From the article: How to Winterize or Close Your Inground Swimming Pool
The main purpose in winterizing your inground swimming pool is to protect it from damage due to freezing water. Another is to keep it as clean as possible for the next season. Closing your swim pool properly can save you a lot of work when it comes time to open the swimming pool for the summer. Have you found any ways to do it that saves time, energy, or money? Ways that make opening the pool for the summer easier? Share them with other swimming pool owners here.
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- I just wanted to share my experience with a fiberglass in-ground pool. We've had the fiberglass finish for probably 10 years and recently, I went into the pool and when I came out, my arms and legs felt very prickly like tiny needles were in them. I though it might have been an allergic reaction to something in the water. It went away after a few days. I got in the pool again and this time, sat on the steps well, immediately the back of my legs felt like pin-cushions, it was horrible and almost unbearable to wear clothes or have the bedsheets touch my skin. Don't know what made me think of this; but fiberglass exposure came to mind. I got some masking take and swabbed the areas and the prickliness went away immediately. I live in AZ and have heard that our heat takes its toll on fiberglass and it looks like I experienced that firsthand. We know have a pebble plastered finish and unfortunately, it cost me a tidy sum for demolition; but the pool was useless otherwise.
- —Guest MZiGPoUu
help
- how do i clean the pump i have seen the pool guy do it once wash backwash rinse ?and for how long and the correct procedures
- —perrysmith12
keeping it simple
- Consider how long your pool will be fit for swimming in the summer if you stop adding chlorine/bromine, and turn off the filter pump. In a matter of days you will have cloudy water at a minimum, with a major algae outbreak well on the way. So what can 1 winterizing chemical dose really do? I decided to find out when I closed my above ground pool in 2011. For the closing, the water was in good condition from regular summer maintenance. All I did was disconnect the pump for indoor storage, snap on my skimmer cover, plugged lines, and then install the pool cover. I did nothing to the pool over the winter, other than occasionally skim leaves off the top. This morning (May 5 2012), I removed the cover, being very careful and using a pump to remove water and keep any debris from entering the pool from the top of the cover. My water is as crystal clear as when I closed it. It's all about keeping the sunlight out. Balancing water for an inactive pool is a waste of time and money.
- —Guest Bill in KY
Another winterizing tip
- I have had great success by adding an ENTIRE bottle of the strongest algaecide you can buy from your pool supply store. I've done this for 2 years, and have had crystal clear water in the spring. Most research will say add 1/2 bottle.
- —JimFromIL
Close the pool for safety!
- Don't forget safety first, winter or summer. Every pool should be "closed", preventing access by children... with multiple layers of protection. For those winterizing pools, install a custom fit safety cover... leave the pool safety fence in place...and keep the kids away from the pool!
- —Guest Mary