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How and When To Winterize Your Inground Pool

The winter months are coming, and soon we’ll be trading sunny days at the pool for cold days by the fire. If you have an inground pool in your yard, you may be wondering what to do when colder temperatures start to hit. Prepping your pool for winter helps to prevent damage and keeps it in great shape for summers to come. Here’s how to winterize your inground pool.

Blue Pool Cover for Winter, Lakeland FLWhen To Winterize Your Pool

If you live in a warm climate that doesn’t experience harsh winters, you may not need to winterize your pool. However, if you live in an area that does experience consistently freezing temperatures and snow during the winter, it’s best to winterize your pool. Keep in mind that the winterizing process can take several days to complete. Ideally, you’ll want to wait until the middle of fall, when temperatures are consistently under 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This prevents algae from growing after you’ve already winterized. However, you won’t want to wait too long. Winterizing a pool after it’s already started snowing can be tricky.

Steps to Winterize Your Pool

Remove all pool accessories.

Unscrew and remove any ladders and handles attached to your pool. Put away any additional accessories you may have sitting out, such as cleaners or solar covers. Store these items in a safe, dry place for the winter.

Deep clean your pool.

Start by skimming the pool to remove leaves and other debris. Next, vacuum and brush the pool to remove debris from the floor and sides of the pool. Shock your pool to sanitize it and remove any algae.

Checking Pool Chemistry, Haines City FLBalance your pool’s chemistry.

Once you’ve cleaned your pool, you’ll need to adjust the chemicals to make sure the water is balanced. It can take a few days for chemical adjustments to take effect, so plan accordingly. The water should have an alkalinity of 80-150 ppm, pH of 7.2-7.6, calcium hardness of 175-225 ppm, and chlorine level of 1-3 ppm.

Lower the water level.

Next, you’ll need to lower the water levels in the pool to keep them from freezing. If you have a solid cover, lower the water approximately six inches below the skimmer. If you’re using a mesh cover, lower the water approximately one foot below the cover.

Turn off and drain additional components.

Turn off the pilot light and turn the gas supply off. Turn off all pumps, filters, and lights. Then, remove all of your equipment to drain and clean it. If you can, store your filter and pump in a clean, dry place for the winter.

Shock your pool.

You’ll want to add shock and algaecide to your pool to kill bacteria and prevent algae from growing. These chemicals will need to sit for a few days before you put the cover on.

Put the cover on.

Once your pool is fully cleaned, balanced, and switched off, it’s time to put the cover on. Make sure the cover is fully secure and that there are no holes or tears.

Taking the time to winterize your inground pool will make it easier to set up once spring arrives. If you need help winterizing or cleaning your pool in Polk County, Florida, Poolworks can help. Give us a call at 863-967-2863 to learn more about our services or make an appointment.

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