How to Properly Cover Your Inground Pool

As the winter season hits, it’s important to properly close your inground pool to make it easier to open once the weather heats up again. In the past, most pool owners thoroughly drained their pools once the temperature dropped. This method works but can make it harder to open once the warmer seasons hit.

Now, many pool owners opt to cover their inground pool during the colder months. Learn everything you need to about closing your pool in these five easy-to-follow steps.

Necessary Tools:

Everything you need to cover your inground pool this winter properly includes a skimmer, brush, pool vacuum, test strips, granular chlorine, total alkalinity increaser, pH increaser, and decreaser, algaecide, calcium hardness increaser, chlorine stabilizer, scale metal and stain control, and pool antifreeze.

Step #1: Clean

Skim, brush, and vacuum the pool one more time before closing your pool for the winter. Also, empty the skimmer baskets of any remaining debris. You’ll also need to vacuum your pool to get everything out manually.

If you have any symptoms of algae, use an algae brush to break up and remove any remaining algae thoroughly.

Step #2: Remove Accessories

After testing the chemical levels in your pool, remove all of the additional accessories. These include ladders, diving board, slides, pool toys, and other accessories. Make sure to properly clean them before storing them, as well.

Step #3: Test Water Levels

Start the winterizing process by testing the levels in your water with test strips. Test the pH balance, water hardness, and alkalinity levels. By checking your water levels, you’ll make sure the water won’t corrode your pool once it’s closed. After testing those levels, next make sure the chlorine is at its proper level.

Keep in mind: Make sure your chlorine level is below five parts per million (ppm). If the levels are too high, it may destroy the other winterizing additives you put in later.

Step #4: Add Winterizing Elements

Once your pool is clean, add a scale, metal and stain control (metal sequestrant) to the pool, along with granular chlorine. Let these chemicals circulate in the pool for about six hours. Once you’ve let these chemicals sit for the proper amount of time, add algaecide into the mix and allow it circulate for another four hours. After this is done, lower the pools water level about 1-6 inches below the water skimmer. Then, remove directional fillings and add freeze plugs. For colder areas, add pool antifreeze.

Step #5: Shock Your Pool

The night before you cover your pool, shock your pool another time. This helps avoid any chemical mishaps and make sure everything properly sits throughout the off-season.

Step #6: Fix the Filter

Backwash and clean your filter to get rid of all the debris that can hurt your pool while it’s closed.

Step #7: Blow Out the Lines

This is a complicated step that we highly recommend hiring a professional to do. Mostly necessary for cold regions, blowing out your lines includes removing all the water out of your lines, pump, and filter. Since it involves blasting air through these lines, only do this if you’re completely confident in doing so.

Step #8: Cover it Up

Once you’ve completed everything listed above, shut off and properly store the filter pump and draining equipment. Then you can add your pool cover to secure the edges around your pool correctly. Consult with a pool expert to find the right type of pool cover to use on your inground pool.

Step #9: Hire a Pro

Don’t be afraid to hire a professional for the job. While some elements of closing your pool are pretty straightforward, others are delicate. Regardless of whether you need them to handle one aspect or the entire thing, hiring a pro can help prevent damage that can cost a fortune to repair. Get in touch with one of our professionals today to learn more about our winterizing services.