Although summer feels like it just kicked off in
many areas of the country,
the sad truth is that winter
will be here before we know it.
Along with winter comes gray
skies, cooler temperatures and closed
pools — and a time of disappointment
for many as the summer days of
splashing, sunshine and hours making
memories by the pool comes to an
end.
Luckily, winter won’t last forever,
and spring will come back around
soon enough.
Before that happens, it’s important
to understand why strategic steps
when closing your customers’
swimming pools can be the key to
opening a clean pool come spring.
After all, a good closing plan is the
secret behind an easy spring opening!
Shutting Down
The goal of closing a pool in the
off season is to protect the pool
equipment and surfaces, while also
(hopefully) maintaining clear water
upon opening.
To accomplish this goal, proactive
measures must be taken to limit
bacteria and algae growth in the off
season. Water must be balanced prior
to closing the system to protect the
pool surface and equipment. These are
the must-do elements to a complete
winterizing program for pool care.
Keep in mind the two methods of
cold water pool care: off-season care
and winterization. Determining which
approach is appropriate is dependent
upon the anticipated weather during the winter months — but, ultimately,
timing is the key to success regardless
of the winterization procedure.
Do not close the pool too early. In
many cases, especially in commercial
pools, the pools are opened and
closed by the calendar. For example,
many customers open their pool
around the first of May or later, and
close it at Labor Day — regardless
of the current weather conditions.
This leads to problems keeping the
pool protected during the winter and
makes it more difficult when you go to
open in the spring. Cooler water while
the pool is closed is imperative for a
successful spring opening.
Calendar Close?!
When one chooses to open and close
by the calendar, water is often already
warm when opening the pool and still
warm when closing the pool. And, as
we know, warm water is a more ideal
condition for bacterial growth and
algae blooms.
Winterizing chemicals applied to
warm water will not be as efficient in
the off season or as effective at keeping
the pool clean and clear. Chemicals
added to warmer temperatures are
used up at a faster rate because they
have more work to do in warm water.
Pools that are closed while warmer
or opened after the water has gotten
warm or even hot are much more
likely to be cloudy, green and demand
larger amounts of chlorine. A tip for
success is that pools should ideally
not be closed if the water temperature
is above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and
should be opened again before water
reaches 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the
spring.
Off-season pool care is required
for climates where weather doesn’t
stay cold for very long in the winter
months. In these locations, water
temperatures stay above 70 degrees
Fahrenheit for a longer period of time
in the fall and warm up faster in the
spring.
Water will cool down through the
off season, but often warms back up
quickly due to a shorter and more
mild winter season. While this is great
for people who hate winter, it can
be difficult to keep a pool clear and
protected under these inconsistent
or unpredictable circumstances.
Because bacteria and algae reproduce
more rapidly in warm water, winter
chemicals will be depleted more
quickly and a mid off-season check
is recommended to ensure the pool
water remains balanced.
At “opening” or really pool
season kickoff, a pool that has been
unprotected for an extended period
can be difficult to clear and get ready
for swimming. Pools that are kept
open in more mild climates should
run the circulation system at least daily
to keep the water moving and check
water balance to protect the pool
surface and equipment.
While weekly pool care is often
suspended during these periods,
the water should be sanitized and
shocked periodically over the course
of the off season. Also, additional algae treatment is often necessary to
help keep the pool clear due to the
lower frequency of the pump and filter
system being run.
Frigid Temperatures
An important point to make here
is to keep an eye on these types of
pools if the temperature drops much
lower than usual, to the point where
freezing is a concern. If there’s a
potential for a freeze, running the pool
pump continuously to help prevent
frozen pipes is critically important.
Unfortunately, many pool owners
learned this the hard way in the Texas
freeze a couple years ago.
Winterization is for climates where
water gets cold and stays cold. There
is risk of freezing, and equipment is
unhooked and protected to prevent it
from damage that can occur in winter
conditions. Algae and bacteria are less
likely to grow and reproduce in water
this cold, and winterizing chemicals
tend to last longer.
Pools that are winterized do
not continue to run while closed.
