Winterizing your pool in warmer climates looks a bit different than getting your pool ready for icy conditions in other parts of the country.
What chemicals do i really need to close my pool.
Properly closing above ground pools protects them from debris and harsh winter weather.
Using borax to increase ph.
In most parts of the country the inevitable end of summer s warm weather will arrive.
If you don t have any soda ash you can add borax to your pool to increase the ph.
This helps reduce the time and money needed to open your pool in the spring.
You might ask knowledgeable neighbors with similar pools and pump filter systems or at a pool supply in you area.
If you want the most accurate results possible you can also take a water sample to your local pool store and have them test it for you.
If your ph levels get too high you can lower them by using sodium bisulfate or muriatic acid.
Weird first sentence for this article but it s true.
Make sure to get your water tested by a pool professional so you can put the correct chemicals in your pool as well as the precise amount.
Maintaining your winter pool chemicals is important whether you use your pool during the colder times of the year or not because leaves and other debris which fall into your pool affect your ph levels.
And unless you re a polar bear you ll want to close your pool until the spring.
Before you do anything else clean your pool.
You really only need one chemical algaecide to properly winterize a swimming pool.
Add 1 day before closing the pool.
This will help kick up any sediment hanging around as well as disturb the beginnings of any algae spores.
Close the pool a few weeks before the weather turns cold to ensure it s well protected from possible freeze damage when depends on your weather zone.
You can close your pool once the temperature of the water remains consistently below 65 f.
Add 2 days before closing the pool.
What pool closing chemicals do you need.
You do not need a pool winterizing kit.
Keep in mind that the procedure for closing your pool for the season differs greatly from standard pool maintenance.
Pour into the pool just before covering.
It is recommended to use a winter cover and 99 of pool owners who have their pool winterized do cover the pool for winter.
Use a pool brush attached to a telescoping pole to scrub your pool walls and floor getting into the nooks and crannies as best you can.
Chlorine free pool shock.
Properly closing your pool for the winter saves a lot of time and money when you reopen it in the spring.
Your goal is a ph between 7 4 and 7 6 and alkalinity between 100 parts per million ppm and 150 ppm with 125 ppm being ideal.
You can test the water yourself with test strips or a water testing kit for a little more accuracy.
However if you want to close the pool but keep it uncovered all winter or if you need to delay purchasing a new cover until next fall here are the steps we took to do it for our customer above.
Add 20 ounces of borax for every 5 000 gallons of water to increase your ph by 0 5.