As the seasons shift and colder days approach, it's essential to know how to properly close an above-ground pool. This vital process ensures your pool's well-being during the dormant months and sets the stage for a seamless reopening when the warmer weather returns. 


Dive into our guide on effectively closing your above-ground pool to safeguard your investment and simplify the transition to the next swimming season.

Why It’s Important to Close Your Pool Properly


Improperly closing your pool can lead to practically incurable imbalanced water and ice damage to your pool’s frame, a costly mistake. 


Taking the time to properly close a pool is extremely important for us New Englanders with harsh winters to protect from both winter damage, as well as making for a cleaner transition into spring. It’s a process that can relieve a lot of future stress and set you up for pool opening success, so it’s essential you know how to close your pool.


There are several important components to closing your pool correctly and properly caring for your investment.

When to Close Your Pool for the Winter


When temperatures regularly fall below 65°F, it’s time to officially close your pool for the season; this may be sometime in September for our friends in Maine and New Hampshire and around October for folks in southern New England.


It is extremely important to run your filter and chlorinate your pool until closure, even if you’re not using it, making closing your pool down for the season an easier task and preventing your water from turning for the worse before final closure.

How to Close Your Above-ground Pool in 10 Steps


Step 1: Deep Clean
Do one last deep clean of your above-ground pool before winterizing; vacuum, brush down the interior, and skim any debris lingering on the surface. 


This will prep your water for a final balance before winterizing and prevent the growth of algae, mold, and other assailants that can grow over the winter, creating stains in your pool and causing water-balancing disasters when the season turns kind once more.

Step 2: Balance your Water
Balancing your water before closure helps make sure your pool is as prepared as possible to stand up to harsh winter conditions. Properly balancing your water ahead of the winter time optimizes the efficacy of your winter pool chemicals.


Test your pool water after cleaning to create a baseline. You can bring your water to one of our Namco Pools locations to test or purchase test strips of your own. Once you know where your pool chemistry stands:

  • Balance the water, adjusting the pH to 7.2 - 7.6,
  • Alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm, and
  • Calcium hardness between 200 and 350 ppm.
  • Shock your pool with Pool Breeze Granular Shock or 12.5% Liquid Shock two days prior to closing. 

Do not cover the pool if there is still chlorine in the pool, as this will harm the cover.

Step 3: Add Winterizing Chemicals
Winterizing chemicals keep your pool algae-free and help your pool hold up to the elements. To make that process easier, Namco Pools offers an all-in-one pool closing kit with Blue Shield winterizing products. 


The day before you are going to close your pool, add Blue Shield winterizer and winter tabs. Be sure to follow dosage charts carefully. 

  • Pour the winterizer directly into the pool and tie the winter tab dispensers securely in place so they do not touch or close to the pool liner (approximately 10-12” down into the water).
  • Do not tie the winter tabs to the ice equalizer pillow(s).
  • Use a separate rope.
  • For best results, run the filter for 4-8 hours after application.

 

Step 4: Add Pump Protector
Apply Blue Shield Liquid Pump Protector through the skimmer. Let the pump run for 10 seconds, then shut off the pump and let it sit for at least one hour. This will provide protection against pump corrosion and lubricate the interior seals to prevent them from drying and cracking from pool chemicals.


We strongly recommend sealing off the return and skimmer to your pool. If you simply reduce the water level, you are leaving your return and skimmer at risk of ice damage, especially if we have a precipitation-filled winter that causes your water level to rise. 

Step 5: Protect Your Return and Skimmer
To protect your pool and offer some peace of mind, remove the return fitting eyeball and plug it with a winter return plug. 


Seal the skimmer opening with a skimmer plug. Make sure to get the correct size skimmer plug, as size can vary by pool.

Step 6: Prepare Your Filter for Hibernation
To prepare your filter for the winter ahead, first, disconnect all filter hoses. Drain and clean the filter and store it indoors. Namco Pools does not recommend leaving a filter outdoors during the winter, and any damage done will not be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. For Cartridge and DE Filters, soak the inside units in a filter cleaner for 24 hours before storing them for the winter. If ball valves are installed, leave them in the open position.

Step 7: Clear the Pool
Remove all articles from your swimming pool, such as the ladder, stairs, mats, over-the-wall skimmers, alarms, and lights, among others. Only winter tabs and the ice equalizer should be in the pool. Skim one last time to remove any remaining debris.

Step 8: Set Up Ice Equalizer Pillow
Blow up the ice equalizer pillow ¾ full using a shop or canister-type vacuum. Set the appropriate size ice equalizer in the center of the swimming pool and tie the ice equalizer in place to the side of the pool using a cover rope or attach it to the pool cover using the Pool Pillow Pal to prevent shifting during winter shutdown. 


Notably, most cover warranties are void unless the ice equalizer is used. The ice equalizer is designed to absorb the ice pressure, not to lift the cover-up. The ice equalizer will pop during most seasons due to ice pressure in the pool; this is normal.

Step 9: Cover the Pool
Be sure to purchase the right size cover for your pool. Secure the cover in place using cover clips, cable, and a locking winch or a combination of both. For areas with high wind, it is recommended to use a winter cover seal around the pool cover to stop wind damage to the pool cover. 


NOTE: Do not hang filled plastic bottles from the cover. These will tear the cover and void any cover warranty, putting added stress on your pool wall.


During the winter months, ongoing care for your pool remains essential. While your pool might not be in active use, it still requires attention to maintain its condition. Regularly remove leaves and debris, monitor water levels, and ensure the pool cover is secure. This proactive approach to winter pool care will contribute to a smooth reopening when spring arrives.