Preparing Your Pool For The Winter

Updated 8/18/2023

As the weather starts to cool down, it’s important to start thinking about winter pool maintenance. If you have an above ground pool, there are a few things you can do to make sure it stays in good condition during the winter months. 

Maintaining your pool is a year-round job, and it’s especially important to give it some TLC before the cold winter months. We’ve put together our best winter pool maintenance tips to keep your pool in tip-top shape during the winter.

Do you have specific winter pool care questions? Get answers from our pool maintenance pros!

• Winter Pool Maintenance Tips For Pool Covers
• Winter Maintenance Tips for Swimming Pool Pumps and Filters
• Pool Chemistry During the Winter
• Winter Pool Water Level Tips
• Winter Pool Maintenance Tips for Pool Floats, Toys & Accessories
• Other Winter Pool Care Tips & FAQs

Winter Pool Maintenance Tips: Pool Covers

Your swimming pool cover is one of your most important winter pool maintenance tools. It protects your pool from the weather, dirt, debris, animals, and more. 

Overall, a properly fitted and secured cover will make for a much easier pool opening come springtime. Therefore, it deserves your attention throughout the winter season. 

Let’s take a look at how you can properly care for your pool cover, starting from when you close your pool all the way to reopening.

Clean the cover.

When you close your pool for the winter season, take time to clean your cover thoroughly. Remove any dirt, leaves, and other debris that may have accumulated over the summer. 

Once the cover is clean, dry it off completely before putting it back over the pool. This will help to prevent mold and mildew from growing on the cover.

Securely attach the cover.

Make sure that your winter pool cover is securely attached. That means tight cables and secure cover clips. This will make sure it stays in place when the winter winds start to pick up.Check the cover regularly. 

During the winter, it’s important to check on your cover regularly to make sure that it’s still in place and in good condition. 

Look for any rips or tears and patch them up as soon as possible. You should also remove any snow or ice that may have accumulated on top of the cover. 

By taking these simple steps, you can help to extend the life of your above ground pool cover and ensure that it’s ready to do its job come springtime.

Use an air pillow. 

Winter air pillows help protect your pool from expanding ice and help promote even weight distribution. We recommend using one and checking to make sure it stays close to the center of your pool throughout the season for the best results. 

Winter Pool Maintenance Tips For Swimming Pool Pumps and Filter Systems

Another key part of winter pool maintenance is taking care of your pool pump and filter system and other important pool accessories. 

You’ll want to keep them clean and in tip-top shape so you’re ready to open your pool once the weather warms up. This is especially important for above ground pools, as the pump and filter are essential for keeping the water clean and circulating properly. 

By taking care of your pool pumps and filters during the off-season, you can ensure that everything will be ready for a fun and relaxing summer.

Review the instructions.

Review all manufacturer guidelines for winter storage and maintenance. 

Every pool part and accessory is a little different. As you’re closing your pool for the season, take some time to review your product manuals to make sure you’re following recommendations for your specific filter, pump, etc. 

Perform maintenance tasks as recommended by the manufacturer. Add them to your calendar and set up alerts so you don’t forget.

Drain the water from your equipment.

Drain the water from the pump, filter, and pool heater. Any excess water in these parts can freeze, cause cracked pipes, and cost you a lot of money in the long run. 

Check pool equipment & keep it clean.

Check your pool equipment periodically throughout the season. This helps
make sure everything is working properly and that there are no big, immediate problems to address before the pool season starts again. 

Look for cracks, leaks, rust, corrosion, and other warning signs.

Dirt, debris, and contaminants can still make their way into your pool when it’s closed. With that in mind, follow guidelines regarding backwashing your pool, checking the filter gauge, emptying skimmer baskets, and more. 

Keeping things clean and tidy will make your pool opening a lot smoother in the spring. 

Work with a pool professional.

Contact your local pool professional for winter maintenance assistance. It’s generally good practice to have a pool professional look things over at least once a year. 

They can help you properly close your pool for the season, provide insights into repairs and replacement parts if needed, and give you peace of mind as you head into the winter season. 

Winter Pool Maintenance Tips for Pool Chemistry

Even though you may not be using your pool, the water still needs to be properly maintained. Otherwise, you’ll be in for a nasty surprise come springtime! 

