How to Close Your Pool

After a season of swimming fun, closing your pool properly will make opening it much easier next season. Warm climate or cold, here are simple instructions for protecting your swimming pool during the off-season.

For information on opening and maintaining your pool during the swimming season, visit lowescreativeideas.com/pools.

PREPARATION

In climates where it isn’t practical to swim year-round in an outdoor pool, the water and mechanical system must be prepared for the off-season. If you live in a milder climate, you just have to perform a few maintenance steps rather than close your pool for the season (see Warm Climate Maintenance below). Refer to the Materials and Tools list (left) for product requirements. In addition, refer to the video and printable instructions on How to Open Your Pool available at Lowes.com/Videos.

TIP: Before closing your pool, run the pool filtration system continuously for 1-2 days to help remove dirt from the pool and circulate the water.

BALANCING WATER CONDITION

Having the proper chemical balance is important to prevent the water becoming too corrosive or producing heavy calcium deposits, especially during the off-season. Start the pool closing process by doing the following water balance tests:

CAUTION: Always wear safety goggles and rubber gloves when working with the chemicals. Also make sure you read and follow each product’s directions including how to use and how to store the chemicals.

01 Use a pool test kit to measure water chemical levels following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Keep the included Water Chemistry Chart for quick reference.

02 Check and adjust pH, the level of acidic and alkaline qualities in liquids.

Pool pH should be between 7.2 and 7.6.
If lower, add pH increaser.
If higher, add pH decreaser.
After adjusting, wait one hour before continuing tests.

03 Check and adjust water hardness to the proper level of calcium in the water.

Calcium levels should be between 175 and 225 parts-per-million (ppm) for all pool types.
To increase the level, add calcium hardness increaser.
To decrease, drain some of the water and refill with source water that has a lower calcium level.

04 Check and adjust alkalinity (how well the water resists a change in pH levels) as needed.

Alkalinity should be 80-125 ppm for plaster/gunite pools, and 125-150 ppm for other pool types.
If lower, add total alkalinity increaser.
If higher, add pH decreaser.
After adjusting, wait two hours before continuing tests.

05 Check and adjust chlorine level in the pool water. Chlorine is what kills all the bacteria, viruses and germs in the water. However, the sun’s UV rays can diminish its effectiveness, so pool water also needs a chlorine stabilizer.

Check the stabilizer level and adjust to 30 ppm.
Check the chlorine level and adjust to 1 to 4 ppm.

CLEANING AND STORAGE EQUIPMENT

Cleaning involves more than just scrubbing the pool walls. The addition of certain chemicals will help keep your water stable, so it doesn’t damage your pool equipment.

01 Remove, clean and store pool ladders, diving board and other pool accessories.

02 Clean pool walls and floor with a pool brush.

Use a pool skimmer to remove debris from the water.
Also clean the skimmer baskets.

03 As needed, add scale, stain and metal control chemicals. Scales are heavy deposits of calcium that can damage your filter system, so preventive action is best. Refer to product instructions for specifics.

04 Add granular chorine and let it circulate for six hours.

05 Add algaecide as recommended to prevent the growth of algae on the walls and floor of the pool.

06 Clean the pool filtration system: trud exercitation ullamco laboris.

Cartridge filters: Replace the filter as indicated by the filter pressure dial or the filter manufacturer. Some cartridge pool filters can be manually cleaned a few times before replacement.
1. Remove the filter and spray with water.
2. Soak the filter in a filter cleaner.

Sand filters: Backwash the filter following the manufacturer’s directions. Need for backwashing is indicated by the filter pressure dial. Replace the sand bed as recommended. The following are typical steps for cleaning the sand:
1. Close the valves into and out of the filter.
2. Add filter cleaner at full strength to the filter top through the inspection port, anode port, sand fill or pressure gauge hole, whichever is applicable.
3. After one hour, open the valves and backwash the filter thoroughly.
4. Remove the drain plug.
5. Drain the filter and turn the multi-port valve to the closed position.

D.E. (diatomaceous earth) filters: Backwash the filter following the manufacturer’s directions. Need for backwashing is indicated by the filter pressure dial. Add additives or replace the D.E. as recommended by the filter manufacturer. Typical cleaning steps are as follows:
1. Remove the filter and clean with a filter cleaner to eliminate buildup of grease, oil and scale.
2. Inspect the septa for tears or stretching, and repair or replace as needed.
3. Clean the inside of the filter tank.
4. Reinstall the filter.
5. Make sure the drain plug is closed.

FINAL CLOSING STEPS

01 Drain the pool’s water level to appropriate level below the skimmer opening.

For painted or natural finish pools with solid covers: 6" below the skimmer opening.
For plaster pools with solid covers: 1-6" below the skimmer opening.
For vinyl-lined pools: 1" below the skimmer opening.
For pools with mesh covers or no covers: 18-24" below the skimmer opening.

02 Remove the directional fittings and install the freeze plugs.

03 Shut off the filter pump, drain all equipment and store as recommended by the pool manufacturer.

04 In extreme cold climates, add swimming pool anti-freeze.

CAUTION: Do not use automotive anti-freeze.

05 Install the cover over the pool and secure.

You may need some help with this step.
CAUTION: Do not walk on the cover, and do not allow children and pets to playnear the pool unsupervised.

WARM CLIMATE MAINTENANCE

In warmer climates, you may not need to close the pool. Following are a few maintenance steps for periods when your pool is inactive.

01 Test and adjust water conditions as described above.

02 Establish a pool maintenance schedule based on pool temperature. If typical pool temperature is 55-70°F, check and adjust water conditions once per week. If typical pool temperature is 40-55°F, check and adjust water conditions once per month.

Maintain the chlorine level to 1-4 ppm. It may help to do a midwinter shock treatment to keep your pool sanitized.
Maintain the normal pH of 7.2-7.6.
Maintain alkalinity levels to 80-125 ppm for plaster or gunite pools, and 125-150 ppm for all other pool types.
Maintain calcium hardness levels at 200-275 ppm for plaster or gunite pools and 175-225 ppm for other pool types.
Brush and vacuum the debris from the water as needed.
Run the filter for at least 2 hours per day or as recommended by the filter manufacturer.
TIP: If freezing temperatures are forecast, make sure that all mechanical equipment is working properly. As needed, run the pool heater several hours a day to keep water from freezing in the lines. If not equipped with a heater, run the filter system to circulate water, which may help prevent freezing.

In colder and warmer climates, off-season pool maintenance is relatively easy. For information on opening and maintaining your pool during the swimming season, visit lowescreativeideas.com/pools.

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Skill Level: Beginner

Materials

Pool Skimmer Net
Pool Brush
Pool Vacuum
Water Test Kit
Total Alkalinity Increaser
pH Increaser
pH Decreaser
Calcium Hardness Increaser
Chlorine Stabilizer
Granular Chlorine
Algaecide
Scale, Metal & Stain Control
Pool Anti-freeze
Safety Goggles
Rubber Gloves

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