• 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)

$40.89 ($1.28 / Fl Oz)

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

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01/25/2023 07:00 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

$11.08

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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01/25/2023 03:39 pm 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.

Buy Now on Amazon

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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01/25/2023 04:52 pm 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®.

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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01/25/2023 07:45 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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01/25/2023 08:34 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

$11.08

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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01/25/2023 03:39 pm 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.

01/25/2023 04:52 pm 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

$11.08

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.

01/25/2023 03:39 pm 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.

01/25/2023 04:52 pm 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

$11.08

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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01/25/2023 03:39 pm 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

A simple but effective liquid test kit for chlorine 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.

Our Top Pick

Pool Alkalinity Increaser

Perfect for raising total alkalinity and pH in your pool.

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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.

Our Top Pick

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

Adding calcium hardness to your pool water will protect and extend the life of your pool walls including vinyl, fiberglass, and concrete.

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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.

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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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)

$40.89 ($1.28 / Fl Oz)

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

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01/25/2023 07:00 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.

Our Top Pick

Aquador Pool Skimmer Cover For Winterization

$26.07

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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01/25/2023 06:35 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.

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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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

$11.08

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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01/25/2023 03:39 pm 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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01/25/2023 04:10 pm 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)

$40.89 ($1.28 / Fl Oz)

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

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

01/25/2023 07:00 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.

Intex Easy Set Pool Set with Filter Pump, Ladder, Ground Cloth & Pool Cover - 15 ft. x 48 in.

$529.99

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01/25/2023 04:26 pm 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.

Intex Ultra Frame Replacement Pool Liner - 18 ft. x 48 in.

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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.

HTH Pool Cleaner Filter Cleaner - 32 oz.

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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®.

Learning how to close a pool doesn’t have to be a huge pain. Plus, it’ll make opening next season a breeze. You’ll need fewer chemicals to make the water swimmable again. You may even extend the life of pool surfaces and accessories by taking preventive measures. It takes a little extra effort, but that’s nothing compared to how much work opening will be if you don’t close your pool the right way.

Why Should You Learn How to Close a Pool?

Maybe you’ve always thought closing only applied to public pools that are closed for the winter. But closing your inground pool is one of the most important parts of maintaining your pool, keeping it swimmable, and saving you money.

Think about it for a minute. While your pool is uncovered all summer, you probably see all kinds of debris end up in the water—leaves, bugs, twigs, and anything else that may blow in. Because you’re maintaining and probably using your pool several days a week, you remove all those things from the water before they have a chance to settle and decay in the water.

Now imagine if you left your pool uncovered all winter, but you weren’t out there every day using, skimming, brushing, and vacuuming it. All that debris—and probably more—is still ending up in your pool. But now it’ll sit there for months, slowly rotting, settling onto the bottom, clogging up the skimmer, and wreaking havoc on your pool’s water chemistry.

When the time to open your pool rolls around again, you’ll have a LOT of work ahead of you to make it swimmable again. You may even have some damage that needs to be repaired. And you’ll need more chemicals to get the water back to its clean, clear, pristine condition.

In other words, it will take more time and more money to set things right again. And all of that could’ve been avoided if you’d just learned how to close your pool before winter hit. Do you really need any other reasons to close it?

When to Close Your Pool

A lot of pool care relies on timing, and when to winterize your pool is as important as how.

If your local temperatures typically stay below 65°F (18°C) during the off season, wait until the temperature falls below that point to close. Lower temperatures are inhospitable to algae and can help the water stay clearer longer. Leaving your pool open until the weather cools means you can easily clean, test, balance, and use your pool right up until it’s time to close.

On the other hand, if your off-season sees several warm days of 65°F (18°C) or more, you can test and balance the water chemistry on those occasional warm days throughout the offseason to help keep your water cleaner until it’s time to open again.

Ready To Close Your Pool For The Winter?

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How to Close Your Pool

Depending on the climate where you live, the winterizing process will vary. Regardless, it’s really all about prevention.

For example, removing water prevents damage that could occur when that water freezes. Balancing the water and putting in a few additives helps prevent complications from poor water chemistry. And using a winter cover protects your water from the elements while a safety cover may help prevent drowning accidents.