Don’t neglect your water chemistry this winter — a little bit of effort now will pay off big time when it’s time to open your pool again. Water chemistry isn’t hard, and it’s an important part of protecting your above ground swimming pool, even during the winter!

Keeping your calcium hardness, pH, alkalinity, and other chemical levels balanced will make for an easier pool opening process in the spring and prevent damage to your equipment and pool liner.

Check levels regularly.

Check your pool chemistry at least every two months when not in use. This will help cut down on algae and bacteria growth that can lead to staining on your vinyl pool liner and other damage to your above ground pool. 

Keep safety top of mind.

Follow all safety precautions when using chemicals. Your pool chemicals can be dangerous if not handled properly. 

• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves and goggles
• Store chemicals properly
• Keep chemicals away from children and pets
• Follow all manufacturer instructions

Check expiration dates. 

Pool chemicals lose their potency over time, so you’ll want to pitch any old ones. Generally, you don’t want to use chemicals that are more than a year old.

Use the right chemicals.

Using the right mix of chemicals for the winter will help break down contaminants, prevent buildup and water rings, and you’ll have less scrubbing to do when you open your pool in the spring.

Our winterizing kit includes a non-chlorine shock oxidizer, winter stain & scale, and winterizing powder specifically designed to protect your pool from algae growth over the winter months.

Winter Pool Maintenance Tips for Water Level

Your water level is an important thing to keep an eye on during the winter months. The proper level depends on where you live. 

• If you live in a warmer climate, like the South, that doesn’t experience freezing temperatures, your swimming pool can stay almost full through the winter months. 
• If you live in a colder climate, the pool water level should be just below the skimmer, about 4-6 inches for the winter.
• Don’t completely drain your above ground pool during the winter months. You could risk damaging your liner and causing structural damage to your pool.

Winter Pool Maintenance Tips for Pool Toys & Accessories

If you don’t take care of your pool and pool toys, they won’t last until next season. It’s crucial to properly store your pool toys and floats so they don’t become brittle or damaged.

Clean all toys.

Clean all pool toys thoroughly. You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding cleaning your pool toys. 

Generally a multi-purpose disinfectant, vinegar, and water mixture, or good old soap and water are good ways to clean them. 

This will remove any dirt or grime that could cause them to deteriorate. Plus, gentle scrubbing provides a great opportunity to inspect toys and floats for damage. 

Don’t put them away wet.

Let them dry fully before storing them away. You don’t want to put floats and toys away wet, or it could promote mold and mildew growth. 

Give them enough time to dry before storing them for the winter. 

Store them properly.

We recommend storing your pool toys and accessories in a plastic storage bin in your garage, basement, or shed. 

This will keep them safe from pests, moisture, kids, and other debris but leave them easily accessible when you’re ready to use them again the following summer. 

General Winter Pool Maintenance Tips

Winter pool maintenance goes beyond just taking care of your pool. It also includes taking care of your yard, keeping everything organized, and being an involved pool owner even when you’re not using your pool regularly.

Here are a few general winter pool care tips to keep in mind. 

Keep your yard and patio area clear. 

A clean yard and deck area helps minimize accidental damage to your pool, especially when the winter winds pick up. 

Rake the leaves, trim branches, and move your patio furniture into storage. You want to minimize anything that could fall or get blown into your pool and cause damage during the winter. 

Get organized. 

The winter off-season is the perfect time to take stock of all your pool equipment, parts, toys, floats, and accessories and get organized. 

After you’ve reviewed them, organize your product manuals and guides into handy binders, label all your storage bins, and start a list of any products you still might need or need to replace before next year. 

Organizing everything now will make the summer season a breeze! Plus, you won’t run into any surprises when opening your pool. 

Order your pool parts and accessories. 

Summer is a very busy time for pool companies like Linerworld. The last thing you want is to delay opening your pool because the part or accessory you need is sold out. That’s why the off-season is a great opportunity to stock up on everything you’ll need for the upcoming pool season. That way, you’re ready to go as soon as the weather is warm with no delays!

By following these simple tips, you can be sure that your above ground or inground pool will be ready for use come springtime!

Shop LinerWorld Winter Pool Products Now! 

• In-ground Winter Pool Cover 
• Above Ground Winter Pool Cover
• Winter Pool Air Pillow
• Swimming Pool Winterizing Kit