Carefully closing down your pool makes it much easier to get it ready for the next bathing season. Winterizing your pool should be completed, however, before the frost sets in.
When autumn arrives and the pool season is over, it is recommended that you close down the pool correctly. A typical pool season lasts from the middle of April to the end of September. You should, however, postpone this until the water temperature has fallen below 10 degrees Celsius. This minimises the risk of algae growth in the pool before the low winter temperatures set in.
Thoroughly clean your pool
It is important that you clean your pool just before closing it for winter. This will mean less work when spring comes, and you want to prepare your pool for the new summer season. You can see the full range of cleaning equipment here. Cleaning should be performed on the same day as the pool is closed to avoid the entry of new contaminants and debris in the pool water. Use the bottom vacuum, pool robot or bottom net to clean the pool floor. Empty the skimmer basket and clean it carefully. Clean the water line with a cleaning sponge. Use a net skimmer to remove leaves and debris on the water surface.
Do correct water treatment
Perform a pH-test and adjust the value to between 7.0 and 7.2, if necessary. This will avoid the build-up of limescale or corrosion damage during winter. Use test strips to test the water pH value. The pH value is adjusted with pH Plus and pH Minus. When the pH value of the pool is adjusted, give it a chlorine shock with Klor Starter granulate. Afterwards the pool filter system should be allowed to run for approximately 6 hours to give the water care products time to work and stabilize. The chlorine content may drop to 1-3 mg/l.
Lower the water level / Use plugs and ice protector
Lower the water level in the pool until there is about 15 cm of water below the return pipe. If you run a backwash while reducing the pool water level, you will be cleaning the filter at the same time. Run the pool pump in backwash mode or use a submersible pump. Instal winter plugs in the return nozzle when lowering the water level by. Make sure that the skimmer lid is in place, and that the opening at the bottom is open to allow any remaining water to drain. Alternatively, place an ice protector/gizmo in the skimmer.
Maintenance check
Make sure that all frame joints fit correctly and check that the pool wall has not separated from the bottom rail. Make sure that all screws and bolts are properly fastened and make sure that there is no rust, so remove all rust and paint all rusty areas with anti-rust paint. Check the pool liner, to make sure the top of the liner is securely attached to the pool wall with the plastic edging. Do not remove the liner from the pool. Removing the liner will invalidate the warranty. Do not drain more than 1/3 of water from the pool. Finally make sure that there are no holes in the liner. If so, repair any holes with a pool repair kit. During the winter period, small holes can cause significant damage to the pool.
Remove all accessories
Remove all accessories from the pool, including the ladder. Leave the in-wall skimmer installed. Remove the pool hoses from the filter. All accessories should be stored in a frost-free location during winter season.
Drain water from water treatment systems
Drain the water from your water treatment equipment: circulation pump, filter tanks, heat pump, electrical heater, and any integrated chlorine dispensers. You should also disconnect your heat pump and drain it from left over water, by gently tipping it over. All systems should be stored in a frost-free location during winter season.
Use winter floats and winter cushion
To minimize the risk of damages on the pool liner and profiles from a potential pressure from ice formation on the pool surface, it is recommended to place winter floats in the pool before applying the cover. A winter cushion compensates for the additional water and ice pressure that will build on top of the cover over time. The additional pressure is caused by factors such as rain and snow. Placing the inflated winter cushion below the cover creates a flexible "void" that offsets the additional pressure that could otherwise damage the pool wall, liner, and cover. Note that the cushion should be inflated to 60-80% only to allow for compression.
Do a final preparation with WinterCare
Finish by preventing calcium deposits and coatings with WinterCare. WinterCare is a concentrated winterizing substance designed to prevent the build-up of deposits during winter.
Use a winter cover
Use a winter cover to completely close the pool during winter to avoid too much dirt and beneficial growth conditions for algae and bacteria. It is important that you use a cover that fits your pool, in order that it is completely sealed and does not have small openings and cracks where contaminants might get in. Swim & Fun double coated winter covers with safety wire is a safe choice. The cover must be kept free from large snow accumulations throughout the winter. We recommend that you remove large amounts of snow due to the weight of the load.
Emptying small garden pools
We recommend that the water is disposed of into the sewer, regardless of whether it is chlorine or chlorine-free products that have been used during the season. It must not be disposed of into a dedicated rainwater drain.
Winter packages
With a Winter Package from Swim & Fun, you get all the necessary equipment to close down your pool for winter: A winter cushion, a winter plug, winter floaters, an ice protector (gizmo) and WinterCare.
Are you a winter bather?
If you wish to use an outdoor pool in the winter, please note that high circulation is required, to avoid frost damage to pipes, etc. However, running your circulation pump is not a guarantee against any frost damages.