Chemicals are added at closing, then
the water is drained down below the
skimmer and equipment is drained,
plugged, and sometimes even
removed to protect it from freezing
and from potential damage throughout
the winter. In many cases, pools are
not treated again until spring opening.
However, if the winter is unseasonably
warm or the pool was closed too early,
a mid-winter treatment of algaecide
may be necessary to help keep the
pool clear.
Put a Lid on It
Regardless of climate, covering the
pool is an important part of off-season
pool care. The pool will go long
periods of time without use, and most
pool owners stop paying attention
to maintenance activities, such as
brushing, skimming and vacuuming,
in the off season. Pools are not top of
mind when no one wants to swim after
a hot day!
Dirt and debris will be introduced
over the course of the winter months
and covering the pool will reduce
the need for these pool maintenance
activities. As winter progresses, pool
owners should keep excess water and
debris cleaned off the top of the cover.
If water and debris get too heavy, the
cover can be pulled into the pool. This
can damage the pool or cover itself, as
well as create a big mess to clean up
when the debris from the cover ends
up in the pool, too.
In the spring, when you remove the
winter cover, take care not to allow dirt,
debris and contaminants from the top
of the cover fall into the pool. This can
create problems with filtration, water
clarity and chlorine demand, as well as
other issues.
Chemical Essentials
The main winter products used for
closing include shocking the pool,
adding a preventative algaecide,
and using a stain and scale product
to protect the pool surface and
equipment. When chemically
winterizing a pool, it is imperative to
treat and remove all existing problems
before closing. Closing a pool with
issues will allow problems to get worse
over the course of the winter, causing
additional requirements of time and
chemicals during spring opening.
Water balance, sanitizer residual, and
water clarity should all be evaluated
and balanced before a pool is closed.
Clearing up problems before closing
allows the winterizing program to work
effectively, and helps you open the
pool more quickly and with less elbow
grease required in the spring.
To ensure surface protection and
chemical efficiency, pH, total alkalinity,
and calcium hardness should all
be balanced to ideal parameters
before the pool is closed. Winter
temperatures bring colder water, which
can lead to a corrosive environment.
Prolonged exposure of corrosive water
to the pool’s surfaces may cause
etching and metal staining to become
more prominent on pool surfaces,
as well as cause increased potential
for damage to pool equipment. In
addition to balancing the pool water
before closing, a stain and scale
control product should be added
at closing to protect the pool from
surface problems and metal-based
staining or water discoloration. These
products are a great combination to
provide superior protection over the
course of the winter, setting you up to
get the pool started off in the right way
when summer rolls around again.
Additional products that can help
make winterizing more effective and
ensure a smooth spring opening
include enzymes and phosphate
removers. Enzymes, paired with
surfactants, will break down non-living
contaminants in the water, reducing
the workload for chlorine. Not only
is the pool easier to open, but that
ugly scum line accumulation that
often mars spring openings will often
not form when enzymes are present
through the off season. Reducing and
minimizing the level of phosphate
in the pool upon closing is also a
key action to take to help ensure a
faster turnaround time at opening.
The addition of a multi-functional
product that contains both enzymes
and a phosphate remover can be a
key element in helping to prevent
problems over the course of the winter.
Being thoughtful and taking
proactive measures at winterization
will lead to a faster and easy spring
opening experience. Following the
steps discussed can help ensure you’ll
open pools that are clear and ready for
swimming in no time!
Recap — Tips to Remember:
- Don’t close by the calendar! Close
when the water temperature is
consistently below 70 degrees
Fahrenheit, and open before the
temperature is consistently 70
degrees or higher. - Choose the correct method of
off-season pool care for your area
(determine whether to fully close
pools or if off-season attention
will suffice). - Cover the pool, regardless of
whether it’s fully shut down or
not. - Don’t close a pool with any water
clarity or chemistry problems
present. - Water balance is key!
When you close the right way, you can
rest easy knowing that spring openings
will be easier than ever before! But for
now, relax and enjoy some off-season
downtime — you’ve earned it!
Alicia Stephens is the director of education and
training manager for Biolab, Inc. She focuses
primarily on education, training and development,
as well as technical support and new product
research and integration. She can be reached via
email at [email protected].
This article first appeared in the September 2023 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.