How to Close a Pool with Chlorine

Sanitize your pool for winter with a chlorine shock treatment.

Pool closings prepare a pool, the pool water and the pool plumbing for the colder winter months. Chlorine, a chemical commonly used to sanitize pools, plays a vital role in the closing process of chlorine-based, above-ground and inground pools. Pool water gains protection against contaminants all winter through the application of a shock treatment to the water. Doubling the normal amount of chlorine shock granules properly treats the pool water before shutting it down for the winter.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Water hose
• Chlorine shock
• Pool brush

Instructions

1. Pour double the normal amount of shock treatment granules into a 5-gallon bucket. Normal shock amounts are 1 lb. per 10,000 gallons of pool water; if your pool usually is treated with 2 lbs. of shock, use 4 lbs. for winter closing. Fill the bucket with water from a garden hose. Stir the water and shock mix until most of the shock granules are dissolved.

2. Pour half the mixture into the pool. Fill the bucket with more water. Stir the mixture again to dissolve any undissolved granules. Pour the rest of the mixture into the pool.

3. Walk around the edge of the pool. Brush any undissolved chlorine granules that have settled onto pool surfaces; if left sitting, they will bleach the surface.

4. Circulate the pool for at least six hours to allow the chemical to travel through the pool system.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear proper hand protection when handling chlorine.

• Never mix different pool chemicals together; dangerous chemical reactions can occur.

References

• PoolCenter.com: Fall Pool Closings