An above-ground pool is an excellent way to spend the dog days of summer. But what do you do when the cold of fall and winter start settling in? The most important thing you can do to protect this investment of fun in the sun is to know how to winterize it.
And here’s some excellent news for the homeowner who didn’t want to add something else to their to-do list this season: many of these tasks won’t take long, and you’ll get a lot of value from doing them! Here’s how you can put in just a little effort to ensure your pool is ready to go when swimming season returns.
Why Winterize Your Pool?
If you’re new to pool ownership or have yet to experience cold weather with one, you might be curious why you should winterize your pool. You’ll be surprised to hear that it’s about much more than just worrying about parts of the pool freezing over.
One of the more curious cases that can befall a pool during winter is algae growth. While pools are more susceptible to this growth when it’s warm out, improperly winterizing your pool could lead to this algae running rampant within your pool, even during the colder months.
Winter storms can also introduce dirt, grime, and debris into your pool. And since you won’t use it as frequently or at all, that refuse will sit and stew in the water, making it highly unclean. Winterizing beforehand means you’ll spend much less time cleaning everything out in the spring.
Finally, the delicate pieces of an above-ground pool aren’t fit to deal with the harsh winter temperatures. It’s crucial to protect them so you have a functioning pool next summer. Otherwise, you may shell out a lot of extra money to have things fixed.
Steps to Winterizing Your Pool
Before winterizing your pool, the first thing to note is to avoid doing it too early. The ideal time to shut things down is whenever the pool water consistently drops below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. For many people, this should be sometime in October, but it’ll vary based on your climate.
Shutting things down too early could prevent the winterizing chemicals from doing their job throughout winter. It’ll also give you a better chance to fight against algae growth since the water will be cooler and less conducive for it to multiply.
Stain and Scale Remover
Before you’re ready to shut down, add some stain and scale remover to the water. Follow the product instructions, and try to do this roughly two weeks before you plan to close down the pool for the season.
Check and Manage Chemical Levels
The last week should be all about chemical maintenance. This is an excellent time to double-check your phosphate levels and add a phosphate treatment if needed.
Remove Toys and Equipment
Take out any floating toys or other equipment like ladders. Make sure they’re completely dry and store them inside or in a shed.
Deep Clean Your Pool
Start skimming, brushing, and vacuuming — this is the last time you’ll manually clean your pool for a while, so make it count!
Test the Water
Test your pool water for alkalinity, pH levels, and calcium hardness. Balance accordingly with the proper chemicals.
Add Shock, Chlorine, and Algae Prevention
Use pool shock, chlorine, and algae prevention to get that water pristine. You likely need to do this in stages to ensure it’s done correctly.
Remove Filter and Drain Hoses
Safely drain and disconnect the equipment. Store it inside once it’s completely dry.
Add a Pool Cover
Use pool covers to protect your pool from the elements. Remember to secure the cover to the pool frame to keep it from flying off. We offer a variety of above ground pool covers.
Turn Off Power and Water
Shut off any power running to the above-ground pool. If you can shut off the outside water, do this as well. Otherwise, you can turn off this faucet and add a winterizing cover over it.
Perfect Pools All Year Long With Galaxy Home Recreation
Whether you need water care, parts, hot tubs, or a brand-new above-ground pool, we have something for you! We also carry accessories for other types of pools, including tarp pool covers, beaded semi-in-ground pool covers, and in-ground pool safety covers. Contact Galaxy Home Recreation to learn more!
