These are suggestions for closing above ground round and oval pools. These are guide-lines only and Poolmart & Spas accepts no responsibility for damage caused by inclement weather, improper winterization, normal deterioration, etc.

WINTERIZING - VINYL LINER ABOVE GROUND POOLS

Proper winterizing of your pool should save you hours of problems and headaches next spring if you take the time to do it right. There is no 100% guaranteed way to do it because we have no way to knowing what Mother Nature is going to throw at us in the next seven months. All we can really do is give it our best shot which, historically, has worked pretty well. Basically, the whole process is mostly common sense and a little water chemistry by your favorite pool store--Poolmart & Spas.

STEP 1: WATER BALANCE

Cold water absorbs minerals! So, if your water's calcium hardness and total alkalinity were a little low over the summer, you should get them up before the water really chills down. Remember, the only thing your water has to dissolve over the winter is your pool's liner or finish. The three things that must be done are A) Get the total alkalinity to at least 150, B) Get the pH as close to 7.5 as you can, and C) Get the calcium hardness close to at least 200. Bring a water sample into us for a FREE water analysis.

STEP 2: HOUSEKEEPING CHORES

Go to bed dirty and wake up in dirty! You want the pool as clean as possible before you put on the cover. Brush the walls and clean the “bathtub” ring around the water line with Proteam TILE/VINYL CLEANER. This is a special formulation for pools; DO NOT (repeat) DO NOT use household products such as "409", "Fantastic", or "Comet Cleaner" as they contain solvents that are not compatible with your pool water chemistry and may score, scratch and deteriorate your liner making it easier for grime to accumulate and dull your liner. Next, after everything has settled, vacuum the pool.

STEP 3: WINTERIZING KIT/CHEMICALS

With the filter running, sprinkle the "Rapid Shock" around the pool surface. If the water is below 70 degrees, you might pre-dissolve just as you did with Power Magic. Let this circulate for a couple of hours, then pour the "Winter Algaecide" around the edges of your pool. Let the pool circulate for a couple more hours before going to step 4. Optional: add POOL MAGIC + PHOSFREE SPRING & FALL to eliminate phosphate build-up, prevent waterline rings, and simply make for easier opening in the spring. If you have a sand filter, you may want to clean the sand bed with Proteam FILTER MAGIC. Follow the label directions carefully before going to the next step. If you have a cartridge or earth filter and are not sure how to clean, please call Poolmart.

STEP 4: DRAIN AND BACKWASH

Drain your pool down to just below the skimmer/vacuum opening. You may do this with the filter on pump to waste or backwash until you start to pull air, then shut off the filter and pump. DO NOT leave the pool unattended during this procedure as you may burn out your pump if it runs dry. You may want to pick up a LITTLE GIANT WATER WIZARD to drain the balance of your water or siphon the rest using a garden hose. Simply put your garden hose in the pool as if you were going to refill, turn on the water until all the air is out of the hose, turn off the water, and disconnect the hose from the spicket. You are now siphoning your pool; don't forget to pull the hose out when the level is where you want it or you may empty the entire pool.

STEP 5: EQUIPMENT

Thoroughly clean the skimmer basket and housing. Get out the "Pool-Goo" by using TILE/VINYL CLEANER. Do the same with the pump strainer and basket. Remove the eyeball fittings from the return lines and insert the winterizing disk if you have a Doughboy pool or follow the instructions of your pool manufacturer for winterizing their equipment. We do not recommend removing the skimmer unless you have a winter skimmer plate because your liner may slip and moisture will get between the wall and liner causing possible deterioration to the wall. Next, disconnect the hoses from the filter, leaving them attached to the pool, this will help take the over flow away from the pool. Do not plug the skimmer as it will fill with water, freeze and crack. Remove the weir (that's the door that bobs up and down) and the vacuum port cover assembly. If you do not remove these items, ice may sheer them off. It is a good idea to put an empty half-gallon milk jug upside down in the skimmer to take up any ice expansion, and then replace the skimmer lid. All filters, regardless of the type, should be taken apart at this time and cleaned. If you put them away dirty, you will have a real problem in the spring. Dismantle your tank to clean it. If you have a D.E. Filter, spray off the grids and tank with a high pressure garden hose, squirt Proteam FILTER MAGIC on each grid, and thoroughly rinse after 30 minutes. This should bring them back to new. Re-assemble the filter, making sure you grease up all the rubber o-rings with MAGIC LUBE (NOT Vaseline) so they won't dry out and degrade over the winter.

SAND FILTERS: Inspect your sand-bed. It's no fun, but do it now and save yourself a problem in the spring. If dirty, clean off the top inch or so and carefully dig down into the bed. If it's a mess, don't aggravate yourself, dump the sand and replace it with new sand or ZeoSand next spring.

Make sure that you store all the little parts like drain plugs, eyeballs, skimmer baskets, etc., in a safe place where nobody will ever find them so Poolmart can sell you new ones next season….get the idea! If possible, store your filter and pump inside except sand filters full of sand. Do not try to move them, you can only hurt something. Leave the bottom drain plug off all winter so water and moisture do not accumulate and crack the tank.

STEP 6: THE COVER

Simply place the cover over the pool, pull the cable tight, and hope for a short winter. If necessary, add COVER CLIPS or WINTER WRAP. If you are in a windy area and your cover is flapping, call us about our special "WIND STABILIZER KITS".

STEP 7:  HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND THANKS FOR BEING A VALUED POOLMART CUSTOMER. SEE YOU NEXT SPRING!  

©2010 Poolmart & Spas
5738 South Main Street
Clarkston, Michigan 48346
phone: (248) 625-0729 fax: (248) 625-7079
e-mail: poolmartinfo@poolmartspas.com