How to close your above ground pool

Pool Closing Steps

1 One week prior to closing, bring a pool water sample to the store so your pool can be properly balanced.
It is natural for sitting water to become acidic on its own, so balancing the water is very important prior to closing your pool.
2 48 hours before closing, clean your sand filter with Filter Cleaner.
If you have a cartridge filter, it can be cleaned once the pool has been closed.
This will ensure that debris, waste and oil are not able to sit in the filter over the winter.
3 12 hours prior to closing, add the appropriate dosage of Fix and Meta-Stain Prevent.
4 Clean your solar blanket using Cover Cleaner and store in a safe, dry place.
5 Clean pool water line using Amaze.
It will be much easier to remove the stains from the water line before it has a chance to stick to the liner over the winter.
6 The day of winterizing, vacuum your pool on the waste/drain setting on your filter.
This allows you to vacuum and lower the water level at the same time.
7 Lower the water level below the return jets, approximately 4”-6” below the skimmer.
Do not take the water level any lower as the liner could start to pull away from the pool wall or may damage the structure of the pool.
8 Add a Pro Closing Kit.
Use wall brush to manually circulate chemicals.
9 Shut off the pump and turn the filter handle to the winterize position.
If you do not have the winterize position, place the handle in between 2 settings. This keeps the handle raised so it does not seize in one position. If you have a cartridge filter, remove the drain cap and the filter(s) from the cannister. Be sure to reinstall the drain cap and reassemble the filter once properly drained.
10 Remove the eyeball of the return jet and replace it with a threaded plug or an expandable plug.
11 Disconnect the suction line under the skimmer.
The suction hole inside the skimmer should be left open.
Disconnect the plumbing from the filter to the pool, so the return line will drain.
12 Drain the pump, filter, chlorinator, Nature 2, and heater.
Remove the drain plugs from all the equipment as well as the pressure gauge and sight glass to store for the winter.
If you have a cartridge filter, be sure to reinstall the drain cap.
13 Once the pump has been drained, replace the plug(s) using Teflon tape or gasket(s).
Take the basket out and fill the pump pot with pool grade antifreeze to keep the pump seal lubricated over the winter. Pool-grade antifreeze is non-toxic, so it does not matter if it gets into the pool upon start up.
The pump can then be left outside or taken indoors for the winter. Even if the pump is taken inside, it should still have antifreeze inside it. This keeps the ceramic seal lubricated so it does not crack.
14 Apply silicone lubricant to all gaskets and o-rings to prevent cracking during the winter.
15 Remove drop in steps or ladder from the pool and store indoors.
16 Inspect the cover for the pool to make sure there are no holes in it.
Install the winter cover on the pool. Secure with winch cord and winch. If surrounded by decking secure with waterbags, ensure to overlap the waterbags so the cover will not fall into the pool. Fill waterbags three-quarters full with water. This will leave room for freezing and expansion.
17 Store any dry chemicals in a clean dry space. Store any liquid chemicals inside a heated area so they do not freeze.

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