POOL WINTERIZING INSTRUCTIONS

TASK CHECKLIST

1. Clean the Filter
2. Remove the Deck Equipment
3. Clean the Pool
4. Lower the Water Level
5. Apply Chemicals
6. Freeze Proof Equipment & Plumbing Lines
7. Put on the Winter Cover
8. Things to Check Over The Winter Months

Note: Store all small items like drain plugs, site glasses, baskets, etc. in a safe place where you will be able to find them when opening your pool next season.

CLEAN THE FILTER

• Clean the sand filter the week before closing the pool using a recommended Filter Cleaner.
• Clean the D.E. or cartridge filter after closing the pool following the manufacturers instructions.

REMOVE THE DECK EQIPMENT

• Remove the ladder and safety line.
• Remove drop-in steps (if applicable) while the water is still warm since you will have to get into the pool to remove the sand bags used to weight it down.
• Diving boards and slides can be left on the pool over the winter, but should be cleaned and wrapped with builders plastic.

Note: When removing inground pool ladders ensure that the liner protection bumpers on the ends of the rails that rest against the liner do not fall off or you will damage your liner.

CLEAN THE POOL

• Clean out the skimmer basket and the pump’s hair trap.
• Brush and vacuum the pool with the filter dial valve set to the drain or waste position.
• Remove any dirt and debris that is on the walls and resting on the liner.

LOWER THE WATER LEVEL

• If you have a sump well, it is important to drain any water in the sump well before lowering your pool water level 24 hours in advance. Make sure to frequently check the sump well after closing, and empty when water is present to prevent damage to your liner.
• For inground pools, set the suction line control valve to draw water only from the designated vacuum line or if your pool has one from the main drain.
• While draining the water set the dial valve to backwash for 5 minutes, then set it to the drain or waste position.
• For lock in covers drain to 15” below the coping. For water bag, safety covers, and above ground covers drain to 18” below the coping or top rails.
• If you do not have a suction control valve use your vacuum or a submersible pump to lower the water.

Note: For those living in municipalities with pool water discharge restrictions, pool owners will need to discharge water through their home waste water system (pumped through a hose down into their laundry tub drain for example) or slowly out to an area of the street that is permitted.

APPLY CHEMICALS

This chemical treatment is based on pools that are approximately 100,000 L, for larger or smaller pools, please adjust accordingly. Treatments should begin the week before closing and with the filtration system running.

DAY	CHEMICAL DOSAGE
3 Days Before Closing	Add: 1 L of Concentrated Clarifier as per manufacturers instructions
Night Before Closing	Check the P.H. and adjust if necessary to 7.2 Superchlorinate with .454 kg (1-2 pouches depending on pool size, pre-mixed in a pail of water) of HTH Extra (Granular Unstabilized Chlorine) or 10 – 20 L of Liquid Chlorine as per manufacturers instructions
Day of Closing	Apply 1 L Cop Out Stain & Scale Control Immediately after adding Cop Out Stain & Scale, add 1 L of Wham-O Concentrated Algaecide 2 hours before turning the filter off, add 1 kg of Brite Plus Oxidizer

FREEZE PROOF EQUIPMENT & PLUMBING LINES

Next, you’ll need to winterize all of your pool equipment including: pump, filter, heater, chlorine/salt system, skimmer and heater. All these items should be drained of any water. Plugs, pressure gauges, pump and skimmer baskets and return fitting eyeballs should also be removed and put in one place so that you don’t lose them when you go to open the pool in the Spring.
PLUMBING LINES

• All the plumbing lines are then blown out with an air blower to ensure all water is removed (both skimmer and return lines).
• Skimmer, return and suction side lines (if present) are plugged/sealed using winter plug kits and Gizzmos for the skimmer.

FILTER & PUMP

• Set and leave the pointer on the dial valve to the winterize position or if your valve does not have this feature set the pointer between any two positions.
• For Cartridge filters, open air release valve on top of the filter.
• Remove and store the drain cap at the base of the filter tank, the pressure gauge and site glass (if applicable).
• Remove and store the drain plugs from the wet end of the pump.
• Ensure all water is drained from both the filter and the pump.

LIGHTS

• Some Inground and Onground lights should be weighted, placed in a bag and lowered into the pool to be below the freeze line. These lights have niche’s and a coiled wire in behind where you can remove the light.
  If your light is sealed, then you do not need to remove the light.
• Above Ground lights should be removed for storage and the opening in the pool wall closed with a rubber expansion plug.

HEATER

• Turn off the main gas supply valve to the heater, outside the heater jacket.
• Shut down the heater following the shutdown instructions found on the inside of the heater.
• Remove the drain plugs from the return side header, loosen the drain plug from the inlet/outlet side header, and completely drain the heater.
• Use compressed air to blow out any standing water remaining in the heat exchanger.
• Grease the threads on the drain plugs and reinstall plugs, but do not tighten.
• Disconnect the pressure switch from the siphon tube (copper tubing).

