Getting pool ready for winter

[louvigne]

We are new pool owners this year and want to know if there are any special procedures that you need to follow in order to get your pool ready for winter. When do you turn your pump off? When do you stop putting chemicals in? Is there a product/chemical that you can put in your pool to keep it fairly clean over winter? Do we have to drain some water out before we cover it up? When it comes to spring next year, is the pool likely to be very very dirty? Will we need to shock it with a large dose of chlorine?
Any advice much appreciated

[muss08]

If you live in a cold climate where temps will be consistantly below freezing I would suggest hiring a professional pool company to close your pool. Depending on your type of winter cover pool will need to be drained 4-18in below the tile level. Skimmers should be sucked dry of water and pipeline antifreeze should be added then plugged. All the equipments freeze plugs need to be pulled and the return lines and main drain need to be blown out with an air compressor or shop vac and then plugged. A large dose of algaecide should be added to the water and a couple floaters with chlorine pucks should be added as well. Then cover. If you have a solid cover then the pool will stay fairly clean throughout the winter. If you have a mesh cover pool will be slightly dirtier. Either way you want to shock the pool in the spring as part of your opening procedures.

[Guest]

What if you live in a warm climate? What steps would you take to prepare for winter? Do you still run your pump and add chemicles?

[Guest]

We are new pool owners this year and want to know if there are any special procedures that you need to follow in order to get your pool ready for winter. When do you turn your pump off? When do you stop putting chemicals in? Is there a product/chemical that you can put in your pool to keep it fairly clean over winter? Do we have to drain some water out before we cover it up? When it comes to spring next year, is the pool likely to be very very dirty? Will we need to shock it with a large dose of chlorine?
Any advice much appreciated

[chem geek]

What if you live in a warm climate? What steps would you take to prepare for winter? Do you still run your pump and add chemicles?

If you do not live in a freezing climate, then yes, you keep your pool running through the winter, though can significantly lower your pump run time (from 8 hours down to 2 hours) and your chlorine demand will drop considerably by a factor of 5-10 especially if you have a pool cover.

For closing a pool in freezing climates, see this link for an above-ground pool and this link for an in-ground pool.

Richard