Ask the Experts

Pool Winterization: Your Common Questions Answered

October 14, 2019

Winter is coming! A lot of our clients have questions as to how to manage their pool off-season. When closing your pool for the winter, your top three goals should be (1) to secure equipment, (2) preserve water quality, (3) to protect your pool’s surfaces. Closing your pool the proper way will help avoid costly concerns like broken pool equipment, freeze-damaged tile, and green algae stains.

Needless to say, getting expert help from your landscape and pool contractors in Dallas is your best bet in getting the job done right. Keep reading to get the most common answers to questions about pool winterization, so you can be more familiar with the process.

1. Why do I need to winterize my pool?

The process of pool winterization is designed to give you some peace of mind by protecting your pool. This process includes protecting skimmers, draining the water from the pump, adding the needed chemicals, and finally, covering the pool. The winter weather can subject your pool to a lot of debris that it isn’t designed to handle. Protecting it will save you from costly issues, and we all know that pools are a costly investment. It only makes sense to keep them in great shape, regardless of the kind of pool you have.

2. Should I buy a pool cover?

Having a pool cover is a must if you live in an area where you need to close your pool during the winter months. There are some climates which allow for lighter covers, but it is always wise to cover your pool when it is not in use. This will help protect equipment and the liner from the elements, and prevent your pool from filling with debris.

3. What is the best cover to get?

This is a matter of personal opinion. Ensure that your pool cover is designed for the use that you have in mind, and that the cover fits the pool perfectly. In-ground and above ground pools have different covers. You can also pick from safety covers, winter covers, solid, or mesh covers in a wide variety of styles.

4. What about chemicals?

There is a good assortment of pool winterizing kits and products, and they include all that you need for winterizing your pool. They come with things like rust protection, algaecide, as well as shock treatment to protect your pool. There are also kits for non-chlorine and chlorine pools. The kits come in various sizes too, depending on how big or small your pool is.

5. Should I drain the pool?

We often hear this question, and our quick answer is: no. Do not drain the pool. You can lower it, but never drain. Lowering the water level below skimmer level is recommended.

Once the water is drained, above ground pools do not have a way to keep the walls in place. They are designed to thrust inwards – against the force of the water it holds.

Keep in mind that pool winterizing involves many factors – you just do not simply throw in a cover and call it a day. A lot of freeze damage happens when homeowners winterize the equipment and plumbing themselves. Closing a pool properly requires equipment, time, as well as technical expertise that a lot of pool owners don’t have. The importance of proper pool winterization cannot be underestimated.  To save hundreds of dollars in unnecessary repair costs, it is always wise to get in touch with your Dallas landscape contractors to ensure your pool is fully protected.