How to Winterize an In-Ground DE Salt Pool
If you live in a region of the country where winter temperatures get below freezing for any length of time, you'll have to close your pool during those months. To close it, you'll also have to "winterize" it to ensure freezing water doesn't damage the filtration and other systems. Winterizing a pool with a diatomaceous earth (DE) filtration system and a salt chlorination system is much the same as winterizing any other pool. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Vacuum the pool thoroughly to ensure it's as clean as possible.
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2
Triple-shock your pool by adding 1 lb. granular chlorine per 5,000 gallons of water.
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3
Backwash the filter thoroughly. Run it until the water level reaches the base of the skimmer face plate. Open the drain valve at the bottom of the filter to finish draining it, and leave it open all winter.
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4
Remove the vent cap and pressure gauge from the filter and store them for the winter.
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5
Remove all strainer baskets and the two winterizing plugs on the front and sides of the pump housing and store them all for the winter.
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6
Turn the main breaker to the filtration system off for the winter.
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7
Remove skimmer baskets, thermometers, life line floats, ladders, handrails, diving boards and any other fixtures that can either be damaged by freezing or interfere with installing your cover.
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8
Screw a "gizmo" into the bottom of each skimmer.
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9
Install the grate plug into the automatic overflow.
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10
Install your cover.
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Tips & Warnings
If you have a heater, you'll also need to pull the drain plug(s) from it and store them for the winter. Draining the filter effectively drains the salt chlorination system as well, since they're connected, so there's no need to do anything out of the ordinary with it.
