what to use to winterize my pool without removing the pump

Yup, information technology's that time once more. The time to close and winterize your higher up ground pool. The fourth dimension to gear up your pool for winter.

It happens every year. The leaves offset changing color, the days start getting shorter, the air starts feeling cooler. Of a sudden, the idea of plunging in for a swim becomes less and less attractive.

Simply when, why, and how to do it?

How to close an above ground pool and winterize

Certain, information technology seems like a job, but information technology'due south really non almost as big of a bargain every bit yous might think. In fact, pool winterization is pretty straightforward. And if you lot stay focused on the positives, it'southward even (just) possible to enjoy the process.

What are the positives?

Number one, you lot're protecting your investment against freeze and bacterial harm.
Number two, y'all're making life easier and less hassle-prone for yourself adjacent year when information technology comes time to re-open information technology. And 3, you're saving coin doing it yourself.

All you lot need to practise is follow these 12 easy steps to close and winterize your in a higher place ground pool then that side by side year y'all'll be greeted with the welcoming embrace of trouble-free, sparkling water.

But first of all, a couple of oftentimes asked questions.

When to Close an To a higher place Basis Pool?

In big office, this depends on the local climate where you live. If you alive in a Sunbelt state or in a West Coast surroundings where the temperatures, though likely too cool for regular swimming, stay reasonably mild, you won't need to worry as well much about taking preventative measures against freezing.

Instead, all you'll need to do is to clean and cover your pool and run the pool pump regularly throughout the winter months.

If, nonetheless, your puddle is located somewhere with a colder wintertime climate you'll want to make sure its properly protected against the elements. Not only to brand opening it upwardly easier and less hassle-free, but also to protect your investment.

Above ground pool frames and their linings tin endure serious damage from frost and algae if not properly closed and winterized.

Merely, the one thing you don't want to do is close your pool too presently. Endmost you to a higher place basis pool too early in the flavor tin can run the chance of triggering and encouraging the take chances of puddle algae.

Puddle algae flourishes in warm water, so ideally you should wait until your local temperature has dropped below 65°F (18°C). The lower the temperature when you close your pool, the longer your puddle water will remain clear.

Does an Above Ground Puddle Freeze Solid?

This goes back to where yous live. If you lot live somewhere that has a cold wintertime, then yes it can freeze over.

Why Close an In a higher place Ground Pool?

Did you ever see The Creature from the Black Lagoon on the late-nighttime horror channel? Well, that's what you lot don't want your in a higher place footing pool to look like when yous open it up again adjacent summer (the Black Lagoon, that is, not the Fauna). Plus, y'all don't want frost and freeze damage.

If you properly close and winterize your to a higher place footing pool your puddle water, pool lining, and pool hardware will remain clear, clean, and safe throughout the wintertime months. And make opening up so much easier and worry-free.

What Materials Practice I Need to Close and Above Ground Pool?

swimming pool chemicals and materials for pool cleaning

This might sound similar a long list, only don't let it faze you too much. Most of it will exist stuff you lot already have on hand and will have used throughout the summer months in lodge to keep upwards your regular pool maintenance.

Too, depending on the climate where you alive, you may or may not need all of it. Sunbelt, southern, and some western states will require different needs to northern and midwestern states. It's all a thing of climate – and as well of altitude. With that in mind, hither'due south the full list:

What chemicals do I demand to shut my higher up ground pool?

Chlorine
pH increaser
pH decreaser
Alkalinity increaser
Calcium hardness increaser
Cyanuric acid
Metallic sequestrant
Algaecide
Stupor (ideally non-chlorine stupor)

What else do I need to close my above ground puddle?

Puddle castor
Algae castor
Leaf skimmer
Puddle vacuum
Rubber plugs or Gizmos
Air compressor or store vac
Pool antifreeze

As noted above, don't exist daunted if this sounds like a long list. A lot will depend on where y'all live, and information technology'due south more than likely you won't need all of it.

So, having got the whens and whys out of the way, allow's move on to the hows.

The post-obit are the 12 easy steps to follow in gild to close your above ground puddle for the winter months, how to make your life relaxed, and how to maintain and winterize your perfect above ground pool.

Pace 1. Plough Off Your Water Heater (if applicative)

If y'all have a gas heater with a pilot light, turn off the pilot light. Then shut off the gas supply to the heater. Disconnect any pressure level switch to the tubing. Turn off any timers. Remove any drain plugs, open the outlet and intake valves, and bleed all the water from the heating organization. Disconnect the power supply.