Your professional pool heater service technician can provide that service for you. If you choose to do so yourself, please be sure to carefully follow all of the manufacturers instructions outlined in your owners manual.
Note: The heater must be completely drained prior to the first frost. Serious damage to the heater is likely if water freezes inside the heater and piping.

SKIMMERS
INGROUND & ONGROUND

• Remove and store the basket and floating weir.
• Insert about 3 ft of foam rope down the hole in the bottom of the skimmer, doubling the top end onto itself for easy removal in the spring or add pool antifreeze as per manufacturers instructions.
• Thread a Gizzmo into this same opening.
• For pools with 2 unplugged openings in the bottom of the skimmer install the foam rope and Gizzmo in the rear hole and foam rope and winterizing plug in the forward hole.

ABOVE GROUND

• Remove and store the basket and floating weir.
• Disconnect the hoses from the skimmer and from the return wall fitting.
• Leave the hole at the bottom of the skimmer open and disconnect the pipe from the front of the pump to prevent ice damage.

SALT WATER GENERATORS
ZODIAC LM SERIES

• Turn off power to the salt system.
• Remove the cell by unthreading the quick-disconnect unions and removing the three lead wires from cell. Inspect the cell and clean it if necessary.
  See your owners manual for cleaning instructions.
• Coil the wires and wrap them in a plastic bag to prevent corrosion over the winter. Tape the bag to the power pack.
• Insert expandable plugs into the upright plumbing lines where the cell was connected.
• Store the cell indoors. The power pack can remain outdoors for the winter.

ZODIAC DUO CLEAR SERIES

• Turn off power & disconnect the electrode plug.
• Coil the electrode cord and wrap it in a plastic bag.
• Tape the bag to the power pack.

If the vessel is installed with unions:

• Unscrew the unions and remove and store the vessel.
• Seal exposed pipes with expandable plugs.
• Discard the used Nature2 cartridge.

If the vessel is glued to the pipe:

• Leave the vessel on the line for the winter.
• Leave the cartridge and electrode inside the vessel for the winter.

HAYWARD AQUA RITE

• Turn off power to the salt system.
• Remove the cell by unthreading the quick-disconnect unions and removing the three lead wires from cell.
• Inspect the cell and clean it if necessary. See your owners manual for cleaning instructions.
• Insert expandable plugs into the plumbing lines where the cell was connected.
• Disconnect the salt cell wire from the power pack. Store the cell indoors. The power pack can remain outdoors for the winter.

AUTOMATIC CHLORINATOR/BROMINATOR DISPENSERS
IN-LINE PERMANENTLY INSTALLED

• Remove cover and drain plug, drain all water from chlorinator. Carefully remove undissolved tablets, and rinse out chlorinator thoroughly with water. Replace cover and drain plug.

OFF-LINE

• Remove cover, carefully remove undissolved tablets.
• Disconnect the unit at the inlet and outlet.
• Turn it upside down, for several minutes to remove water.
• Once water is out reinstall the unit.

Note: Remember, remaining water will be concentrated chlorine.

PUT ON THE WINTER COVER

Finally, the pool is covered with the winter cover.
SAFETY COVER

• Unfold the cover and spread out over the pool from shallow end back out over the deep end, and then the springs and straps are affixed to the anchors around the pool deck.

LOCK-IN VINYL WINTER COVER

• Remove cover from the storage pail. Place the step cover over the step area (if present) and the unfold the winter cover length-wise across one side of the pool and then pulled over. Swiftly lock in to the winter coping channel around the pool’s perimeter.

FABRENE COVER

• With a Fabrene tarp cover and water bags, the water bags should first be unfolded, and filled with water, then be placed around the pool’s perimeter where they will secure the cover in place. The cover is then folded length-wise across the one side of the pool, then pulled across the entire pool and secured in place with the water bags.

THINGS TO CHECK OVER THE WINTER MONTHS

• Please remember to empty and drain your sump well throughout the winter season after a melt or a heavy rainfall.
• Check the water level in the pool regularly over the Winter. If you are losing water, keep the pool topped up until the leak can be found and repaired next Spring.
• Drain excess water off the cover as it builds up.
• Remove leaves and debris from the cover during the fall. Use a pool leaf rake, not your leaf skimmer or it will damage it.

OVER 50 YEARS OF CREATING BACKYARD ESCAPES

Documents / Resources

BOLDT Pool Winterizing [pdf] Instruction Manual Pool Winterizing, Pool Winterizing, Winterizing

References

• User Manual