If your pool is in Arizona, Florida, or any place that stays relatively warm (but too cool for pool use) during the off season, you won’t need to take freeze prevention measures. Just keep your pool pump hooked up, and run it daily throughout winter.

But if your pool will spend the holidays buried in snow, you’ll need to blow the water out of the pump to prevent ice damage that can happen when even a small amount of water in the pipes freezes and expands.

Take note of the differences in how to close a pool depending on whether your climate is cold or warm during the off season so you can follow the best steps for your pool.

What You’ll Need

The supplies you’ll need to winterize your pool will also vary a bit depending on your climate, what types of pool accessories you have, and whether you’ve been maintaining water chemistry right up until closing day—which makes the closing process much easier.

• Tools for removing pool accessories, such as ladders
• Air compressor
• Water chemistry test kit or test strips
• Chlorine, bromine, or whichever sanitizer you prefer
• pH increaser (if necessary)
• pH decreaser (if necessary)
• Alkalinity increaser (if necessary)
• Calcium hardness increaser (if necessary)
• Cyanuric acid
• Algaecide
• Shock
• Metal sequestrant
• winter pool cover or safety cover
• Water tubes
• Rubber plugs
• Gizzmo or a skimmer plate
• Pool brush
• Telescoping pole
• Pool vacuum

It’s a long list, huh? Don’t worry. Most of it is stuff you probably have on hand already since you use it to maintain your pool when it’s open.

But making sure you have everything on hand before you start will save you a last-minute trip to the pool store in the middle of the closing process.

1. Clean Your Pool

Before you do anything else, clean your pool. Use a pool brush attached to a telescoping pole to scrub your pool walls and floor, getting into the nooks and crannies as best you can.

This will help kick up any sediment hanging around, as well as disturb the beginnings of any algae spores. Manually vacuum all the stuff you kicked up while brushing.

If you have any symptoms of algae, use an algae brush and be especially thorough. This breaks up the algae so it can be vacuumed up. It also disturbs any blooms so they’re more susceptible to the treatment chemicals you’ll be adding.

2. Test the Water

After vacuuming, you can either test the pool water yourself with a test kit, or take a water sample to your local pool store if you want a super-accurate reading.

It’s important that the levels (pH, alkalinity, etc.) are properly balanced as this will help protect the pool from corrosion and scale build-up that can occur while it’s closed.

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Important: Make sure the chlorine level is below five parts per million (ppm). If it’s too high, it may destroy the other additives you put in before they have a chance to work.

3. Add Winterizing Chemicals

Once the chlorine level is where it needs to be, add the other chemicals that will help prepare your pool for winter.

Wondering how to close a pool quickly? You’ve got two choices: use a non-chlorine shock add the other chemicals immediately afterward, and close the pool.

Or, you can simply balance your water, cover the pool, and hope for the best. We don’t recommend this unless you want to uncover a nasty, green pool full of algae and who knows what else the following spring.

You may not need all of these winterizing chemicals, depending on where you live and what kind of water you have.

Algaecide

Add one dose to prevent spore growth throughout the offseason. If your cover has a mesh panel or other way for dirt, leaves, and other debris to enter the water, use a double dose of algaecide.

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Pool Algaecide 60 (Copper-Free)

$40.89 ($1.28 / Fl Oz)

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

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01/25/2023 07:00 am GMT

Metal Sequestrant

If your water has high levels of metals (if your water comes from a well, for example), add Metal sequestrant when closing. This suspends any metals in the water, so they can’t settle onto your pool surfaces, oxidize, and eventually cause stains.

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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01/25/2023 09:56 am GMT

Pool Enzymes

While you won’t need them for dealing with swimmer-introduced contaminants such as sunscreen, pool enzymes can help take some of the burden off the algaecide by attacking organic contaminants.

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WinterPill

Chlorine tablets or floaters may not dissolve or distribute correctly when used for winterizing a pool, especially since the pump will be turned off most of the time, if not during the entire off season.

To avoid the damage that could cause, use products designed to be left in a closed pool, such as a WinterPill. It contains sanitizer and clarifier, but dissolves over several months under the winter cover.

What About Antifreeze?

If you blow out your lines properly, you shouldn’t have to worry about them freezing. But it can sometimes be difficult to get every drop of water out of the lines. Or maybe you’d just rather take a quicker route. Either way, you can use antifreeze.

