Swimming Pool Closing Chemicals Made Easy

Guest Blogger: Laci from Royal Swimming Pools

While preparing to close your swimming pool at the end of Summer you may be wondering what chemicals you put in the pool? There's an easy way to close your pool for the Winter that even makes opening it back up the following Spring easier and faster!

When to Close (and Open) Your Swimming Pool

When should I close my swimming pool for the winter
Before discussing how to make closing your pool easier than you ever thought possible (just wait, it really is so easy), it's a good idea to understand WHEN to close your pool.

Algae is less active in colder water and more active in warmer water.

For this reason, it is always better to close your pool later in the season when it's already getting colder out, rather than earlier in warm weather.

Think of early-season closing as an invitation for algae having a late-season party in your pool just to trap it in there all winter. In case you didn't know, algae is a party animal; the-more-the-merrier type. So that party is just going to get bigger and bigger until it's time for Spring cleaning.

The earlier you close a pool the more likely the pool is to open up with algae issues, especially if there's a good bit of warm Autumn weather after your pool is closed.

This is important to be aware of in reverse as well. Open your pool early, not late, to help avoid having a closed pool during an early spring heatwave. A good guideline is: if you can plant your garden, your pool should be open.

Winterizing Chemicals: 3 Easy Steps

Okay, here it is! Are you excited?! Pool chemicals made easy!

1. Simply use 1lb (or 2 scoops) of E-Z POOL^® for every 5k gallons of water in your pool. Use our handy dandy Gallon Calculator to help out!
2. Circulate the pool for 30 minutes before to closing it.
3. Enjoy your winter and when Spring rolls around, open your pool! For best results, use Revive!^®, vacuum, and clean your pool.(See before and after Revive!^® images here).

Additional Winterizing Tips When Closing Your Pool

• Begin by testing your water and making sure that your pH, Total Alkalinity, and Calcium hardness is all balanced.
• Add a winterizing chemical kit to your pool. Make it easy!
• Make sure that you have drained all of your pipes and pool plumbing as water expands when it freezes and can cause your pipes to burst. You can blow the water out from these plumbing lines by using a shop vac or by back washing the pool filter.
• Lower the water level below the skimmer and plug the return lines.
• Make sure all pool equipment is removed from the pool and cleaned.
• Place a winter cover or safety cover over your pool. Here's more information on winter pool safety!
• Add air pillows to protect your pool walls as needed.
• Place a cover pump in the middle of the pool cover to drain any water that might accumulate on the cover.