MaintainlySeasonal
When should you close and winterize your pool?
Close and winterize the pool once a year. The commonly recommended range is yearly, before the first frost. Water left in the pipes, pump and filter freezes, expands and cracks them. It is seasonal work, best done in autumn / fall.
Closing the pool protects the plumbing and equipment from freezing. Water left in pipes, the pump or the filter expands as it freezes and cracks them. Where winters are mild, the pool can often stay running instead.
Why does closing your pool matter?
Water left in the pipes, pump and filter freezes, expands and cracks them.
What happens if you skip closing your pool?
Freeze damage to lines, pumps and filters is one of the most expensive pool repairs, and it is not found until spring.
How do you do it?
- Balance and shock the water. Clean, balanced water under the cover avoids a swamp in spring.
- Lower the water level. Bring it below the skimmer and return lines, as your pool type requires.
- Blow out and plug the lines. Blow water out of the plumbing and fit freeze plugs so no water can sit in the pipes.
- Drain the equipment. Drain the pump, filter, heater and chlorinator, and store removable parts indoors.
- Fit the cover securely. Use a cover sized to the pool, tensioned or weighted as designed, and keep it clear of standing water through winter.
What does it take?
How do you know closing your pool is overdue?
- The first frost in the forecast
- Water temperature dropping below about 18°C (65°F)
What do people get wrong?
- Draining the pool completely, which can damage liners and lift in-ground pools
- Leaving water in the pump or filter
When should you stop and call someone?
If you are not sure the lines are fully blown out, a pool service is cheaper than a spring repair.
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Get the free appDoes this differ in the US, UK, Australia or Canada?
United States
Close before the first hard freeze in northern states. Pools in the Sun Belt often run all year.
United Kingdom
Most outdoor pools are closed by October.
Australia
Many pools run all year. In cooler regions, close in April to May.
Canada
Close in September or early October, before overnight freezes begin.
Common questions
Why does closing your pool matter?
Water left in the pipes, pump and filter freezes, expands and cracks them.
What happens if you skip closing your pool?
Water left in the pipes, pump and filter freezes, expands and cracks them. Skipping it does not usually fail immediately, which is exactly why it gets forgotten: the consequence arrives months later as a repair bill rather than as an obvious fault.
Does closing your pool differ by country?
Cold and temperate climates. Southern hemisphere: April to May. Not needed where pools stay open all year.
When in the year is closing your pool best done?
This is seasonal work. Plan it for autumn / fall, before the weather it protects against arrives.
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