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Winter Chemicals, Equipment and Pool Covers

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Winterization: Pool Chemicals, Equipment and Pool Covers

Pool owners should plan to close pools for the season.

Sadly, the season, for many is over. No more lounging by the pool and on top of that, it must be winterized. It is the most critical time of year for pool maintenance as how the winterization is handled will directly affect the ease of opening in the spring. Be proactive and follow these general guidelines:

There are three items to consider when you begin:

Water/Pool Chemicals

Equipment

Pool Covers

Water
Start by removing skimmer baskets, cleaners, ladders, wall fittings, etc. and store these in a safe location for the winter. Then move on to balancing the water chemistry by bringing the water into the range of 7.2-7.6 for pH and in the range of 80-150 for alkalinity. Shock the pool with chlorine shock, non-chlorine shock, or other winter pool chemicals and circulate this for 3-6 hours if possible. Next, adjust the water level of the pool. Many opinions exist as to how much water to drain; but, generally speaking 6-12 inches below the skimmer is suggested. The higher the water level, the better it is for the pool cover as long as pumps are drained and plugs and pipes are plugged.
Equipment
All pool equipment including the pump, filter, heater, chlorinator etc. should be drained or blown out to avoid the risk of freezing and cracking over the winter months. This is also a good time to lubricate parts such as pump lid o-rings and heater plugs. Sand filters can be left assembled but cartridge filters or DE filter grids should be removed, cleaned thoroughly and stored. Some people suggest adding an anti-freeze type product at this stage but are unnecessary if the pool has been properly blown out.
Pool Covers
Pool covers should not have holes or tears; so, repair the ones you find that are reparable with a patch kit or simply replace the old cover. Secure the winter cover following directions based on type of cover and pool. Air pillows are often used for above-ground pools to keep expanding ice from damaging the pool. Water tubes can be used to protect in-ground pools from winter weather.

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