Pool closing for the season can be a daunting task requiring a lot of supplies. We’ve assembled a list of what you may need to get your pool closed properly and safely protected during the winter months.
An air blower works wonders to blow out your pool’s plumbing lines as well as inflate air pillows while closing your pool.
An air pillow creates an uneven surface on the top of your pool for your winter cover to lay on. This helps prevent any ice damage from precipitation that lands on top of the winter cover and freezes.
Antifreeze helps protect your pool plumbing from potential ice damage in the colder months.
Whether you are backwashing your filter one last time for the season or lowering your water level to prepare for pool closing, a backwash hose is never a bad thing to have. Make sure you have a hose that is long enough to get from your pool to a suitable location for draining into the sewer system.
A good bucket will help you dilute your pool chemicals before adding them to your pool. You’ll want a good stirring stick as well.
For above ground pools only. The cable and winch are used to secure your winter cover around the walls of your pool.
If your yard gets a lot of fallen leaves in the fall, place a leaf net cover over your winter cover after closing. It will collect the fallen leaves, which you can take off before the first snowfall. Removing the leaves in the fall reduces your mess in the spring.
Once you have blown out your plumbing lines, the return fitting plugs will keep water from reentering your pipes. There are rubber plugs as well as threaded plugs. Either will work for your return fitting as long as they are the same size (typically 1 ½” diameter).
Rope can reliably be used to help secure air pillows and wall bags in place, helping ensure that your winter cover is secured. A thin rope is going to fare better when threading it through these items’ smaller holes or grommets.
Also known as “sacrificial lambs” or “gizmos”, the skimmer plug screws into your skimmer lines and prevents water from entering your plumbing. The main body also protects the skimmer from water that collects in the skimmer chamber (usually from precipitation). The hollow plastic plug takes the brunt of ice expansion damage so that pressure is not placed on the skimmer walls.
Cover pumps are designed primarily to help remove water from the top of a winter cover in the spring, a submersible pump can also be used during pool closing as a means of draining your pool water.
Wall bags sit inside the walls of your pool for added security. Remember to only fill the bags 1/2 - 2/3 capacity with water during pool closing, to allow for ice expansion.
For inground pools only. Water bags keep your winter cover secured in place during the season. Pool size and water bag length will be deciding factors in how many water bags you need. Remember to only fill the bags 1/2 - 2/3 capacity with water to allow for ice expansion.
This step may often be skipped over, but it’s important to ensure an easy pool opening in the spring. Future you will thank you. Adding winterizing chemicals to your water when closing helps keep your water clean throughout the winter and into the spring when the warmer temperatures can usually lead to a fast uptick in algae growth.
The backbone of winter pool closing, winter covers help protect your pool from the harsher elements during the winter. The winter cover fits over the top of your pool to prevent debris from entering the pool. Pick a cover sized for your pool or larger; covers are designed with overlap to allow for being secured in place with either a cable (above ground pools) or weights such as water bags (inground pools). Still need a few pointers? Check out our Pool Closing Tutorials on YouTube!
