A Welder in the Office

How To Close Your Above-Ground Pool For The Fall and Winter Seasons

22 September 2015

Gregory Walker

It's that time of year when the leaves are beginning to change color and fall to the ground. That means it's also the end of swimming pool season and time to close it up for winter. Closing your pool doesn't have to be intimidating. It can be done with just a handful of tools and a couple of extra hands. See below for tips on how to close your above-ground pool.

Tools And Items For The Job:

• Winter Pool Cover (you can find this at your local pool store)
• Pool Cover Wire/Cable
• Cover Clips
• Filter Plugs
• Air Pillow Or Inner Tube
• Rope
• Screwdrivers
• Winterizing Chemicals

If you need help finding any of these materials and tools, talk with a place like KrisCo Aquatech Pools & Spas for more information.

Instructions:

1. Be sure your pool is clean before beginning to close it for the winter. Use your pool vacuum to clean it just before beginning the closing process.
2. Once it's clean, you can turn off your filter. Using your filter plugs, plug in your filter return and place the cover over the front of the skimmer basket. You may need a screwdriver to screw in the plug on the filter return.
3. Test the chemical levels in your pool and add any necessary chemicals. You can use a winterizing chemical pool kit and follow the directions on the kit, or add liquid chlorine shock to your pool. 
4. Once you have your chemicals added, you can add the air pillow or inner tube to your pool. Blow it up and secure two sides with rope. Tie each rope end to either a deck post or a secure post nearby. This will help ensure the pillow or inner tube stays in place in the center of your pool. The purpose of the pillow is to try and keep water from pooling on your cover and freezing over winter. 
5. You can now begin the process of covering your pool. This may take a few extra hands, depending on the size of your pool. You want to be sure the cover doesn't go into the water, so try to have one person on one side of the pool and one person on the other. Secure one side of the pool using cover clips and then begin walking the cover across to the other side of the pool. Keep the cover as taught as possible.
6. Add cover clips to the other side of the pool and wherever necessary to hold it in place. Then use your wire/cover cable and run it in and out of the holes along the edge of your cover. Using the cable winch, pull the cable tightly so the cover is secure around your pool. Add extra clips around the pool cover for extra protection.
7. Next, you can take the filter and pump hoses off of the exterior of the pool and drain the filter and pump of any remaining water. Store them away for winter in a garage or shed.

Closing your above-ground pool isn't too difficult to do; and after doing it once, it'll get easier with each passing season.

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