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As winter is closing it is time to get the pool ready for the cold months. The best way to do this is with a winterizing kit that will work with the right number of gallons that your pool has. If you were wondering how to winterize an above ground pool, we are here to help you with some solutions.
If you prepare your above ground pool for the cold months means that you will have clean water and functional equipment when you want to start using it in the spring. Here are some easy steps that you can do yourself in order to winterize an above ground pool.
Why You Need to Know How to Winterize an Above Ground Pool
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The main function in winterizing your above ground pool is to make sure it is secured from any kind of damage that the freezing water might cause. Another reason is also to keep it as tidy as you can for your next season.
We all know that having a swimming pool next to your house is really nice. But having one means that you also need to do a lot of work and you need to understand exactly what you are doing so that you can take better care of your pool.
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If you don’t know how to winterize an above ground pool and this year is the first time you’ve come to the right place. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere where the winters are soft you might not have to do this so less work for you.
But if you know that winter is coming with snow and frost preparing it against the strong winter is important if you want to keep it in a good working condition.
Closing above ground pools means that you will protect them from any debris and it will also be easier for you in the spring to open it up. You also eliminate any kind of additional electrical costs and keep away any kind of freeze damage.
How to winterize an above ground pool: 8 steps
If your pool is in a climate where there be a long period of freezing temperatures there easy-to-follow instructions will help you a lot when you want to close it.
Test And Balance Your Chemical Levels
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Before closing the pool test the levels of its pH, alkalinity and calcium hardness using a test kit. The best levels for winter depend on the guide that you will see in the kit you get but normally the values are around:
- pH: 7.2 – 7.8
- Alkalinity: 80 – 120 ppm
- Calcium Hardness: check winter kit instructions
- Chlorine: 2- 3 ppm
Eliminate any kind of algae growth and shock the pool by using directions to get the right dose in.
Clean Your Pool One Last Time
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You don’t want to have a bad surprise when you open your pool in the spring so this is why it is important to learn how to winterize an above ground pool. Cleaning it means it will be easier to balance the water. Any organic particle that will stay in it will absorb the algaecide and any other chemicals that you offer to it.
What you need to do is to brush the pool to remove all dirt, clean it inside and eliminate any black residue, clean the tiles and remove any oil and scum and give your pool one last vacuum for the season.
Add Winterizing Chemicals
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Winterizing chemicals can be found in the kit that you get and will protect the water during the wintertime. This is probably the best way to get the chemicals that you need for closing the pool. Make sure you follow all the instructions on the product labels.
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A good winter chemical kit usually has chlorine shock together with winterizing algaecide. Take into consideration that if you have a heater or use well water it is also good to get a kit that has metal control.
Don’t do the algaecide and chlorine shock at the same time because they might stop each other from working properly.
Lower Water Level
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Probably a great thing to do is to drain your swimming pool below skimmer levels so you can also clean the pipes system. If your pool is an in-ground one this means that there will be more pipes for you to clean.
To drain your pool, use a siphon pump and check the instructions. You can also use the pool filter for this and set the pool to backwash water. Avoid though to completely drain your pool because hydrostatic pressure can cause damage. Put antifreeze in the plumbing and put the threaded winter plugs in order to prevent water from going into the lines.
Protect Your Skimmer
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We are starting to discover some steps on how to winterize an above ground pool and the next one is about the skimmer. Remove the skimmer basket and put it in a safe and dry space.
After that, you can decide if you want to cover it or not. If you choose to cover the equipment leave some space for it to breathe because if you don’t condensation might appear and thig can result in freeze damage.
Remove Non-Permanent Fixtures
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Remove all the non-permanent articles like ladders, hoses and over the top skimmers to avoid any kind of damage to them through the winter season.
You should also remove the pump and the filter equipment and put them all in your home when you can. If you have your own DE maybe you will also want to take the hose in order to protect it.
Inflate Air Pillow
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Closing above ground pool for winter will require some of your time and another thing that you need to do is inflate an air pillow that absorbs the pressure of freezing water. Having one in the center of your pool will distribute the weight of water in an even way and this means that there will be less stress on your pool cover.
Also, the ice that is going to form is going to be inward and this will prevent damage to the shell.
Install the Pool Cover
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After you have cleaned your pool and made it chemically balanced there is still one thing to do in order to answer to your how to winterize an above ground pool question.
The final step is to cover your pool with a cover of safety cover. Place it over the pool surface and secure it with the cable that you bought it with and that is all, you are done!
If you enjoyed reading this article on how to winterize an above ground pool you should read these as well:
- Best 46 Indoor Swimming Pool Design Ideas For Your Home
- Pool maintenance tips and ideas
- Outside Swimming Pool Design And Landscaping Ideas