Choose one rated down to 10°F (-12°C). If your winter temperatures are regularly much colder than that, and you still prefer to use antifreeze, check the temperature rating on the product you choose to be sure it can adequately protect your pool under those harsher conditions

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Important: If you choose to use antifreeze, be sure to purchase the one designed for use in pools, not car antifreeze. The type made for pools is non-toxic, unlike the automotive version.

4. Shock Your Pool

The night before—or even a few days before—closing and putting on the cover, shock your pool one last time. This isn’t a difficult step, but be sure to follow the correct procedure when you to avoid any chemical mishaps and to ensure it does what it’s supposed to.

Add the pool shock per the manufacturer’s instructions. If you saw any beginning algae blooms, add double or triple the amount of shock, depending on the type and severity of the algae problem.

Run the pump overnight to distribute the shock throughout the pool and circulation system. Test your water the following day to make sure it’s balanced.

Important: It’s always best to shock your pool at night when the sun can’t gobble up your chlorine before it has time to work.

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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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5. Lower the Pool’s Water Level

If you live in a warm, dry climate, you can skip to the next step.

The reason for removing some water at the end of the season is to prevent freeze damage and, to a lesser degree, overflow. Ideally, your water level should be below the tile border, or the bottom edge of the skimmer if you don’t have a tile line, or whichever is lower, if you have both. If you have thaws or a rainy winter, it’s a good idea to check the water level while the pool is closed.

The exact level to drain the water down to is determined by which type of cover you’ll be using, and the type of pool surface you have. The water helps support your cover, and the weight of any snow or debris that ends up on top, so it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations too.

Vinyl Liner

Bring the water to one inch below your skimmer opening or tile line, whichever is lower.

Plaster or Non-Vinyl Pool Liner

If you’re using a solid cover, lower the water to six inches below the skimmer or tile line. When using a mesh cover (or none, but you really want to use a cover), lower the water to 18 to 24 inches below the skimmer or tiles. If you have an automatic pool cover, be sure the water is no lower than the bottom of the skimmer.

How to Lower the Water Level

Lowering your pool’s water level is as simple as pumping to waste until the water line is where you want it to be. Because you’ll have just added chemicals, be vigilant about directing wastewater appropriately.

Usually, you’ll drain pool water into the nearest city sanitary sewage, but some places have different rules for residents. Be sure to check the laws in your area by contacting the local water or environmental quality department. Your city code enforcement office may also be able to point you in the right direction regarding local pool wastewater regulations.

6. Backwash and Clean the Filter and Pump

The last thing you want to do is leave a bunch of nasty debris and bacteria sitting in your filter all winter. Yuck. Get all that gunk out before you close so you start the next pool season with a nice, clean filter.

Cartridge Filter

Remove it, wash it with pool filter cleaner or muriatic acid, then rinse it and allow it to dry thoroughly before you store it.

Sand Filter

Use a cleaner made for sand filters, or backwash it thoroughly. Be sure to flip the valve back to filter after backwashing. Drain all water out of the pump, filter, and pool heater, if you have one. Toss the plugs into your skimmer basket for storage.

Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.) Filter

You can use a cleaner made for D.E. filters, or you can backwash the same way you’d backwash a sand filter.

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7. Blow Out the Lines

If you live in a warmer climate where the temperature doesn’t get to freezing or below, and you want to avoid blowing out your lines, you can use antifreeze. Or you can skip to the next step.

First, don’t panic. This won’t require any lung power on your part. Unless that’s some kind of weird challenge you feel you must take on.

If you live in a cold climate and opt to blow out the lines, you must remove every last bit of water from the lines, pump, and filter. This will prevent fractures caused by ice in the lines and equipment. Blowing out the lines means you won’t need to add antifreeze, either.

Your pool plumbing is not built to withstand excess pressure, so purging the lines of water is a delicate process. Because it involves blasting air through the plumbing, you could inadvertently do serious damage. Blow out the lines only if you’re confident you know what you’re doing.

Note: We highly recommend hiring a pool pro for this step if you’re anything less than absolutely certain of your ability to do it yourself. Screw this part up, and you could be in for thousands of dollars in repairs.

