worst winter can throw at it.

Happy Closing!

The post How to Winterize An Above Ground Pool in 11 Steps appeared first on Swim University®.

None of those are ideal solutions. But when you’re closing your pool for the winter, you can save yourself a lot of hassle with the addition of just one tiny piece of pool equipment: a pool pillow.

What Is a Pool Pillow?

It couldn’t be any simpler. It’s a small, vinyl, inflatable pillow you place in the middle of your above ground pool, between the water and the winter cover.

That’s it.

What Does a Pool Air Pillow Do?

In this case, using a pillow isn’t about comfort. Well, unless we consider not having to replace your above ground pool as being comfortable, because that’s exactly the situation you may find yourself in if you don’t use a pool pillow.

Sometimes also called an ice compensator, a pool air pillow is used to compensate for the accumulation of rain, snow, and ice that may build up on the pool cover over the winter months.

By placing an air-filled pool pillow under the winter cover, you create a void in the water and on the top of the cover. When rain, snow, and ice accumulate, and pressure builds on the cover, the ice will expand inward toward the pillow.

Without the pool air pillow, ice would expand outward, putting pressure on your pool walls and causing potential damage to your cover, liner, and pool walls.

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How to Use a Pool Pillow

It’s easy to integrate this into the process of winterizing your above ground pool.

1. Inflate the pool air pillow to only 60% to 80% of its capacity to allow for compression.
2. Tie strong string or thin rope to both ends of the pillow; it should have grommets on the edges for this purpose.
3. Place the pillow in the center of the pool.
4. Secure the other ends of the strings to the edge of the pool to keep the pillow in place.
5. Pull the winter cover over the pool, being careful to keep it above the pillow. (This may be easier with the help of a friend or two.)
6. Secure the cover.

If the pool pillow moves while you’re putting the cover on, you can slide a pole under the cover to move the pillow back into place. Just make sure it doesn’t have a sharp point that can puncture the pillow, the cover, or both!

Important: We highly recommend using an actual pool air pillow for this purpose. Inner tubes or exercise balls won’t work as well, if they work at all.

Winter Pool Cover Air Pillow For Above Ground Pools

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01/26/2023 09:49 am GMT

Settle in for the Winter

Knowing your above ground pool is protected will give you peace of mind until it’s time to open again in the spring. And all thanks to nothing more than a little pool pillow.

Happy Closing!

The post How to Use a Pool Pillow With Your Winter Cover appeared first on Swim University®.

That said, it really doesn’t take a ton of work to winterize Intex pools. You just need to plan ahead of time and be prepared to tuck your pool away for the season. Trust us, you don’t want to risk puncturing your wonderful (and expensive) pool by skipping out on this end-of-summer chore.

What Does it Mean to Winterize Intex Pools?

When you close or winterize an inground or regular above ground pool, it means you remove equipment or dry out pipes that can be damaged by freezing temperatures. You also add extra chemicals to your water to keep bacteria, algae, and mold from growing over the winter months while your pool is covered and not in use.

Winterizing an Intex pool is a little different. Because they’re at least partially inflatable, closing your Intex for the season could mean the difference between having a pool next summer and having to buy a new one.

The lightweight materials Intex uses make it fast and easy to set up a pool. But this ease comes with the downside of the pool being more vulnerable to ice damage. Leaving your Intex pool out in colder temperatures can completely rupture your pool lining. That’s a mess you don’t want to clean up or repair. And if the damage is bad enough, you may not be able to repair it at all.

This is why the Intex pools manufacturer strongly recommends draining and disassembling your pool if the temperatures in your area drop to or below 41°F (5°C). And so do we. We don’t want your cozy winter by the fire to be ruined by a messy pool collapse.

When to Close Your Intex Pool

To prevent ice damage, it’s best to store your pool well before freezing temperatures are a possibility. It isn’t just about getting ahead on this important chore. It’s that procrastination can really trip you up.

If you get a weather alert about a cold front coming through your area in two days’ time, you may not even have time to close your Intex pool.

That’s because Intex pools are made to be drained with a regular garden hose. That’s a small volume of space for a significant amount of water, especially if you have a larger model. So plan for this process to take a few days.

Yes, you read that right. Days.

Do You Really Need to Put Your Pool Away?

We get it. There’s a huge time investment involved in breaking down and setting up your Intex pool every season. If you want to winterize your Intex pool without breaking it down, you can. Just remember how susceptible they are to ice damage, and consider whether you want to run the risk of ruining your pool for the sake of skipping the chore of closing it.

If you live in a region with a warmer climate and milder winters, though, you can close your Intex pool without breaking it down.

Your Intex Pool Winterizing Toolkit

The supplies necessary to winterize Intex pools will vary by climate. Cold means your winter temperatures get below 41°F (5°C); warm means you’re above that year-round.

