We love our DIY above floor pool all summer time lengthy however how do you prep a pool for freezing climate? Learn the ten steps of find out how to winterize an above floor pool with out draining the water, so it’s able to get pleasure from once more subsequent summer time.
See how we put in our 24-foot above-ground pool ourselves, and skim right here for extra suggestions and a guidelines for winterizing your private home.
Methods to Winterize an Above Floor Pool FAQs
Right here in central Utah, our giant above floor pool within the yard is our favourite place to be from about Could till September. Completely price our funding and DIY work!
When the climate heads towards freezing, although, it’s time to winterize the pool. We prep our pool for winter in just some steps — and *with out* draining the water. Watch the video above and skim extra suggestions under to see find out how to simply winterize an above floor pool.
Beneath are additionally just a few of the principle questions that individuals have about winterizing their pool.
When to winterize your above floor pool?
Earlier than the night time temperatures drop under freezing is the very best time to winterize your pool. I find yourself winterizing mine round mid October earlier than all of the leaves begin to fall. Having leaves within the pool is just not good for the pH of the water so in the event you can cowl the pool earlier than they begin falling it’ll prevent quite a lot of time and headache.
It’s finest to winterize it in hotter situations, as a result of then the water is just not so chilly to the contact whereas cleansing it.
Do I must take all water out of above floor pool for winter?
No! You may go away water within the pool to assist defend the liner and pool and never need to waste water every year by having to refill it within the spring. I’ve been leaving the water in all 12 months for the previous two years with out having to empty the pool fully.
I’d nonetheless double examine together with your pool producer to see if it’s okay to go away in water 12 months spherical. It might depend upon the pool and in your native local weather.
How far down do you drain your pool for winter?
If you’re in an space that freezes, decrease the water 4″ to six″ under the skimmer and inlet gap. It will hold water from freezing round your fittings and cut back the danger of ice injury to the skimmer and inlet fittings.
How lengthy does it take to winterize an above floor pool?
For our 24-foot pool (15,000 gallons) with a vinyl liner, it took me about 2 hours to do all of the winterization steps myself.
How a lot does it value to winterize a pool?
The fee to winterize the pool is simply your time and some provides. Beneath are the chemical substances that I used to winterize my pool.
- SWIMMING POOL SHOCK (chlorine granules) to kill micro organism/algae.
- ALGAECIDE to forestall algae progress.
- [OPTIONAL] MINERAL MAGNET to maintain the pool water additional clear.
Whole winterizing value: ~$50
10 Steps to Winterize an Above Floor Pool
Be sure you seek the advice of the producer’s directions on your pool specs.
1. Clear out all of the particles with the skimmer.
I used the identical lengthy telescoping pool pole and a leaf rake attachment skimmer that we use all summer time lengthy to skim the pool and clear out any leaves, giant particles, toys, and so forth.
After skimming the massive particles I setup the pool vacuum for some time to scrub up the remainder of the little particles.
It’s als0 a good suggestion to take away all noticeable algae with a pool brush to scrub it off all surfaces earlier than including the algaecide.
2. Take away the ladder(s), pool equipment and toys.
Each the ladder that got here with the pool and the additional ladder we purchased are simple to take away. I disconnected mine utterly from the pool and deck and saved it beneath the deck for the winter.
I additionally disconnected the pool mild that was put in on the fringe of the pool. Final 12 months I left it in and the ice broken the screws that maintain the sunshine in place. It’s simply finest to take away all of the pool equipment that you simply don’t want in the course of the winter months.
3. Deal with the water with pool chemical substances for the precise water chemistry.
I exploit each swimming pool shock (chlorine granules) and a further algaecide as listed above to boost the chlorine ranges (improve the pH stage of the water) and guarantee that no micro organism or algae will develop whereas the pool is roofed in the course of the winter and spring. You may additionally go to any pool provide retailer and pickup a winterizing chemical package and a check package for the very best chemical substances on your space.
These winterizing chemical substances are simply an additional dose of our common pool cleaners, mainly, to maintain the pH and alkalinity up whereas it’s not in use.
- The pool water pH must be between 7.4 and seven.8.
- Alkalinity must be between 100 components per million (ppm) and 150 ppm, with proper in the course of 125 ppm being the best quantity.
- The chlorine ranges have to be between 1 and three ppm.
- Calcium hardness between 200 ppm and 350 ppm.