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01/25/2023 08:39 am GMT

1. Remove all the return fittings and skimmer baskets.
2. Remove all the drain plugs from your filter system.
3. Set the multiport valve to recirculate.
4. Set the valve in front of your pump to the skimmer line.
5. Attach your air compressor or ShopVac to the pump’s drain plug opening. You may need an adapter.
6. Blow air through the system, watching for bubbles from the return lines and skimmer.
7. Use your Shop-Vac to remove the water being blown out of the skimmer until it’s dry.
8. Insert a rubber plug or Gizzmo in the hole in the bottom of the skimmer.
9. Install rubber plugs in each return line as you see air bubbles escape from them. If you live somewhere cold, you may need to use straight pressure plugs in the return lines.
10. Turn the valve in front of your pump to the main drain setting to move air in that direction.
11. Watch for bubbles from the main drain in the deep end. Let it run for about a minute.
12. Turn the pump valve back to the skimmer line, then shut off your air compressor.
13. Put a plug inside the pump in case the valve leaks.

Gizzmo Skimmer Ice Compensator

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01/25/2023 06:09 pm GMT

What About Salt Water Pools?

You’ll still need to blow out your lines. But you’ll also need to remove your salt water chlorinator, drain it, and store it. Flip the circuit breaker and make sure power and gas to the heater are off. Then store any controllers, robotic cleaners, and other electronics indoors for the winter.

8. Remove Any Pool Accessories

Leaving things installed around your pool like ladders and rails can cause three problems.

The prolonged exposure to chemicals during winter can damage the finishes on items like this. They may even rust, which means the rust will get into your pool, which means you have another problem to deal with when you open.

Also, when you cover your pool, you want it completely covered. Unless you know a master custom pool cover maker who can create one that fits securely, even around ladders and rails, removing them will allow the cover to fit properly and protect your pool better.

Finally, if your pool is not securely and completely covered, it leaves room for debris, but more importantly, small animals and possibly even children to fall into the pool. Removing accessories ensures the pool is completely covered, and can help prevent tragic accidents.

Once you’ve removed your accessories, clean and dry them thoroughly, then store them in a clean, dry place. Keep them out of direct sunlight to minimize potential weather damage.

Also be sure to remove the fittings from the return lines, including the line for your automatic cleaner, if you have one. Then pull out and clean your skimmer baskets. You can toss the fittings into the clean skimmer basket to help you keep track of them.

9. Install a Winter Cover

You have a couple choices for covering your pool in the off season. The weather in your region and your budget will probably determine which type you go with.

Regular Winter Cover

This will protect your pool from contaminants and keep all the chemistry work you’ve done nicely under wraps. Use water tubes or pool cover weights to keep it from sinking into your pool over time. They’ll also prevent any gaps along the edges of your pool. The cover manufacturer’s instructions may suggest how many tubes to use, so read them carefully.

Be sure you have a pool cover pump to remove pooling water from the cover, both to protect the cover and any people or animals who could become trapped or drown in that pooled water.

Protect your pool cover by keeping it clean, but don’t use anything sharp like a shovel or rake. A regular push broom works well to remove leaves and even a few inches of snow at a time. You can also use a rubber broom with a squeegee to help remove water. Even though you don’t need to clean your pool daily when it’s closed, it’s good to check on the cover regularly.

Pool Safety Cover

A more expensive option than standard covers, a pool safety cover can help protect your pool from the elements while also keeping people and animals from falling into the water.

They’re often solid, but are also available in mesh as well as hybrid versions that have a mesh panel to let water drain into the pool. If you use a mesh or hybrid safety cover, you may need to lower the pool water level again during the winter if it rains or snow melts into the pool.

Don’t Be Afraid to Hire a Pro

Even though it’s pretty easy to winterize a pool, especially if you’re a seasoned do-it-yourselfer, some parts aren’t so straightforward. Blowing out the lines can be tough to do correctly, and is especially vital if you live somewhere with freezing winters.

Regardless of whether you handle every other aspect of pool care on your own, closing your pool for winter may be the one time of year you hire a pro. That’s totally okay! When you make sure your inground pool is closed properly, you’ll prevent freeze damage that can cost a fortune to repair, and re-opening your pool in the spring will be a breeze.

