How should I prepare to winterize my in ground swimming pool?

04 Sep How should I prepare to winterize my in ground swimming pool?

by Tony Smith, Residential Service Director for Platinum Pool

With Labor Day in the rear-view mirror, most pool owners are now wondering what they should do to prepare their swimming pools for the winter.  Improperly winterized swimming pools can cause thousands, if not tens of thousands of damage, and even pools that are winterized by professional swimming pool service companies can benefit from some preparation by the swimming pool owner.  Here is a short checklist that every pool owner should employ before their pool is put to bed for the winter:

• If you are on a weekly maintenance program, it is wise to continue having your pool cleaned right up until the time of closing.  This helps prevent the pool surface and surrounding elements like coping, decks, etc. from sustaining stains from leaves and organic debris.
• If you have a winter cover, make sure that the cover is readily available for the service company to re-install.
• Make sure that you have all of your winterization plugs available.  Most of the serious damage caused to swimming pools is from improper winterization of the plumbing lines, and having the plugs readily available and installed correctly is one of the keys to success.
• Closings for our company are scheduled on first come first served basis, so don’t ignore the paperwork when received.  You don’t want to have your pool sitting and non-functional if you can avoid it, because this is when issues can arise.
• Make sure your account is current prior to scheduling the closing to ensure your position on the calendar.
• Always let the service company know the desired storage location on your property for  ladders and equipment.  This will ensure tidy and organized storage, and will ensure that the equipment doesn’t incur any damage over the winter.
• Make sure the service company has clear and easy access to shut off the fresh water supply line that fills the pool.  This is a crucial step that can prevent unwanted damage to your plumbing and drywall inside the house. 

Don’t forget to use this checklist to ensure that when Old Man Winter releases his grip on us , you will have slept easy through the dreary winter knowing that you have made the proper preparations to make your pool opening that much smoother next Spring.