Close the pool a few weeks before the weather turns cold to ensure it s well protected from possible freeze damage when depends on your weather zone.
What chemicals do i really need to close my pool.
Winterizing your pool in warmer climates looks a bit different than getting your pool ready for icy conditions in other parts of the country.
What pool closing chemicals do you need.
Maintaining your winter pool chemicals is important whether you use your pool during the colder times of the year or not because leaves and other debris which fall into your pool affect your ph levels.
In most parts of the country the inevitable end of summer s warm weather will arrive.
Properly closing your pool for the winter saves a lot of time and money when you reopen it in the spring.
Aside from your water balance chemicals used to adjust ph alkalinity or calcium hardness these are the chemicals most commonly used to winterize pools.
You might ask knowledgeable neighbors with similar pools and pump filter systems or at a pool supply in you area.
You need some other stuff to protect your pool from harsh winter conditions but only one chemical to add when closing.
It is recommended to use a winter cover and 99 of pool owners who have their pool winterized do cover the pool for winter.
Before you do anything else clean your pool.
However if you want to close the pool but keep it uncovered all winter or if you need to delay purchasing a new cover until next fall here are the steps we took to do it for our customer above.
If your ph levels get too high you can lower them by using sodium bisulfate or muriatic acid.
Add 20 ounces of borax for every 5 000 gallons of water to increase your ph by 0 5.
You really only need one chemical algaecide to properly winterize a swimming pool.
Stain scale treatment.
Your goal is a ph between 7 4 and 7 6 and alkalinity between 100 parts per million ppm and 150 ppm with 125 ppm being ideal.
This will help kick up any sediment hanging around as well as disturb the beginnings of any algae spores.
Make sure to get your water tested by a pool professional so you can put the correct chemicals in your pool as well as the precise amount.
You do not need a pool winterizing kit.
Weird first sentence for this article but it s true.
You can close your pool once the temperature of the water remains consistently below 65 f.
Properly closing above ground pools protects them from debris and harsh winter weather.
Add 1 day before closing the pool.
If you want the most accurate results possible you can also take a water sample to your local pool store and have them test it for you.
Use a pool brush attached to a telescoping pole to scrub your pool walls and floor getting into the nooks and crannies as best you can.
This helps reduce the time and money needed to open your pool in the spring.
If you don t have any soda ash you can add borax to your pool to increase the ph.
Using borax to increase ph.
Chlorine free pool shock.
You can test the water yourself with test strips or a water testing kit for a little more accuracy.
Keep in mind that the procedure for closing your pool for the season differs greatly from standard pool maintenance.