Step 2. Test the Water

At least 1 day before you plan to close your above ground pool, it's vitally important that your winterizing process starts with your pool water beingness properly balanced.

This will protect the puddle against corrosion, scale build-up, and algae that can occur during the winter months that the pool is closed.

Test the water for:

pH
Alkalinity
Free chlorine
Total chlorine
Calcium hardness
Cyanuric acid (aka stabilizer)

Your normal pool water testing kit that you apply for regular maintenance should be more than adequate for this purpose, but y'all can also take a sample to your local puddle visitor and accept them exam information technology for you.

We recommend these test strips and this liquid h2o testing kit.

The following tabular array outlines the chemical ranges you should be looking for:

pH	7.ii-vii.8
Alkalinity	fourscore-120 ppm*
Free Chlorine	3 ppm
Full Chlorine	<0.7 ppm
Combined Chlorine**	0.iii-0.5 ppm
Calcium Hardness	250-600 ppm
Cyanuric Acid	fifty-60 ppm

*ppm = parts per one thousand thousand
** Combined Chlorine = Free Chlorine minus Total Chlorine

Footstep 3. Balance the Water Chemical science

Adjust the levels by calculation the pool chemicals until your pool water achieves the remainder ranges shown in the in a higher place table. Later yous have balanced your pool water, leave the pool pump on to run all dark.

Balancing your above footing puddle water should exist washed at to the lowest degree one day before you shut and winterize your pool.

Stride iv. Remove All Pool Accessories Including Ladders, Stairs, Handrails, etc

Ladders, stairs, and handrails should be removed and stored in a dry out surroundings.

Slides need not be removed as long as they do non become in the way of your pool cover's power to close your puddle completely.

Step five. Make clean the Pool Thoroughly

Above footing pools must be cleaned before winterizing. And so, skim, brush, and vacuum the pool thoroughly. In that club.

When brushing, recall that the crucial matter is to remove every bit much clay and organic cloth as possible – both to prevent staining from sediment likewise as to prevent any impending algae spores.

thoroughly brushing pool floors and sides

And so be sure to castor thoroughly the pool floor and sides, including any angles where the above ground pool walls encounter.

In order for you to vacuum latent algae spores out subsequently you've brushed, you may need to use a specialized algae brush.

We recommend y'all use a soft pool brush when closing your above ground pool. This will prevent the lining getting damaged. Here's 1 we'd recommend:

Algae brush for above ground pools

After y'all've skimmed, brushed, and vacuumed your above ground puddle. Skim information technology one more than time.

Step 6. Add Winterizing Chemicals

You take 2 choices:

1. Use a Pool Closing Chemical Kit or;
2. Individually Add Pool Closing Chemicals

Option 1. Using a Wintertime Puddle Endmost Chemic Kit

When your higher up ground puddle has been properly tested, counterbalanced, and cleaned, it'due south fourth dimension to add a winterizing chemic kit – likewise known equally a non-chlorine shock or a chlorine-gratuitous puddle endmost kit.

This is the easiest way to do it.

These are pre-packaged chemic kits to suit the size of your pool, and include everything you demand – puddle shock, stain and scale preventer, a long-lasting algicide, and a boring-release bladder of oxidizing chemicals – all in one easy dose. Just follow the directions on the packet label and you're skilful to go.

NOTE: Some winterizing chemical product packets can only exist sprinkled in the deep stop of the puddle. Others require you to run the pump for at least an hour. So make sure yous read the instructions.

Here is a pool closing kit we recommend:

Pool Endmost Kit

Choice 2. Add Winter Pool Closing Chemicals Individually

On the other hand, if you'd prefer to pull on your white lab coat and utilise a chlorine shock and the other chemicals that go with it, hither are the culling steps you need to take.

1.) Add chlorine daze at least 5 days before yous programme to shut and cover your in a higher place ground pool.

Apply at least 2 lbs of chlorine for every 10,000 gallons of water, or else follow the chlorine bundle instructions.

Note: Wait until the sun has gone down before chlorine shocking your pool. Direct sunlight will dissipate and reduce the effectiveness of chlorine also quickly, and thereby limit its ability to practise its task.

two.) Add Algaecide. Wait until the chlorine level in your in a higher place footing pool has lowered itself to less than 3 ppm, then add the algicide.

How much algaecide should you add to close pool? Once again, follow the algaecide package instructions, but if your in a higher place ground pool has a deck and a wire mesh rather than a solid pool cover, it's not a bad thought to add twice the recommended dosage of algicide.

