When Should You Close Your Pool?
The end of the summer means that most people must temporarily say goodbye to their swimming pools. This is a hard pill to swallow, especially when you must worry about winterizing your pool in time. So, when should you close your pool?
You must close your pool in September or October in most climates, or at least before temperatures fall to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to drain the water until it sits 4” to 6” below the skimmer line, or else the pipes may freeze and crack. Never drain all the water from an in-ground pool, or else the hydrostatic pressure will damage the walls and floor.
Many people run their pool filters for 3 hours per day during winter. Follow along as we explore when you should close a pool and highlight what you can expect from the process.
What Month Should You Close Your Pool?
Most homeowners close their pools sometime between September and October. It ultimately depends on how the climate is where you live. Pool contractors and experts suggest that you close your pool once the temperature drops below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
After all, you won’t likely want to swim at all once the temperature drops that low. However, you can keep your pool open longer if you have a pool heater. It’s still a good idea to close your pool by October if you have a pool heater and live in an area with cold falls and winters.
Labor Day typically marks the time that most people close their pools. It may be easier to get an appointment to close your pool if you reach out to your pool service before then.
How Much Does It Cost To Close A Pool?
It costs an average of $250 to close a swimming pool. You can expect to pay closer to $400 or more if you must close a pool and hot tub. Winterizing a pool is a simple process, but it can take a while depending on how big your pool is.
The pool contractor must lower the water level, treat the pool with chemicals, and winterize the equipment. If you have a hot tub, they must likely drain all the water from it until the next season. You may be able to lower the overall pool closing costs if you do some of the work for yourself.
For example, you can drain water from the pool to speed up the winterization process. Ideally, you should drain the water until it’s 4” to 6” below the skimmer. This can take a while depending on how big your pool is, so try to be patient.
How Much Do Pool Covers Cost?
In-ground pool covers cost between $800 and $3,000, but it varies by the size of the cover and the material it’s made of. Covers for above-ground pools are often quite cheap and cost as little as $180. In-ground pool covers are much pricier because of the size differences.
For example, a standard 12’ x 20’ in-ground pool cover costs at least $950. Today, walkable pool covers are quite popular for homeowners with kids and pets. It lets you walk across the surface without falling into the pool, and one costs between $500 and $2,300.
Automatic pool covers are the most expensive and cost $20,000, on average, between materials and installation fees. The price ultimately depends on the type of track system that is needed for the automatic pool cover. You can save money if you buy a simple solar pool cover for $90 to $200 and install it yourself.
What Happens If You Don’t Close Your Pool For The Winter?
Your pool can suffer severe damage if you don’t close and winterize it. That’s especially true if you don’t drain water from your pool. Eventually, the water will freeze and put a lot of pressure on the pipes and filter system.
Water expands when it freezes, and this can cause the pipes and filter to suffer damage or break altogether. Cracks can form in the pumps, filters, and pipes that you must repair before you open your pool again for the season. It costs up to $1,500 to repair cracked pipes in a swimming pool, so it’s worth it to winterize your pool.
Your pool will also likely become full of debris, such as fallen leaves and twigs. It’s also worth noting that an empty, uncovered pool is a safety hazard. Someone could get quite hurt if they fall into the pool with no water to cushion the blow.
How Do You Winterize A Pool Without Draining It?
You can winterize a pool without draining it completely, but ideally, you should drain at least some of the water. Try to drain the water at least 4” below the skimmer if you don't want to drain all the water from your pool. Once you’ve done that, you must clean the pool to prevent harmful bacteria and algae from thriving underneath the cover.
Carefully brush the walls and floor of your pool in the days or weeks before closing it. It’s also a great idea to vacuum your pool to remove stubborn stains. Test and treat the water until the alkalinity is at 80 to 120 ppm with a pH level of 7.4 to 7.6.
Next, you must t reat the water with shock and chlorine until the chlorine level reaches 2 to 4 ppm. This will help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria after you close your pool. It’s important to drain the pool's pump and filter if you don’t plan to drain the rest. Otherwise, there’s a good chance that the pipes will freeze and even burst.
Should You Run The Filter When You Winterize A Pool?
Ideally, you should run the filter briefly each day after you winterize your pool. This helps protect the filter from freezing, and it keeps the water healthy. Luckily, many modern pool filters have “winter” modes that automatically run for up to 3 hours per day in the winter.
Set your filter to “winter” if it has that setting. Otherwise, you must manually turn the filter on for up to 3 hours each day during the winter. It helps to set a timer, so you don’t forget that the filter is running. That said, many people don’t run their pool filters at all during winter.
That is fine for many pools and filter systems, but it varies. For example, it’s a bad idea to stop running the filter if you didn’t do a good job winterizing the pool.
Can I Leave My In-Ground Pool Empty?
It’s not a good idea to leave an in-ground pool completely empty because of hydrostatic pressure. In-ground pools are surrounded by tons of pressure from the soil and ground in which they are encased. When a pool is empty, it can have difficulty withstanding the surrounding pressure.
This can cause cracks to form in the walls and floor of your swimming pool. That’s why professionals never recommend that you drain all the water from an in-ground pool when you close it. Simply drain enough water to sit right below the skimmer line.
Summing It Up
Ideally, you should close your pool between September and October to avoid freezing temperatures. Otherwise, your pool’s pipes, pump, and filter can freeze, crack, and burst from the pressure. You can expect to spend between $250 and $400 to close a pool.
Related Guides:
Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
More by Nick Durante
