How to Close your Above Ground Pool for Canadian Winters

Above Ground Pool Closing Instructions 

The main purpose in winterizing your swimming pool is to protect it from damage due to freezing water, snow, and to keep it as clean as possible for the following season. Closing your swimming pool properly can save you a lot of work when it comes time to open the swimming pool next spring.

• Plan to close Mid October when the temperatures are colder to help prevent algae growth.
• We highly recommend that you contact your insurance provider to add snow load insurance to your swimming pool in case when the weight of the snow causes some damages.

In the week prior to closing your pool you need to:

• Balance your PH Balance your ALKALINITY. (To protect your liner from the water left in the pool over the winter.)

Pool Closing Steps:

1. Remove Steps or Deck Ladder
2. Place a piece of tape at the water level line to ensure your pool has no leaks.
3. Wait 24 hours to see if the water level drops, If water level does drop: You have a small hole/holes in the liner and they need to be fixed before winterizing. Otherwise there is a HIGH risk that your pool will get damaged through the winter. You must patch the hole/holes with an underwater patch kit before proceeding to the next step. 
4. Brush and vacuum any debris that may be in the pool
5. Remove skimmer basket, flapper door, and solar blanket from the pool
6. Remove ALL hoses from the skimmer and return
7. DRAIN THE POOL SO WATER LEVEL IS 20 INCHES BELOW THE RETURN HOLE.
8. VERY IMPORTANT - RE-DRAIN POOL AGAIN IN DECEMBER BEFORE THE ICE HAS FORMED

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRAIN THE POOL IF ICE IS PRESENT AS YOU MAY CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGES TO THE POOL. 

9. Disconnect pump, multiport valve (The black valve on top of the sand filter), salt system control box and Turbo Cell (Store these in a heated environment).  All hoses that are connected to your pool are also to be removed at this time.

You are now ready to add your professional chemical winterizing kit and complete your pool closing as per the kit instructions. You can mix the chemicals up (at the bottom of the pool) using your wall brush.

10. Clean the Turbo cell with a salt cell cleaner. (Salt Water Pools Only)

Sand Tank Winterization:

1. Drain water in the filter using the drain plug. Place drain plug inside your pump basket for the winter, so you know where it is in the spring.

2. Inspect sand filter unit for wear and tear, position multiport valve to the winter position, and remove the entire multiport valve from the sand filter for the winter. Cover the lateral with a piece of duct tape and secure a tarp with bungee cords over the sand tank.

3. Inspect the sand inside the filter, replace with new sand every 3-4 years, or if the sand is dirty. If the sand is not due for a change, a Sand Filter Cleaning solution should be used in the spring prior to re-opening.

Winterizing Heat Pumps:

1. Disconnect any hoses to your heater and blow the water out of your heat pump, using a shop-vac

2. Tilt back by inserting a piece of 2 x 4 under the front ledge of the heat pump to incline slightly the pump backward to prevent water accumulation at the two hose connections at the bottom of the heat pump
3. Cover and secure the heater with a tarp.

Winter Covers and Pool Closing

1. Install your meshed winter cover (we strongly recommend using a mesh cover that allows water to pass through to prevent excess weight from the rain water from damaging the sides of your pool). 

2. You need to remove the winter cover when the leaves are gone from the trees and before the snow starts falling (approx. Dec 1st), and then re-install the cover in mid-April before the buds of the trees are coming out. This will minimize the risk of damage from the extra weight of the snow on the ledges of your pool from the mesh cover.

Remove Lights:

Remove lights from the skimmer or step (if applicable). If you have an Elite wall light installed on your pool you will need to place a piece of foam to protect it.

RE DRAINING THE POOL

***Important, it may be necessary in December to DRAIN more water out of the pool. Remember to leave 2 feet of water. (This is to prevent water from reaching the skimmer and freezing in it).

You will need to bring in the house:

• Pool Pump

• Head off of Sand Filter. (After you set it to winterize) Don’t forget to cover the lateral with duct tape and secure the filter tank with a tarp
• Turtle
• Solar Panel
• Salt Machine and Salt Cell
• Salt Machine elbow
• LED lights

Do Not Plug your Return jet with anything - this will cause severe damage

Do Not Plug the bottom of your Skimmer with anything - this will cause severe damage

You may use a Skimmer Plug and Return jet Plug in the SPRING to help keep water in the pool. 

In the spring: follow our pool opening instructions!