3.) Add a metal sequestrant – especially if your in a higher place ground pool water has a high metallic level, and especially if it is drawn from a well rather than the main urban center water supply.

This will ensure that the metals in suspension in the water do not settle to the bottom of your pool and stain the vinyl liner, but, instead, remain in intermission.

iv.) Add a winter pill. Winter pills contain ho-hum-release water clarifiers and sanitizers that volition help go on your puddle water clear and cloud free during the catamenia when your pool is closed and the pool pump is turned off.

5.) Add together pool enzymes to eliminate organic matter contaminants that may have been left over afterward your cleaning.

Do Y'all Need to Add Antifreeze?

If you alive in a climate that gets sub-zero winters and you don't blow out the pipes of your pool. Yous will need to add antifreeze. Make certain you use the correct antifreeze, though. We take an article on this: Is RV Antifreeze OK for a Swimming Puddle? (Answered!)

Pace seven. Lower the Pool Water & Winterize Skimmer

It's essential you protect your skimmer from groovy during winter. But practice yous really demand to drain the puddle water to winterize your pool?

No you don't need to drain the water level if yous use a winter skimmer cover plate to protect your skimmer during the winter.

A winter skimmer cover blocks pool water from entering the skimmer and therefore protects it from cracking when the water freezes.

You lot can observe Winter Pool Skimmer Covers here.

We have more info on how far to drain your pool in this article here:
Should You Drain Pool Below Skimmer or Render Jets?

How far to drain your above ground puddle?

If you don't use a winter skimmer cover plate, and so y'all'll need to drain your above ground pool water level. How much water to bleed? Drain the h2o level of your pool until information technology is a couple of inches beneath the skimmer and the returns (i.e. where the water jets into the pool).

How to Apply Wintertime Gizmo

A gizmo is essentially a piece of hollow plastic tube that screws into the bottom of your skimmer box. When the water freezes and expands, the gizmo compresses. This prevents the skimmer from smashing.

Simply screw it into the lesser of your skimmer. If you're using antifreeze (covered afterward in this commodity), add the antifreeze beginning.

You can get a pool gizmo here.

Note: When winterizing you lot in a higher place footing puddle, never drain it completely. Doing and then can crusade your vinyl liner to dry out out and crack, or even cause your pool walls to collapse.

Pace 8. Prepare Your Pump(due south) and Filter

How to Winterize Pool Filter

Winterizing your puddle filter is necessary to protect it from freezing and potential impairment. Here's how.

Winterizing a Sand Filter

If you have a sand filter, set the valve to Winterize, remove the drain plug, and allow the filter to drain completely.

If it does not accept a Winterize setting, backwash for two-3 minutes until the water runs clear. After you lot stop backwashing, plow the valve back to filter.

Winterizing a DE Filter

Drain it and so rinse off the grids with a hose. Brand sure y'all leave the valves open up.

Winterizing a Cartridge Filter

Simply bleed information technology and then rinse off the grids with a hose.

How to Winterize Pool Pump

Now it'south time to bleed your pump(s) of any residual water.

You can bleed your pump by opening the strainer cover and so removing the bleed plug(s). This varies from model to model. Now run your pump for a couple of seconds, just no more than, to remove the water from the impeller. Do non plow on for longer than this though or yous could potentially burn out the seals.

If your in a higher place ground pool is plumbed in with flexible, detachable pool filter lines, just remove them and shop them in a dry surroundings for the winter by following the specific manufacturers' instructions for your above footing pool.

Step 9. If Your Above Basis Puddle Is Difficult-Plumbed, Blow out the Pool Lines

Although most in a higher place footing pools are not hard-plumbed, some are; and if yours is one of these then you'll want to blow out your pool lines.

Unless, that is, you live in a relatively warm climate zone where it rarely if ever drops to freezing or below.

Here'southward how to blow out your pool lines so every bit to remove every driblet of water in the lines, filter, and pumps that might otherwise cause you lot expensive freeze impairment repair bills adjacent Spring.

In order to blow out your hard-plumbed pool lines, you lot volition want to use either a pocket-size air compressor set to a low psi, or else a high-book store vac or vacuum/blower.

If you don't have an air compressor, here'due south 1 nosotros'd recommend:

Air compressor

1.) First of all, scoop any remaining water out of your skimmer that has been left over after lowering your pool. You desire to brand sure the skimmers are nigh completely emptied.

two.) Open the pump valves.

3.) Prepare the multiport to "recirculate".

4.) Open the drain plug.

