- 1). Rinse, clean and deodorize your pool cover before storing it for the season. After scrubbing the cover with specialized cleaner, it's not necessary to rinse the cleaner off. The cleaner will serve as a deodorizer while the cover is in storage. You should store the pool cover in a plastic tub with a snug-fitting lid.
- 2). Vacuum the pool. Remove all debris and leaves using a leaf net. Leaving dirt in the pool can cause stains.
- 3). Clean your pool wall and liner above the water line using a pool scrubber or non-abrasive sponge. Use a cleanser that's safe for vinyl, fiberglass, tile, acrylic and other washable surfaces to remove sun-tan oil, grease, grime, harmful dirt buildup and air pollutants.
- 4). Add winterizing chemicals while your filter is running. There is no order in which to add the chemicals, just be sure to add one chemical at a time. Winterizing chemicals include a broad-spectrum, non-foaming algaecide or fungicide, which prevents algae growth, and a chelater agent that attracts minerals, such as iron and copper, that need to be filtered out of the pool. This will prevent lining stains. Add your anti-bacterial and algae killer to a clean bucket of pool water and stir with a wooden stick. Pour the contents of the bucket into the pool while circulating around the perimeter.
- 5). Run your pump and filter for at least one to two hours after adding the winterization chemicals to allow the pool water to circulate. This will help evenly distribute the chemicals.
- 6). Remove all ladders, rails, eyeball return fittings, diving boards, skimmer baskets and weirs and suction grates. If you have a hydrotherapy jet, it needs to be removed as well, including the lock ring, jet body and Teflon ring located in the back of the jet.
- 7). Backwash your filter. If you have a cartridge filter, you must drain the filter and remove the cartridge. If you have a sand filter, you must backwash it, remove the drain plug and switch the valve to the position that reads either "winter" or "closed." If the valve is removable, you should do so. Disconnect the hoses from both the filter system and your pool. It's better to store your filter indoors rather than in a shed or outdoor storage closet.
- 8). Break down your filter and pump. First switch off the electricity to the pump. Drain the pump by removing the drain plugs. Disconnect the pump's ground wire. Disconnect the joint between your pump and filter. Disconnect the suction and return lines between the filter and pump. Clean your filter and pump lines by forcing air through with a reversible vacuum or air compressor.
- 9). Plug the return wall and suction lines with an expansion plug or threaded plug.
- 10
Insert a gizmo into the skimmers. This will prevent accumulated water from freezing, expanding and cracking the skimmer. - 11
Put an expander in the stair jets. Expanders come in different sizes. Your pool's maintenance manual should indicate which size expanders to use. After the expander is in place, remove the stair jet air control to clear water from the line. Pour non-toxic antifreeze into the stair jet port and replace the cap. You can safely add a half gallon of antifreeze per line. - 12
Disconnect the chlorine feeder hoses. Note that not all pools have a chlorinator. - 13
Cover your pool with a winter cover. If it has a black side, it should be facing downwards. Water bags or aqua blocks will help secure the cover in place.
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