Things You'll Need:
- Winterizing pool chemicals Plugs to fit skimmers
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Step 1
Test and adjust the pH of your swimming pool. Use test strips to measure for pH, free chlorine and total alkalinity. Your pools pH should be between 7.4 to 7.8. Total alkalinity should be 80 to 120. Do this 24 hours before you proceed to the next step.
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Step 2
Clean your pool by brushing the walls and follow this by vacuuming any debris. Clean out the lint trap and skimmer basket.
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Step 3
Shock your pool with chlorine or appropriate winter shock chemical keeping the filter on to circulate the chemicals
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Step 4
Disinfect the pool to kill germs and bacteria and add algaecide to prevent any algae growth over the winter. Run the filter for at least 24 hours after adding the winterizing chemicals.
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Step 5
Clean the filter with your filter's recommended cleaner; this will prevent the dirt from hardening or caking in your filter over the winter.
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Step 6
Drain your pool water to about 6 inches below the inlet lines and the skimmers.
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Step 7
Disconnect all hoses from the pool and remove drain plugs from the filter. Drain the pump, filter, pool plumbing and pool heater. Before you drain your filter, backwash it thoroughly. If your filter is portable move it indoors for the winter. Otherwise, wrap it with an old blanket or a purchased a winter cover seal. Cut off your pool heater and blow the water out with an air compressor. Seal the lines with winterizing plugs to prevent water from entering.
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Step 8
Cover your pool with a pool cover, placing the black side down. The cover should be three or four feet larger than the pool size.
If you have an in-ground pool, place an air pillow in the center of it and water tubes end to end around it. The water tubes should be 3/4 full with water. If you have an above-ground pool place an air pillow into the center of pool, lay the cover over the pool and thread the cover's cable through the grommets. Use a winch to tighten the cable.
