Winterizing Your Inground Pool

Winterize the salt generator.

Winterizing your inground pool.

If you live in milder climates you can skip certain steps like adding antifreeze and you may even be able to keep your hoses and filters connected. When winterizing a pool blowing out pool lines is a good idea since standing water in the lines can stagnate or even freeze if temperatures drop low enough. According to benjamin basch chief development officer for american pool enterprises in owings mills md the cost of winterizing a residential pool can range from 250 to just under 1 000. Use your pool filter switched to the drain setting to empty the pool water.

It also makes your job much easier when it s time to open it again in the spring. It is easier because you only need to take the pump and the skimmer out. In ground pool draining requirements are similar to those of their above ground counterparts. To perfect the winterizing process utilize an air pillow under the winter cover.

It is placed in the middle of the pool and it helps to center the pressure of rain snow and ice. With a removable system the pool winterizing process becomes more manageable. Doing this will protect the edge of the pool from staining and etching. Closing your pool for the winter is an essential part of keeping your pool and equipment trouble free year round.

Drain the water down to no more than 6 inches from the bottom of the skimmer if you plan to use a standard floating winter cover. The first step in the winterization procedure is to make sure your water chemistry is balanced including the pool s ph total alkalinity and calcium hardness. Inground pools with mesh covers will need to be about 12 below the skimmer to allow for rain and snow melt and those with solid winter covers should be about 6 below the skimmer. Watch how to prepare the filter system blow out the pipes and put on the winter poo.

Matt walks you through the process of closing an inground swimming pool. Adding a winterizing chemical kit to your water will help keep it blue and clear for the next season. 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. You can blow out your own pool lines with an air compressor or a wet rated powerful shop vacuum if you have the right components.