How to Close Your Pool
Closing your pool can be easy!
Here are the steps:
First things first! Get together all of the items you will need such as skimmer and return plugs, expansion material for skimmers, balancing chemicals, chlorine, shock, algicide‘s and stain in scale control chemicals. Have your automatic vacuum or manual tools ready to clean the pool before closing.
Be sure to test the water and perfectly balance it for total alkalinity, pH and calcium hardness. Then, add chlorine stabilizer and check for metals. If metals are present add a sequestering agent such as stain and scale control. We recommend using a stain and scale control as a regular regimen. These products are available from Brighton Pools.
With the pool perfectly balanced shock the pool and add algae inhibitor according to the label directions.
A few important tips: A high pH will cause staining that can be impossible to remove. Metals in water such as iron will react with chlorine causing staining. Adding a sequestering agent such as stain and scale control can remove or lighten stains from metals.
When performing these tests, be sure no one enters the pool until the pH and chlorine level is in the desired range acceptable for swimming.
The pitting and roughness of the interior finish in plaster finish pools can be caused by low calcium hardness. If the hardness of the water is left untreated it will pull calcium from the interior finish causing roughness. Calcium hardness for certain parts of the country is low. It needs to be raised with calcium chloride and maintained at a level desired for pool water balance.
Vacuum the pool with your automatic vacuum cleaner (Brighton offers the Aqua Vac 600 automatic robotic cleaner) or a manual vacuum head, hose and pole.
For Cold Climates:
Now, lower the pool water level 12” to 18” below the tile line. For vinyl liner and PVC membrane finished pools you may choose to leave the water level at normal operating level.
If you choose too remove equipment such as ladders, handrails and diving boards be sure to lube the threads of the hardware to prevent rust and ease of reinstallation. It is ok to not remove those items and leave them in place.
Install the skimmer plugs, return fitting plugs and put in place the skimmer expansion material. Remove all plugs in the filtration and sanitizing equipment along with the heater if equipped.
Now install the pool cover. For safety mesh covers (recommended) install the springs on the brass anchors in the deck, screw them up from the deck surface to attach the cover springs. For the bag type covers, install the cover on the pool and put the water bags on top of the overlap at the deck. Fill the water bags 3/4 of the way full with water. Do not fill the water bags completely full as when the water turns to ice it will expand breaking the water tube if they are filled too much.
Monitor and adjust the water level as needed through the winter months.
For Mild Climates:
Reduce equipment run time by 50%. Keep pH between 7.4 and 7.6. Monitor chlorine level and maintain at one to two parts per million (ppm).
If not covering your pool clean skimmer and pump basket weekly. Vacuum pool as needed.
Now, (optional in mild climates) install the pool cover. It can be easiest to clean the cover while it is still on the pool. For safety mesh covers (recommended) install the springs on the brass anchors in the deck, screw them up from the deck surface to attach the cover springs. For the bag type covers, install the cover on the pool and put the water bags on top of the overlap at the deck.
Monitor and adjust the water level as needed through the winter months.
Need more guidance? Please let Brighton Pools know of additional questions or information you may need. We hope this information has been helpful!
You may choose to hire Brighton Pools to close or maintain your pool.
