How to Winterise Swimming Pool
As summer full of pool parties ends and you start to feel the chilly breeze, it’s time to close your pool or in other words, winterise your pool. Winterising your pool is an essential step to protect your pool, save money on energy bills, and make it ready for when the next swim season approaches.
This guide covers steps on how to winterise a pool and maintain it in milder climates.
Table of Contents
- Why Winterise Your Pool?
- Preparation Before Winterising
- Step-by-Step Winterising Process (For Closing a Pool)
- Alternative: Maintaining an Open Pool in Mild Climates
- Conclusion
Why Winterise Your Pool?
Winterisation is a procedure for maintaining your pool over the winter. It is characterised by a lack of chlorination and a good water balance during the period of inactivity. Proper water balance discourages algae blooms, preserves the pool gear, and prevents financial expenditure on repairs. Neglecting winterisation greatly affects the wear and tear on the pool equipment.
Winterisation varies from region to region. Colder climates like South Australia require full closure of the pool, whereas milder ones like North Australia require reduced winter pool maintenance. Essentially, there are two approaches to pool winterisation that you need to consider.
Preparation Before Winterising
Before you start the winterisation process, you need certain tools like
- Skimmer
- Vaccum
- Brush
- Test Kit
- Shop Vac or Air Compressor
- Pool Cover
- Chemicals (algaecide, chlorine)
Different types of pools require particular considerations. In-ground pools are built into the ground. You must lower the water level properly, clear the lines and cover it with a reliable pool cover. Above-ground pools are above the ground, so remove pool equipment like ladders and use an air pillow to protect the liner.
For saltwater pools, ensure the salt generator is properly cleaned and stored. For mineral pools, check mineral cartridge levels and follow manufacturer-specific recommendations.
Step-by-Step Winterising Process (For Closing a Pool)
Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to winterising a swimming pool this winter
Step 1. Clean the Pool
Every process begins with cleaning. Skim debris, brush walls or floor, vacuum sediment, empty skimmer/pump baskets, and backwash the filter thoroughly. A thorough cleaning is the first step in winterisation—see Pool Cleaning 101 for the basics.
Tip: Use baking soda paste for stubborn stains.
Step 2. Balance Water Chemistry
You must maintain an ideal water balance. Test and adjust the following:
- pH (7.2-7.6)
- Alkalinity (80-120 ppm)
- Calcium hardness (175-400 ppm, adjust by pool type)
Before closing your pool, ensure the water is balanced—learn more at Pool Water Testing 101. Shock the pool (e.g., 1 lb chlorine per 10,000 gallons) and wait 8 hours. Add winter algaecide and enzymes (refer to the manufacturer’s instructions on dosage amounts).
Step 3. Lower Water Level
Now you must lower the water level of the pool. Drain 4-6 inches below the skimmer for an in-ground pool and 6-12 inches for an above-ground pool. Water levels depend on pool type.
Step 4. Drain Equipment
Turn off the pump, drain the filter, heater, or pipes using a shop vac or air compressor. Proper storage of equipment is key—see How to Properly Store Your Pool Equipment for more information. Store the plugs indoors.
Step 5. Cover the Pool
Install a winter cover, secure with water bags or weights. For in-ground pools, use a solid pool cover and secure it with anchors. For above-ground pools, place a pool cover with a cable or clips to keep it in place. After covering, remove standing water from the cover—see How to Get Water Off a Pool Cover Without a Pump for tips.
Alternative: Maintaining an Open Pool in Mild Climates
If you live in North Australia in a considerably warmer climate, you don’t necessarily need to close pool for winter. Here’s what you should do:
- Reduce Pump Runtime: Run the pump for a max of 4-6 hours/day. Adjust this duration depending on your pool size.
- Ongoing Chemistry: Check water chemistry monthly and try to maintain chlorine (1-3 ppm). If the pool water is cloudy, do a shock treatment.
- Filter Care: Clean the filter when pressure rises 10 PSI (pounds per square inch) above normal.
- Debris Management: Run the pool cleaner weekly to eliminate debris and remove accessories.
Conclusion
Pool winterisation is more than just the closure of your pool for winter. This process is all about preserving your pool's vitality, with the aim of longevity and protection from damage. Your regular inspections will ensure that your pool remains in pristine condition. Please share your suggestions and tips with us in the comment section below. Go through our many other guides on pool care to gain more tips on the proper maintenance of your pool all throughout the year.