For testing the water I like to make use of AquaChek Pool and Spa check strips. It will check the calcium hardness of the water, chlorine, alkalinity and pH.
You can too add a mineral magnet in the event you’d like for extra water readability.
4. Placed on the photo voltaic pool cowl.
I like to position the photo voltaic pool cowl on the pool earlier than the heavy obligation winter pool cowl. Private choice, and it makes for simple storage!
5. Flip off and backwash/rinse the filter.
Swap the sand and water filter multiport valve to “backwash” till all of the water is working clear via the filter. Then I flip it to “rinse” for just a few seconds, after which “shut”.
6. Cap the outlet and take away inlet .
For winterizing the skimmer I added an oblong skimmer plug. It’s simple to put in. I additionally eliminated the adjustable outlet jet.
7. Disconnect and drain hoses.
Loosen the hose clamps and disconnect all of the hoses from the pump and sand filter.
All this draining water is a part of why we determined to panorama across the pool as an alternative of solely a paver hardscape!
I select to go away the outlet drain pipe (as proven at 2:45 within the video) in order that any additional water from rain or snow soften can drain off, to keep up the water stage.
8. Disconnect and take away the pump.
Unplug the pump from the facility supply and disconnect it from the filter. Clear out the pump filter and drain it and retailer it within the shed for additional safety.
Our pump simply removes from the bottom with just a few plastic pins, which I retailer contained in the pump.
9. Drain the sand filter and set to winterize.
On our sand filter, I simply open the valve(s) on the backside and let it drain. I don’t at all times cowl ours, nevertheless it’s good added safety to guard the multiport valve on prime from ice injury.
10. Lock down the ultimate winter cowl.
Add the winter cowl and ratchet it on tight utilizing the connected cable and winch so the wind and winter climate can’t hassle it.
The duvet does refill with water from rain/snow, so I simply control it and pump the water off when it’s gathered sufficient.
I did attempt to use a air pillow within the center beneath the duvet one 12 months, however the pillow popped just some weeks into winter and I by no means changed it. All the things appeared to be simply positive on the finish of the season so this 12 months I didn’t add the air pillow in any respect.
- 3 lb Swimming Pool Shock (chlorine granules) to kill micro organism/algae
- 20 oz Algaecide to essentially kill any potential algae
- Mineral Magnet non-compulsory, to maintain the pool water additional clear
Clear out all of the particles.
Take away the ladder(s), toys, and equipment.
Deal with the water.
- I exploit each swimming pool shock (chlorine granules) and a further algaecide as listed aboveto increase the chlorine ranges and guarantee that no micro organism or algae will develop whereas the pool is roofed in the course of the winter and spring.
- The pool water pH must be between 7.4 and seven.8.
- Alkalinity must be between 100 components per million (ppm) and 150 ppm, with proper in the course of 125 ppm being the best quantity.
- The chlorine ranges have to be between 1 and three ppm.
- Calcium hardness between 200 ppm and 350 ppm.
-
For testing the water I like to make use of AuqaChek Pool and Spa check strips. It will check the calcium hardness of the water, chlorine, alkalinity and pH.
Placed on the photo voltaic pool cowl.
Flip off and backwash/rinse the filter.
Cap the outlet and take away inlet.
- Our pool package got here with a pool outlet cap, which is straightforward to place in place, and the inlet cap simply twists off.
Disconnect and drain hoses.
- Loosen the hose clamps and disconnect all of the hoses from the filter.
- I select to go away the outlet drain pipe (as proven at 2:45 within the video) in order that any additional water from rain or snow soften can drain off, to keep up the water stage.
- Every filter will likely be somewhat completely different, however the course of is usually the identical.
Disconnect and take away the pump.
- Unplug the pump from the facility supply and disconnect it from the filter. I drain ours and retailer it within the shed for additional safety.
- Our pump simply removes from the bottom with just a few plastic pins, which I retailer contained in the pump.
Drain the filter and set to winterize.
- On our filter, I simply open the cap and let it drain. I don’t at all times cowl ours, nevertheless it’s good added safety.
Lock down the ultimate winter cowl.
- Add the winter cowl and ratchet it on tight so the wind and winter climate can’t hassle it.
- The duvet does refill with water from rain/snow, so I simply control it and pump the water off when it’s gathered sufficient.
Extra suggestions for winterizing your private home and yard
