Freezing winters call for countless hours near the fire with a book, for innumerable cups of hot chocolate, and snowmen and snowballs. But do you know what else winter calls for? Winterizing your swimming pools, that's what! 

If you live in Greenville, AL, or anywhere else in the Montgomery Metropolitan Area, closing your pool appropriately before the off-season is essential to save it from costly renovations and repairs. In this blog, we will give you important tips to close your pool for the no-swim season.

Start the Process a Week Before

The process of winterizing or closing your swimming pool has to start a week before because pool closing does not only mean installing a pool cover. There are many more steps to closing a pool. It would be best to start the preparations, clean, skim, vacuum, and test the water before closing. That said, do not close too early, as it might make your pool more susceptible to algae blooms. Wait for the temperatures to go below 65 degrees Fahrenheit before closing. 

Balance the Pool Chemistry

Ensuring that the pool water is balanced and none of the chemicals are at an abnormal level is one of the crucial steps of closing your pool. Get a test kit to examine your pool water. 

• Measure the pH level, which indicates the acidity of the pool water. Your pool should have a pH level of around 7.2 to 7.6. 
• Measure the alkalinity of your pool. Ideally, it should be somewhere between 80 to 120 PPM.
• Too high or low calcium levels can negatively impact your pool water. Therefore, keep an eye on the calcium level, too; it should be between 100 and 400 PPM. 

Shock the Pool

Do not forget to give your pool a shock treatment before closing—shocking simply means chlorinating your pool. As chlorine prevents algae and bacteria, it is a must to keep its level in check. Shock a few days before the final closing day and wait for the reading to drop back to normal, which is 1-3 ppm. Shocking will ensure that you do not get shocked by a nasty, cloudy-green pool when you open it!

Regularly Clean the Pool Cover 

Once you are through with all the winterizing steps, you will cover your pool with a high-quality pool cover. Does your responsibility end there? Not entirely. Throughout the off-season, regularly remove leaves and debris from the cover. If not done, the dirty water will collect over your pool, permeate through the leaves, and enter your pool. To avoid this, carefully sweep all the leaf litter and debris. 

If you want a crystal, clear water, and cleaner pool when you open it, you can depend on the professionals to properly winterize or close your pool. At Water and Pool Solutions, we offer a wide range of pool-related services to pool owners in Greenville or anywhere in the River Region area, including pool leaks detection and repairs, hot tub/jacuzzi maintenance and repair, sand changes, and more. If you want our experienced helping hand to close your pool, call Water and Pool Solutions at (334) 264-2700 or contact us online.