One thing you’ll notice: the first item your tool list is your owner’s manual. If yours is lost in the garage void, don’t worry. You can download it from the Intex website by looking up your pool model.

If You Live in a Cold Climate, You’ll Need

• Your owner’s manual
• Skimmer
• Vacuum head
• Garden hose
• Drain connector (comes with your Intex pool)
• Soft cloth
• Warm water
• Mild all-purpose cleaner
• Talcum powder or cornstarch
• Replacement filter cartridge

Intex Type A Filter Cartridge for Pools - 3 Pack

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If You Live in a Warm Climate, You’ll Need

• Your owner’s manual
• Skimmer
• Vacuum head
• Winterizing chemicals
• Water testing kit
• Intex 12′ Frame Set Pool Cover

Intex 12' Frame Set Pool Cover

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Salt Water Systems

If you’re using an Intex salt water system, you can use the breakdown instructions without any changes for storing your pool. If you’re keeping your pool up over the winter, just make sure the winterizing chemicals you use are compatible with salt water pools.

Hey, You’re Just 12 Steps Away from a Closed Intex Pool

It might seem like a lot to do, but trust us, this is kind of like cooking with a slow cooker. Just go step by step and you’ll be ready for winter in … well, a couple of days, but you won’t have to be active the whole time.

1. Clean and Prepare to Drain Your Pool

You don’t want to clog up your pipes with stray debris, so do yourself a favor and thoroughly clean your water and vacuum the sides and bottom of your pool.

Your city or county may have specific instructions for disposing of swimming pool water. Always check before you drain to make sure you don’t violate any local ordinances or accidentally harm the environment or your own property by draining down a storm drain or into your yard.

Important: Before you start draining your pool, disconnect it from all power sources.

If you have a skimmer, ladder, or any attached accessories in the pool, remove them. Clean and dry the parts before storing in a clean, dry area for the winter. If your strainer grid—the screwed-in portion connecting your pool to your filter—is exceptionally dirty or filled with gunk, remove and replace it.

Warm Weather Instructions

If you have any inflatable parts, make sure they’re properly inflated. Clean any debris from the water and vacuum the sides and bottom of the pool. It’s going to be sitting covered for several months, so you don’t want anything gross stewing till spring.

If you’ve chosen not to drain your pool, once it’s clean, balance the water chemistry. Shoot for a pH range of 7.4 to 7.6 and total alkalinity between 100 parts per million (ppm) and 150 ppm. Then skip down to the warm weather instructions in step 5.

Ready To Close Your Pool For The Winter?

Save over $300 by winterizing your pool in our step-by-step video course. Works for inground, above ground, and inflatable pools.

Click Here to Learn More

2. Attach the Hose to the Drain Connector

Whether you have an inflatable or metal frame, the same simple draining instructions apply. Check the drain plug on the inside of the pool to make sure it’s plugged in. Do not unplug it. The water will take care of it later.

Find the drain connector. Hopefully you’ve kept it in a safe spot, since it’s one of the few parts you didn’t need when you set up your pool. Attach the female end of the hose to the thin end of the drain connector. (In case you don’t remember, the female end of the hose is the part you attach to a faucet or spigot.)

Important: Once the hose is securely connected, point the other end of the hose away from your house and any other structures. Emptying water near a building’s foundation can cause some serious structural damage, so it’s critical the flow of water is directed away from any structures.

Intex Metal Frame Pool Set with Filter Pump, Ladder, Ground Cloth, and Pool Cover - 18 ft. x 48 in.

$784.53

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01/26/2023 10:14 am GMT

3. Connect the Drain Connector to the Drain Valve

Remove the cap from the drain valve, but don’t attach the drain connector and hose just yet. Do one last check to make sure your hose is in the proper draining position because the pool will start to drain the second you attach the connector.

When you’re sure everything is set, push the drain connector into the valve. It will disrupt the inner drain plug, and the water will begin to flow. Tighten the connector to the valve to ensure it doesn’t come loose while draining.

4. Allow Your Pool to Drain

Remember: a tiny hose plus a big pool means a long drain time. Check in on your pool’s progress occasionally to make sure the connector is still tightly secured.

Important: Keep an eye on the hose while the pool is draining to make sure it doesn’t move, and remains directed away from your home and other structures.

This is a good time to get a headstart on cleaning. As the water level goes down, you can start cleaning the pool walls with a mild all-purpose cleaner and soft cloth.

Important: Do not use any strong or abrasive cleaners on your lining. They can damage it, costing you extra money in repairs or to replace the liner.

5. Finish Draining

The water will eventually lower to a point where it’s unable to reach the drain. Help the rest along by carefully lifting the side of the pool away from the drain until the pool is completely empty.