5.) Connect the air compressor/blower/shop vac to the pump. (Note: a compressor may demand an adaptor.)

vi.) Accident air through the system. You volition first to see bubbles of air coming out of the return lines and the skimmers.

vii.) Insert rubber pool plugs into the bottom of the skimmer.

8.) Insert rubber puddle plugs into the return line.

ix.) Turn your pump valve to the "main drain" setting.

10.) After a infinitesimal or two you should come across air bubbles escaping from the principal bleed in your pond pool.

11.) Turn the pump valve back to the "skimmer" setting, and shut off your air compressor/blower/shop vac.

12.) But in case a valve leaks during the winter, put a final safety pool plug within the pump itself.

If all this sounds too complicated (which it actually isn't), you can always get a professional pool visitor to accident out your lines for y'all.

Step 10. Should I Add Antifreeze?

If you lot live in a mild climate or, if non, you accept difficult-plumbed lines and have thoroughly blown out your lines, antifreeze shouldn't exist required. But if you're still concerned and live in a particularly cold climate, at present is a good time to add information technology. But, before you do, please bear in mind the post-obit:

Pool antifreeze is absolutely NOT the same equally the antifreeze you lot put in your car. It is specifically designed for pond pools. Pool antifreeze, different automobile antifreeze, is not-toxic. But, that having been said, don't irrigate with it!

Recommended pool antifreeze:

Pool antifreeze

Antifreeze reacts dangerously when in direct contact with chlorine, then DO NOT add information technology at the aforementioned time as y'all add chlorine. Add together it correct towards the end of the pool closing process.

How much antifreeze is needed to close a puddle?

Mostly, most manufacturers' instructions suggest using approximately ane gallon of antifreeze for every x feet of pool line. That, however, is ordinarily based upon the assumption that the pool lines are full of water and have not been blown out.

Then, if yous have diddled out your lines, half a gallon should be plenty.

How to add the antifreeze to my pool?

Simply pour information technology direct into the skimmer. Now plug the skimmer (or install a gizmo) at the bottom to prevent rainwater from filling upwards the lines and skimmer box.

Step 11. Inflate and Install a Puddle Air Pillow

Also known as an ice compensator, a puddle air pillow compensates for the pressure of ice both on top of the puddle cover and pool h2o water ice that would otherwise expand against, and potentially crusade harm to, the walls of the pool.

If y'all alive in a colder climate where winter freezes are common, a pool air pillow is a practiced idea.

When you lot inflate your pool air pillow, only inflate it by around 60%. The idea is that the air pillow needs to be able to aggrandize without popping when the puddle water freezes and compresses against it.

Tip: To brand certain you pool air pillow stays the middle of your pool, use a thin rope to secure it to the walls on either side of the pool. Some pillows come with iv-mode grommets so y'all can secure them to iv corners of your above ground puddle.

Here'south an Air Pillow for to a higher place footing pools nosotros recommend.

Step 12. Cover Your In a higher place Footing Pool

Place the wintertime pool cover over your pool and secure information technology in place past threading the cablevision through the grommets, loops, and/or winter comprehend clips. Utilise the winch that came with the cover to tighten it into identify.

If your above footing pool has a walk-around deck, place water bags on top of the cover and around the edge of the puddle.

Simply fill up water purse weights approximately ¾ full – if you over-fill them, they may split apart as the h2o within freezes and expands.

Annotation: Never employ physical blocks, bricks, stones etc. to weigh down your cover. They tin can damage your pool cover or, if they fall into your pool, the vinyl liner, floor, and walls of your above ground pool also.

Here are some to a higher place ground pool encompass options if you lot don't already accept a winter pool cover.

1 Final Proposition

Put a pool embrace pump on your wintertime pool cover to drain abroad excess water. Too much weight on top of your pool cover tin crusade it to rip or else plummet into the pool – bringing with it any water bags that may have been helping to counterbalance information technology in place.

Here's a couple of pool cover pumps nosotros'd recommend

Pool Cover Pump

Automatic Pool Cover Pump

Decision

There. Closing an above ground pool wasn't so hard was it? Your pool is now safe, secure, and snuggled up for the winter. And you tin can put your experience upwardly until next summer secure in the noesis that your pool volition be waiting for you with crystal clear, and not Black Lagoon, waters.

Recommended Products

Algae brush for in a higher place ground pools

Puddle Closing Chemical Kit

Not-Chlorine Shock Treatment

Winter Pool Skimmer Covers

Air Compressor

Pool Antifreeze

Air Pillow for In a higher place Ground Pool

Above Footing Pool Wintertime Covers