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Step 1. Clean Your Pool
Clean-up next Spring will be greatly reduced if your pool is thoroughly cleaned before closing it in the fall. Be sure to vacuum the bottom and skim the surface before proceeding to the next step. |
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Step 2. Balance Your Water
Balance the components of your pool the same way you maintain your pool during the swimming season. Bring your pH level to 7.2-7.6, alkalinity to 80-120 ppm and be sure your calcium hardness level is between 200-350 ppm. For more details regarding water chemistry, click here. |
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Step 3.
Shock Your Pool and Add Algaecide
In The Swim(R) Chlorine-Free Shock is recommended when closing a swimming pool. Chlorine-based pool shocks are not recommended for pools with vinyl liners because they may bleach or stain the liner. Winteriser Algaecide (included in In The Swim Winterizing Kits ) is recommended for preventative maintenance of algae growth over the winter months. Add the recommended dosage of algaecide and shock treatment while your pool filter is circulating the water. |
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Step 4.
Add In The Swim(R) Non-Chlorine Winterizing Kit
To make winterizing simple and economical, we suggest one of In The Swim's Winterizing Kits, available in 3 convenient sizes to fit your pool. Our kit comes complete with Winteriser Algaecide, Winterizing Stain-Away, Chlor-Free Shock and a float containing a non-chlorine oxidizer. (You may skip Step #3, if you're using a Winterizing Kit). |
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Step 5. Lower the Water Level
Lower the water level in your pool to 4-6 inches below the skimmer. In The Swim suggests taking all above-ground pool filter equipment indoors for the winter to prevent cracking from freezing water. In-ground pool filters require that the lines be drained, plugged and filled with anti-freeze. Be sure to follow manufacturer's guidelines and instructions for protecting your in-ground pool lines. |
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Step 6. Drain and Plug Your Lines (For In-Ground Pools Only)
In-ground pools require the lines to be drained, plugged, and filled with anti-freeze. First, the valves must be closed. The next step is to drain or blow out the lines. Plug them with In The Swim Winterizing Plugs . Proceed to fill the skimmer line with In The Swim Non-Toxic Anti-Freeze . In the Spring, In The Swim Anti-Freeze can be vacuumed out or drained into the pool since it is a non-toxic formula. Be sure to follow manufacturer guidelines and instructions for protecting in-ground pool lines.
Be sure to place an In The Swim Skimmer Guard into the skimmer to prevent costly damage from ice. The Skimmer Guard acts as an ice compensator, and will prevent your skimmer from cracking once the rain/snow water accumulates in the skimmer.
TIME-SAVING TIP - After you've drained your pool equipment and plugged all your lines, place all the drain plugs, return jet fittings, light screws, etc. into your skimmer basket. Store your skimmer basket filled with these items next to your other pool supplies over the winter and you won't have to look for them next Spring! |
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Step 7. Cover Your Pool
Taking the time to correctly cover your pool is the single most important step to opening a clean pool in the Spring.
Click here to learn more about winter covers from In The Swim. |