Happy Closing!

The post How to Close An Inground Pool in 9 Steps appeared first on Swim University®.

During the off season, your best option is a safety cover. Not only will it protect your pool, it will prevent animals and small children—or anyone, really—from falling in and getting trapped beneath a non-safety cover.

Previously, you had just two choices: mesh or solid. But now you also have a third option—a hybrid safety cover—which combines some of the most desirable features of mesh and solid covers. Once you know a little more about each type of pool safety cover, you’ll be able to choose the best one for your pool.

Pool Safety Covers: The Hercules of Pool Equipment

Once you’ve properly installed them, you could drive your car onto some pool safety covers, and it wouldn’t fall in. While that may sound like a pretty exciting way to spend your Saturday night, we don’t recommend trying it yourself.

CAUTION: Seriously, please don’t do this. Not all pool safety covers are created equal, and some are much stronger than others. Their weight capacity also depends on their being installed correctly, and numerous other variables. Only use your pool cover for its intended purpose.

The point is, if something larger than a few twigs or leaves—say, a large tree limb—were to fall on your pool during a heavy storm, the safety cover would support it and keep it out of the water until you’re able to remove it.

The hope is that nothing will be able to climb under the edge of the cover to get into the water, either, but this will depend greatly on how taut the cover is, and how well it’s installed. Some critters can manage to squeeze through the smallest spaces, so there’s no guarantee you won’t uncover your pool to find a few new friends in the water.

Mesh Safety Covers: The Mighty Lightweights

Usually one of the more affordable options, a mesh safety cover can last 15 years or more with proper care. They’re fairly light, so they’re the most manageable of all safety cover types. Despite their lighter weight, mesh covers can often support thousands of pounds.

How Mesh Safety Covers Work

Designed to prevent water from collecting on top of the cover, mesh covers allow rain and melted snow to drain right into your pool. However, the mesh is woven tightly enough to allow debris to settle on top.

Even though the rain will get through, you won’t have sticks, leaves, and bugs on the bottom of your pool come spring. You will have some fine sediment to vacuum up when you open your pool, though, as a mesh cover is not impervious to dust and dirt.

Mesh safety covers vary in their specifications when it comes to sunlight. Some are simply resistant to the sun’s destructive ultraviolet (UV) rays. Others are created to block as much as 99 percent of sunlight.

Why would you want to keep the sunlight out of your pool? Doesn’t the sun help warm your pool? Well, sure, and that’s great when you’re actually using the pool. But off season, it can be detrimental.

Sunlight is a critical ingredient for algae growth. The last thing you want is to turn your pool into a giant greenhouse for algae. Before closing your pool, add an algaecide (algae killer) or algaestat (algae preventive) that will stay in your water for an extended period. This way, you’re fighting algae for much of the off season without having to remove your cover at all.

By the way, if you already have algae, don’t close your pool yet! If you close it “green,” you risk allowing algae to grow unchecked for months, leaving you an even bigger mess to clean up when you open it next season.

Instead, get rid of pool algae first, then close your pool when the water is crystal clear.

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 Install a Mesh Safety Cover

Solar pool covers float on the water’s surface. Vinyl pool covers drape over it, sometimes held in place by large water bags. But pool safety covers are stretched taut, then strapped into place.

CAUTION: While a pool safety cover’s primary purpose is, well, safety, its ability to prevent accidents has a lot to do with environmental conditions. For example, if the pool’s water level is high after a heavy rain, it may be possible to sink into the pool from atop the safety cover. Always exercise caution around your cover.

We can’t stress enough how important it is to ensure your cover fits your pool. To do this, measure your pool at its widest and longest parts. Then, select a cover in the correct size and shape.

If you have built-in water features or other special considerations, you’ll need to check what the manufacturer recommends. Some covers include panels that help prevent gaps created by such obstacles.

The only way to be sure people are safe around your pool during winter is to properly install your safety cover. The straps that hold it in place won’t help much if the hardware that anchors them down isn’t installed the right way. Installation varies a bit between inground and above ground pools.

If you have an inground pool, you’ll install anchors directly into the pool deck. First, follow the plan that comes with your cover to mark where anchors will be placed. Next, drill holes on your marks. If you have cement, wood, or pavers on sand, you’ll require hardware specific to your pool deck.

