Closing a swimming pool can be a lot of work, but it doesn't have to be!
You may be asking yourself questions like: "can I close a swimming pool on my own? inch or "is closing a swimming Aufstellpool pool hard or difficult? inch Well... Here's a quick list of things that you have to do in order to get your pool closed down for the winter. Is this an exhausted list? No... So you function as the judge on whether or not you should close your own swimming pool or give your local professional call.
Closing a pool for the winter time can be a daunting task. And by daunting, we mean that (for the average person) it's not the most fun thing to do on their to do list.
There are plenty of work that assumes closing a pool and that includes things like:
Action 1 in closing a swimming pool:
Adjust pH levels, calcium supplements solidity, and alkalinity (pretty fancy stuff, right? )
By ensuring that your pH levels, calcium supplements solidity, and alkalinity in are balance, you're protecting your swimming pool investment from rust or scale build-up that can occur over the winter while the pool is closed! These adjustments can be made a few days before your completely close down the pool.
Adjust the pH to between 7. 2 and 7. 8
Adjust the alkalinity to between 80 and 120ppm (that's fancy talk for parts per million)
Adjust the calcium supplements solidity to between a hundred and eighty and 250ppm
Step two in closing a swimming pool:
Shock the water with Chlorine
You can use either chlorine or a non-chlorine substitute to kill bacteria that may be living the in pool (yup... it's within! ) Make sure to get a shock treatment that's at least 65% sodium hypochlorite or a non-chlorine substitute of equal strength. Fill a 5 gallon pail with pool water, add the instruction amount of treatment, and put it into the pool while the pool filter is running.
If the shock treatment is "safe for people to frolic in the water in right away" it's most likely not strong enough to kill all of the bacteria in your pool; so, since you are not going to be swimming in it (because you're closing the swimming pool) use the stronger stuff.
Don't add the water to the shock treatment, add the shock treatment to the water (trust us on this one)
Allow the chlorine level to return to 1 to 3ppm over a few day time course before getting to another location step during the pool season when it's being used. The stronger algaecide means to prevent algae from blooing all winter long
3 in closing a swimming pool:
Clean the pool
Get rid of anything in the pool this is not WATER (water). Ladders, baskets, pumps, heating elements, decorations, filtration systems, hoses...
Garden hose off all of the pool equipment and lay it out to dry before you store it.
Skim it (not the milk, the pool).
Vacuum and brush the swimming pool. Do this stuff the same day that you close it to keep more debris from falling in
Step four in closing a swimming pool:
Lower the water level and deplete all of the equipment.
Use a pump in order to reduce the water level. It ought to be less than the skimmer (this depends on the type of swimming pool cover you're using).
For a nylon uppers cover, the water should be 12-18 in . below the skimmer.
For a solid, sailing cover, the water should be 3-6 in . below the skimmer.
Deplete the apparatus (pumps, heating elements, chlorinators, filtration systems... ). If water freezes within, it could damage it.
Open up all of the drains on the equipment and allow water out
Take the filtration systems off and clean them thoroughly before storing them in a dry place inside for the winter
If you take the filtration systems out, use a shop vac or an air compressor to blow the remainder water out of them
Step 5 in closing a swimming pool.
Winterize the domestic plumbing
The lines running water into the pool need to be dry so that they don't frost nova up and crack over the winter
Use a shop vac to blow air from the skimmer through the equipment and back into the pool. Use the expansion attaches to plug the lines so that more water doesn't enter them
If you choose not to blow out the lines, you can include swimming pool anti-freeze to them to prevent remaining water from freezing, but make sure you follow the instructions (as with any and all of this stuff! )
Step 6 in closing a swimming pool.
Apply the pool cover
Make sure the cover you're using is good for your pool! If it leaves holes debris can enter the pool over the winter and cause issues later on...
Nylon uppers safety covers are your best bet
Solid sailing covers don't fit as securely, so you may have to generate rainwater and other debris that get into your pool over the winter
Use water bags or aquablocks to make sure that the cover is secured as securely as possible
Have trees and shrubs around your pool? Get a leaf net to put over it and catch debris
Air Pillows are used to prevent the expansion of ice in above ground costly (for those of you with in ground costly, you don't need these)
Blow up the air pillows with a leaf motorized inflator or shop vac and tie them in the center of the pool (if you have a big pool you may need more than one)