Winterization

That’s a Wrap.

That’s what a director says when filming for a movie is complete. Well, we’re not making a movie, but as the outdoor swim season in this area is effectively over, it’s a clever way to wrap up another great season of backyard pool fun. It’s time to put the pool to bed for the winter. I have some recommendations on how to proceed.

Step 1: Get a good cover.

Two quick stories. First, I remember many years ago a customer visited the store and asked me if I recommended replacing his several-year-old above ground winter cover. It turned out it had a few small pinholes and looked like it was fraying at the edge of the border that held the grommets. I suggested it would be wise to replace it, but he decided to save some bucks and did not do it. The next spring, he informed me he should have listened as during the winter, it ripped at the seam and dumped everything in the water. Rotting leaves, dirt, small branches, and a couple dead frogs.

Second story: I recently had a worker at my house to do a couple of odd jobs. He told me he gets a new winter cover on the internet every year and that he “usually” gets a full season out of one. He had one fail and dump muck and debris into the pool when a seam ripped out during a Christmas-season windstorm.

Two points: If you are questioning if you should replace your winter cover, you should! Also, with respect to on-line winter covers, if it’s not coming from a professional pool retailer, I would avoid it like the plague. There is a lot of junk out there. Naturally, if you live in this area, I encourage you to visit Eastgate Pools to get your winter cover. Their covers are definitely a few steps up the ladder from most internet offerings.

Step 2: Use the right winterization chemicals.

I see it far too often. People have a case of liquid pool shock left at the end of the season and right before the winter cover goes on it gets dumped in the pool. Don’t do it. Pool shock is a strong oxidizer and the gas-off needs to be free to go into the air. If you want to put shock in the water do so but wait about three days before putting the cover on. If you do it immediately you may damage the cover and weaken the seams.

I recommend using Eastgate Pools’ Maintain three-part winterization kit. We’ve been selling it since the 1980s because it works incredibly well and there is nothing in it to harm your cover. While there are other kits out there, most only have two chemicals. Maintain is different, and better for it. It contains:

A non-chlorine oxidizer that attacks organic contaminants. No gas off equals no cover damage.

A sequestering compound that locks up metals and minerals that could come out of solution and stain the liner. It also prevents calcium scaling.

A time-release algaecide that works early when the water temperature is still warm and, in the spring as it warms back up.

Properly applied to a pool that has been cleaned and the water properly balanced, use this kit and your pool water is likely to be clear when you remove the cover in the spring.

Step 3: Get a leaf net.

The hardest thing to do pre-opening is to remove leaves that dropped and spent months lying on the winter cover, rotting, and making a home for frogs and insects. Get rid of leaves as they fall and worry less about how you will take care of the mess at opening time. You need a leaf cover.

After putting the winter cover on your pool, install the leaf cover over it. As leaves fall, grab a friend or family member and peel the cover back. Leaves are easily flipped to the ground for cleanup. Then replace the leaf cover until there is another batch needing removal. When trees are finally bare, remove the leaf cover, let it dry, and store it in a sealed container for reuse next off season. Some people choose to leave it on for the duration of the winter, but that shortens its multiple-year life span.

Bonus suggestion: Get a cover pump.

It is important to remove most of the water that accumulates on top of the winter cover. There are many options and your Eastgate Pools professional can help you select one that does the job and fits your budget.

In short …

We hate to see pools closed for the winter but a proper pool closing makes spring pool opening an even happier time than it already is.