Water features will also require special hardware you can get from the pool cover manufacturer. Install all the anchors per instructions, then attach the springs to the anchors. Your cover will come with a tool used to stretch the springs out onto the anchor. They’re much too tight to stretch them by hand.

If your inground pool doesn’t have a deck, you can pour concrete footings where anchors will be placed.

If you have an above ground pool with at least two feet of decking, you can buy a mesh safety cover with special brackets you secure to your pool deck. You’ll pull the straps across the deck, and use a special tool to slip the looped end of the strap over the peg on the deck.

CAUTION: Even if you’re a seasoned do-it-yourselfer, the right fit and correct installation for your pool safety cover are critical to its function. An error in either of these areas increases the probability of accidents. If you’re at all concerned about fitting and installing a pool safety cover yourself, consider calling a professional installer.

Mesh Safety Cover Maintenance

Once you’ve got the cover on your pool, you just leave it alone until spring, right? Not exactly. A little basic upkeep will extend the life of your cover and protect your pool.

If you live somewhere snowy, you must remove snow from your pool cover. It’s best to push it off with a broom before it piles up. Snow can become very heavy, especially when the bottom layer freezes. Regularly brushing off your safety cover will prevent ripping, tearing, and destruction of your anchors from constant stress.

If you don’t get much snow, you can blow dry debris off the top of your mesh cover with a leaf blower.

When you reopen your pool, be sure to remove, clean, and store your mesh safety cover properly so it’ll last.

Solid Safety Covers: A Bouncer for Your Pool

An impermeable barrier between your pool and the sun, rain, snow, and debris, solid safety covers promise you a cleaner pool opening. Nothing’s getting past this guy. Because they don’t allow any water to seep into your pool, it must be pumped off the top of the cover regularly. Despite that extra bit of maintenance, they offer some helpful benefits.

How Solid Safety Covers Work

While mesh covers allow a little bit of sunlight and sediment through to your pool water, solid safety covers block it all. This means you won’t have dirt collecting on the bottom of your pool all winter. Plus, algae growth and evaporation will be inhibited by blocking out the sun and wind.

However, the lack of drainage can create a giant puddle in the middle of your cover. Leaving that water to sit can not only damage the cover, but will make removing it nearly impossible. It also poses a drowning hazard—the very thing you’re trying to prevent with a pool safety cover.

Part of the reason solid safety covers cost more than mesh is they typically come with a pool cover pump. You’ll put this pump on top of the cover, in the middle where water tends to collect. When that happens, the pump gets rid of it.

Automatic pumps kick on by themselves when water builds up, but they cost a bit more. Manual pumps are a budget-friendly alternative. Either one will help prevent water from collecting on your cover.

How to Install a Solid Safety Cover

To achieve the best fit, begin by measuring the longest and widest parts of the pool, then choose the shape and dimensions that best suit your pool. Take the location of steps or ladders into account when choosing your cover. A solid safety cover is installed the same way a mesh cover is.

Again, if you have water features, ladders, or other things impeding the cover from lying flat you’ll want to make sure the cover will fit properly by contacting the manufacturer. Different deck types may require special hardware for anchor installation as well.

CAUTION: If you’re at all unsure about what hardware you need for your deck type, or how to fit your pool safety cover around obstacles, consider calling in a pro to ensure the cover is installed correctly. Improper installation increases the chance of accidents.

Solid Safety Cover Maintenance

As with any other pool cover, you’ll want to make sure you blow or brush debris off regularly. Make sure you don’t allow snow or ice to build up on top of your solid safety cover because it can damage the cover, your cover pump, the anchors, and even the pool itself.

The process of removing, cleaning, and storing your solid safety cover is also similar to that of a mesh cover, except that you can clean your solid safety cover while it’s on your pool.

Use water, a brush, and mild detergent if needed. You can rinse the soap and debris with a hose, then use the pump to remove all the soapy water.

When it’s time to remove and store your solid safety cover, you may need at least two strong people because, depending on the cover, it can be very heavy. Some solid covers are made from lighter material, though, which helps ease this task.

