Before You Close Your Pool This Fall, Be Sure to Take These Important Steps

Now that it’s officially fall and the weather is getting cooler, you are probably preparing to close your pool for the winter. Generally, the best time to make this transition is when the water temperature is consistently below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Microorganisms and algae become dormant at this stage, so the chemicals that you add will keep the water clean throughout the colder months.

While it’s always sad when swimming season comes to an end, it is essential to take a few key steps when closing your pool in order to ensure an easy opening in the springtime. And it’s more than just a matter of convenience—skipping these steps could cause costly damage to the pool’s structure and equipment. At Aqua Pool & Patio, here are the most important steps that we recommend:

• Get the water tested two weeks before you plan to close your pool. This will allow you to gauge how much of each chemical needs to be added in order to keep your pool’s water clean throughout the winter. Aqua Pool offers free water testing using specialized software that more accurately measures chemical levels than any store-bought strips. Simply bring a sample of your pool water to our East Windsor headquarters and we will offer guidance on which chemicals you need! Aqua Pool will be closing our store on Saturdays (only) starting October 10^th. We are open all year with exception to the two weeks around Christmas and New Years.
• One week prior to closing, use a scale inhibiting product, such as BioGuard Scale Inhibitor. Without a scale inhibitor, a chemical reaction can cause scales to form on the surface of the pool when the water temperature drops. Using this product will prevent this from happening, making it easier to get your pool ready for swimming in the spring.
• Blow out the plumbing lines. If there is any water remaining in your plumbing lines, pump, or filter, fracturing could occur when the outside temperatures fall below freezing. Therefore, it’s essential to remove water by blowing out the lines. To avoid damaging the pool plumbing, it is best to leave this step to professional pool care experts, like our team.

These are just a few of the essential steps that must be taken before closing your pool for the winter. At Aqua Pool & Patio, our licensed professionals are here to assist you with the process, ensuring that your pool will remain safe, clean, and damage-free until you’re ready to open it in the spring. Visit https://www.aquapool.com/our-services/pool-maintenance/ to learn more about our pool maintenance services, or call us today at (860) 623-9886!