Your pool is closed and covered, but winter care is not quite over. A few quick check-ins between now and spring help protect your equipment and make opening day far easier. Here is a simple winter routine for a closed pool.
Check the cover every few weeks
- Remove standing water and heavy snow from a solid cover so it does not stretch or tear.
- Clear leaves and debris; they break down into stains and algae food if they reach the water.
- Make sure water bags, straps or anchors are still secure after windy storms.
Protect the plumbing from freezing
Frozen water in the lines and skimmer is one of the most expensive winter problems for pool owners. If you have not already, blow out the lines and plug them, and protect the skimmer with an expansion device.
- Splash Pool & Spa Antifreeze for plumbing lines, with return-line winterizing plug and drain plug included
- Omega Swimming Pool Antifreeze, 1 gallon
- Gizzmo Skimmer Freeze Protection Combo to absorb ice expansion in the skimmer
Keep the water cleaner until spring
A winterizing treatment under the cover keeps working through the off-season so you open to clearer water.
- AquaPill WinterPill floats under the cover and treats up to 30,000 gallons
- Omega Liquid Winterizer, 1 gallon
- Natural Chemistry Pool Opening and Closing Kit
Watch the water level
Heavy rain and snow melt can raise the water level under the cover. If it rises close to the skimmer, lower it so ice cannot damage the tile or skimmer. Follow your cover and equipment manufacturer's guidance.
Plan ahead for opening day
Note any problems you see over the winter, such as cover damage or leaks, so you can plan repairs early. When it is time to open, test the water first with My Garden Pool 7-in-1 test strips and shock as needed with DryTec 5 lb pool shock.
New to closing a pool? Read our step-by-step pool closing guide and our pool closing checklist. Shop everything in our pool winterizing collection. Orders over $50 ship free.