Pool Cover Pump Maintenance

The most important difference between mesh and solid safety cover maintenance is the pool cover pump. Some pumps come with suspension cables to keep them in place, while others have a rope to pull the pump in when needed.

CAUTION: Never pull your pump around by the power cord. Electricity plus water equals ZAP.

Cover pumps attach to a standard hose so you can direct the water wherever you need to. Cover pumps are rated in gallons per hour (GPH), which helps you figure how often it will need to run to keep your cover water free.

Whether your pump is manual or automatic, you’ll need to check it throughout the off season to be sure it’s working properly. Even if your pump has filters, it could become clogged and stop pumping water.

Periodically remove the strainer, filters, and other parts per your pump’s instruction manual, and clean everything thoroughly. If you suspect a clog, but can’t find it, try putting your pump in a bucket of water and turn it on. If your hose might be clogged, attach it to your outdoor spigot, then turn the water on. This can help flush it out.

If you live in a climate where winter temps regularly drop below freezing, you may need to bring your pump indoors until the temperature rises. Leaving your pump to freeze in a block of ice isn’t a good plan.

When it’s time to open your pool, you’ll find the water clearer and cleaner than it would be if you had used a mesh safety cover. If saving time opening your pool in spring is your main goal, then a solid safety cover will be the best choice for you.

Hybrid Safety Covers: The Best of Both Worlds

If you want the benefits of a solid pool cover without having to pump water off it all season, the hybrid safety cover is the solution for you. Instead of using a pump, hybrid covers feature mesh panels that allow water to drain into your pool.

How Hybrid Safety Covers Work

With all the safety features of their cousins, hybrid covers also block most UV rays while keeping out all debris but the finest silt. They look just like solid safety covers, except for a mesh panel (or a row of mesh panels) in the center.

The mesh is very tightly woven, so water drains into your pool, but debris stays out. They’re also quite light and easy to manage. Basically, with hybrid safety covers, you get the best features of mesh and solid covers wrapped into one.

Hybrid Safety Cover Maintenance

Installed the same way as their predecessors—hooked securely into permanent anchors in your pool deck—hybrid covers are just as safe and sturdy.

Measuring and fitting remains the same. Some manufacturers offer computer-aided custom fit for more complex pool shapes and features.

Because hybrid covers drain through mesh panels, you won’t need a pool cover pump at all. Removal, cleaning, and storage is the same as with a mesh safety covers, so just pop it off, wash it down, and once it’s dry, fold and store securely.

Safety is Paramount

It’s a sad fact that approximately , 3,536 people drown every year in the United States. Most drowning victims under the age of five drown in home swimming pools.

Even if you don’t have children living in your home, you may have visitors who bring their small children, or neighbors whose small children could find their way into your yard. Play it safe, and make sure your pool is covered properly when closed.

In 2007, The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was signed into law in the United States. It sets forth safety standards required in U.S., as well as suggested state pool safety regulations, such as alarms and pool safety covers.

While state laws are changing, you can refer to the guidelines in the act created by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, to help make your pool area safer.

A Word About Established Safety Standards

ASTM International sets performance specifications for pool safety covers in this guide. ASTM International is a non-profit organization that develops voluntary consensus standards for numerous consumer products. Their more than 30,000 expert members create these industry standards for consumer safety.

Whatever pool safety cover you choose, make sure it meets ASTM standards. Their reports are available for a fee, but when it comes to keeping kids and pets safe, it’s well worth the cost.

Some pool cover manufacturers choose to have their safety covers undergo rigorous testing by Underwriters Laboratories (UL®) in order to ensure they conform to ASTM standards. If their pool cover meets or surpasses those standards, their product will be awarded the UL® seal of approval. Look for the seal when shopping for a cover so you can feel at ease about its quality and anticipated level of performance.

Which Pool Safety Cover is Right for You?

So what’s it gonna be?

• If an easy opening in the spring is what you’re after, and you can handle moving and storing a heavy cover, then solid is the best choice for you.
• Prefer the lightest option available and don’t mind some extra work to open your pool? Choose mesh.
• Or maybe you want the best of both worlds with a cover that’s a manageable weight, while still blocking UV rays and most debris. Then a hybrid cover is your best bet.