Warm Weather Instructions

Add winterizing chemicals to the clean water. Using slow release chemicals to winterize Intex pools can save a lot of worry throughout the off-season. You can also add extra shock and an algaecide to the water for good measure.

Our Top Pick

Pool Algaecide 60 (Copper-Free)

$40.99 ($1.28 / Fl Oz)

A copper-free algaecide to help prevent your pool from turning green.

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01/26/2023 01:10 am GMT

Allow the chemicals to circulate for a day.

6. Reattach Loose Parts

Remove the drain connector and your garden hose before replacing the inside drain plug and the outside drain valve cap. These get folded up along with the wall, so this is the best way to store the parts without losing them.

Warm Weather Instructions

Depending on your pool model, you either need to close your inlet and outlet valves, or plug in the inlet and outlet fitting to the inside of the pool wall. If you’re unsure how to do this, refer to your owner’s manual.

You’re not breaking down your pool, so skip to the warm weather instructions in step 12.

7. Clean Your Pool

Wipe down the inside of your Intex pool with a soft cloth, warm water, and mild cleaner. Thoroughly rinse and drain any leftover water.

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$529.99

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01/26/2023 10:29 am GMT

8. Deconstruct the Frame and Let the Liner Dry

If your model has a frame, reverse your owner manual assembly instructions to take it down. Clean and dry the frame pieces before storing in a dry and secure location.

Let your liner air dry completely. Once the water has evaporated, sprinkle a little talcum powder or cornstarch on the liner to absorb leftover water and prevent excessive sticking.

9. Fold the Liner

Do you love or loathe folding fitted sheets? Just asking, because this process is kind of like that, since your goal is to fold a circle into a rough square. Like folding a fitted sheet, this just takes a little practice and know-how.

How to Fold Your Intex Pool Liner

1. To start your square, fold one-sixth of the liner twice on itself.
2. Repeat the one-sixth double fold to the opposite side of the pool. (It’ll look like a fat cylinder.)
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with the unfolded sides.
4. Pull one folded end to the opposite side and lay it flat.
5. Pull the other end over the latest later, like closing a book. You want to end up with a long rectangle.
6. Fold the two long ends so they meet in the middle.
7. Fold the liner one more time to hide the crease from the long end folds.

If you prefer visual aid, refer to your Intex owner’s manual. Once you have the liner folded, you can store it in its original packaging.

Tip: Let’s be honest. If you’ve never mastered folding a fitted sheet, folding your pool liner back into a square that fits in its original packaging might as well be an Olympic sport. If you’re not worried about medaling in that event, just make sure the liner is completely dry, and fold it as neatly as you can so you can put it away without it taking up too much space. No judgment.

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10. Drain and Clean Your Accessories

Leaving water in your filter parts and pump can lead to unpleasant discoveries—like mold and bacteria—later.

Make sure all the water is out of your accessories, clean them up, let them air dry, and store them in a clean, dry area.

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11. Discard the Filter Cartridge

Because they’re incredibly affordable, it’s really not worth the effort to clean and reuse your Intex pool filters. Just make sure you have replacements on hand for next season.

If you’d rather do your part for the environment and get as much use out of that cartridge as possible, you can use filter cleaner on it. But once you can’t get it fully clean anymore, it’s time to replace.

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12. Properly Store Your Pool Parts

Keep your liner, frame, pump, and filter hoses indoors in a dry area that is not exposed to freezing temperatures.

To make setup easier next season, make sure you keep all attachments together so you’re not digging through the garage or attic for a missing piece.

Warm Weather Instructions

Turn off your pump and filter. Remove the hoses attaching them to the pool as well. Clean, sanitize, and drain the pump, filter chamber, and their hoses. Ensure they are completely dry before storing indoors in a dry, temperate location.

The last thing you need to do is cover your pool to keep leaves and dirt out of your water. Once that’s done, your Intex pool is officially winterized. Be sure to regularly clear any standing water from the cover when you get a lot of rain.

Warning: Intex pool covers are not pool safety covers, which means they won’t keep wayward animals or adventurous children from climbing across and falling in. Take appropriate measures to prevent accidents.

Intex Deluxe 18-Foot Round Pool Cover

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Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Out of Danger

It might seem like a time-consuming chore now, but properly winterizing your Intex pool now can save you a lot of stress later. Most importantly, you won’t have to worry about ice damage ruining your pool.

Plus, you get your yard back for more weather-appropriate activities like jumping in piles of leaves and staging massive snowball fights. Between the peace of mind and extra space, you’ll love tucking your Intex pool away for those cold winter months.

Happy Winterizing!

The post How to Winterize an Intex Pool in 12 Steps appeared first on Swim University®.