Labor Day has just passed. You know what that means, right? For many it means summer is over and they will start settling in for the cool, long winter months ahead.
Some swimming pool owners live in an area of the country blessed with months more summer even after Labor Day has passed. In fact, some pool owners may not need to close their pools at all! The weather is temperate enough and they have a swimming pool heater so they can happily frolic for many more months than most.
If, however, you live in an area of the country in which Labor Day signals the “end of summer.” You will be looking to set up an appointment with your swimming pool contractor to get the pool zipped up for the season.
Preparing To Close The Pool For The Season
Closing the pool, for some, is inevitable and we don’t want to make light of the sadness you may feel when you have to make that call and watch your swimming pool contractor clean the pool, dump in the chemicals and put the winter cover on. You know summer is well and truly over and that it will be many months before you don a suit and host a pool party again.
In this article we will show you why closing your swimming pool properly for the season can protect it all winter and make the spring pool opening easier and quicker!
You don’t have to give up the outdoors!
Just because your swimming pool is closed for the season doesn’t mean you have to completely bid the outdoors adieu. The outdoor living space can afford you a wonderful place to sit and enjoy time with your family. This is especially true if you have a fire feature or heaters. A gazebo or a pavilion or a pool house and an outdoor kitchen help extend the time you spend poolside — even if the pool is closed.
Families who have a hot tub or spa understand that they can use that year-round. If you miss spending time in the water in the winter or when the pool has been closed, ask us about where and how to have a hot tub or spa installed. Grab some warm, fuzzy blankets, make a batch of hot chocolate, toast some marshmallows and relax with friends and family.
Who will close the pool?
Closing the pool can be a DIY task, if you know what you’re doing and understand how to do it properly. Even if you care for your pool yourself during swim season, it doesn’t mean you can’t call a local pool contractor and ask for his help with closing the pool and even opening it in the spring.
The benefit of using a swimming pool contractor to close your pool is that he understands the gravity and the necessity of a proper swimming pool closing. The chore includes:
- Balancing the pool chemicals
- Adjusting water levels
- Draining the plumbing
- Covering the pool properly
- And more.
Here are pool closing steps & reasons for it
- The biggest risk to a swimming pool in the winter is from frozen water. If the water freezes it can crack and damage pool equipment including the filters, pumps and skimmer baskets. Frozen equipment may lead to your needing to have it repaired or replaced and this could be costly. A proper pool closing will assure water is drained from all equipment.
- The pool will be thoroughly cleaned prior to closing. Walls and floor brushed downed, vacuumed — the whole deal.
- To prevent any discoloration of the structure, corrosion of the equipment or scale or calcium build-up, water chemistry will be addressed. Winterization chemicals will also be added to the water once the pool water level is dropped a few inches.
- The pool filter will be removed, cleaned and stored for the season. Water will be drained from the plumbing to prevent freezing and cracking.
- The cover will be put in place once the pool is cleaned and floats are added to assure the water won’t freeze and damage the structure. Floats keep the cover from falling into the pool if there is a lot of rainwater or any ice build-up. NOTE: You will want to remove standing water from the pool cover when there is a break in the weather so the water doesn’t damage the cover.
Give your pool contractor a call today and determine when you want to close the pool for the season. You may want to look at the extended weather forecast and not go soley by the date for a pool closing. If the weather cooperates, you shouldn’t have to give up pool fun!