Of course, the price will also be a consideration, and here, pool safety covers vary widely. Not only will your cost depend on the type of cover you choose, but on the brand and its features. With its primary purpose being safety, you’ll benefit from seeking out high-quality, reputable brands.

Also, covers with the coveted UL® seal of approval may be a little more expensive than those without, but the peace of mind will be worth the additional cost.

Regardless of which type of pool safety cover you decide works best for your pool and lifestyle, you’ll sleep soundly knowing your loved ones and pets are safe from pool accidents.

Happy Swimming!

The post Pool Safety Covers: How to Choose the Right One appeared first on Swim University®.

When temperatures begin to cool, mice and rodents start looking for warm places to go. As you can probably guess a pool heater is a pretty tempting option for them. As pool owners, you want to protect your heater. That’s why you should take a few steps to keep mice and other rodents out of your pool heater all year long.

Mice and Rodent Damage

When mice, rats, or other rodents infest your pool heater, they quickly set up shop. While they are living inside your heater, they will quickly chew through your wiring while piling it with junk and other nastiness. Often you don’t even know you have a problem until you try to turn your heater on and nothing happens.

Aside from checking your pool heater on a regular basis, there are things you can do to keep mice and other rodents out of your pool heater once and for all.

What You Will Need

Before we get started, you need to head to your local hardware store and maybe even a dollar store to pick up a few things.

• Chicken Wire
• Rubber Snakes
• Wood Panel
• Moth Balls
• Steel Wool

All of the items on this list are very easy to obtain and they won’t cost you a fortune either. When you compare the costs of these materials to a potentially expensive heater repair, there really is no reason why you shouldn’t head to the store right now.

Protect Your Pool Heater

To protect your pool heater from these destructive rodents, just follow these easy steps. Remember, only do this when you are closing your pool or, at the very least, when you plan on closing and not using your pool heater for an extended period of time.

Step 1: Add a Few Moth Balls

Place moth balls just inside the control panel. Rodents hate the smell of these things and will avoid them if they can.

Step 2: Stuff Open Cracks with Steel Wool

Stuff steel wool inside any small openings or holes. Rodents can squeeze through even the tiniest of spaces so you need to be thorough. When they try to chew on the steel wool, it will cut their mouths. Rodents hate this and if they do continue to eat the steel wool, it will eventually kill them.

Step 3: Cover the Sides with Hardware Cloth

Image Credit: www.FLLeisure.com

Cover the areas in quarter inch hardware cloth as an added barrier. The hardware cloth gives them another barrier they can’t chew through that they have to face to get inside your heater. It also keeps things looking nice and tidy.

Step 4: Add Your Wood Paneling

Cover the outside of your pool heater around the sides with the wood panels you have purchased. This will clean up the look of your heater as well as hold in place everything else you have just done. Here is what it will look like when you are done:

Step 5: Try Rubber Snakes

If you want a little extra protection, try placing a few rubber toy snakes around the outside of the heater. This may sound silly, but rats and mice hate snakes (for obvious reasons) and these fake snakes make a great deterrent.

Remember, you don’t want to operate your pool heater with all of this on it. Before you turn it back on to use, make sure you remove everything from your pool heater, including the moth balls on the inside. Who wants to smell warm moth balls after all?

What If It’s Too Late

If you didn’t follow these steps or if you already have an infestation, you need to know what to do. First, turn off all the power to your pool heater so you don’t shock yourself or anyone working on the heater. Next, you should call an exterminator to get rid of the nest, unless you want to do it yourself. Once the nest has been cleaned out, it is time to work on that heater.

Rats and mice will chew through power cables like they were candy, so you have to be careful to discover everything that has been damaged by those pesky critters. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you may be able to do these repairs yourself. However, if you are not comfortable dealing with chewed wires and maybe even more significant damage, don’t hesitate to call a licensed repair person to take care of it for you.

Final Thoughts

Mice and rodents can quickly cause a lot of damage to your pool heater before you even know you have a problem. Before you get a family of vermin in your pool’s heater, why not take a few minutes and make just a small investment to protect it from them so they can’t get in there in the first place. Your heater will be glad you did, and so will you when you try to fire up your heater on one of those cooler nights.

Happy Swimming!

The post How to Keep Mice Out of Your Pool Heater appeared first on Swim University®.