Results for "closing"

Winterizing Easy Ongoing — 2–4 weeks of patience, then 2–3 hours to close 69 👍 0

What Water Temp Is Safe to Close Your Pool?

My neighbor closed her pool two weeks ago and keeps telling me I should have done the same, but my water is still sitting in the low 70s°F and I'm genuinely torn. Trying to decide between shutting everything down now in late September versus waiting another few weeks to see if temperatures drop more. I have a 20,000-gallon inground with a mesh safety cover, and I really don't want to pull it off in spring to find a swamp underneath.

Everybody seems to have an opinion on closing timing, but I can't find anyone who actually gives a specific water temperature to aim for. Is 72°F still too warm? Will algae keep growing under the cover if I close now, or does it just stop once I add the closing chemicals and block the sunlight? I'd love to understand what's actually happening chemically so I can make the right call rather than just guessing.…more

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Winterizing Medium 2-3 hours over 2-3 days 804 👍 1

Should You Shock Your Pool Before Winter Closing?

Finally figured out why my neighbor's pool stays crystal clear all winter while mine turned into a swamp last year — is shocking before closing the secret? They're telling me I need to shock before adding winterizing chemicals, but of course they're also trying to sell me their premium shock treatment for twice what I can get it elsewhere.

Is shocking actually necessary before winter closing, or is this just another upsell? If I do need to shock, does the timing matter with when I add the other winterizing chemicals? I'm tired of spending a fortune on pool maintenance when I feel like half of what they recommend is just to boost their profits.…more

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Winterizing Medium 4-6 hours 281 👍 0

Do I Need Pool Closing Chemicals? Complete Winter Guide

Staring at my pool after that brutal cold snap hit last week, I'm scrambling to winterize but drowning in conflicting advice about which chemicals I actually need. Some people say I need a whole arsenal of closing chemicals, others tell me just throw a tarp on it and call it good.

I really don't want to deal with a swamp when I open it back up in spring, but I also don't want to buy a bunch of stuff I don't actually need. What are the must-have chemicals for winterizing? I've heard about algaecide and antifreeze but not sure what else or if those are even necessary.…more

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Algae Green Pool Hard 3-7 days for proper treatment, 1 day for emergency closing 547 👍 0

Can You Close a Green Pool? Complete Winter Closing Guide

Our backyard pool is completely covered in thick green algae right now, but with winter coming and two young kids who love swimming, I'm not sure what to do.

I've heard that leaving algae over winter can make things worse, but I'm also concerned about using harsh chemicals with the kids playing nearby. What's the safest approach for families? Should I treat the algae before closing, or are there other winterizing options that won't create bigger problems come spring when the kids want to swim again?…more

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Winterizing Medium 2-3 days 359 👍 0

Do I Need to Clean My Pool Before Closing? Winter Prep Guide

Apparently my spring pool opening is eating through way more cash and weekends than it should because I keep screwing up these same winter prep steps. My pool has been maintained throughout the summer, but I'm uncertain about the specific cleaning requirements before adding winterizing chemicals and covering.

What are the essential cleaning steps I must complete before winterization? I'm particularly concerned about preventing algae formation and protecting my equipment from potential damage during the closed season. Should I focus on debris removal, water chemistry adjustment, or are there additional cleaning procedures that are critical for a successful spring reopening?…more

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Winterizing Medium 45 minutes 591 👍 1

Do You Remove Skimmer When Closing Pool? Step-by-Step Guide

I opened my weather app to see the first freeze hits this weekend and I'm staring at this skimmer wondering if I need to yank it out or leave it. I know I need to do something with the skimmers, but I'm getting conflicting advice online about what exactly needs to come out.

Do I need to physically remove the entire skimmer unit from the pool wall, or just certain components? I've heard about removing baskets and doors, but I want to make sure I'm not missing anything that could get damaged over winter. Last thing I need is expensive repairs come spring after this disaster of a season.…more

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Winterizing Medium 2–4 hours (full closing day, including water adjustment and line blow-out) 172 👍 1

How Far to Lower Water When Closing Your Pool

Three weeks ago my husband and I bought our first house with an inground vinyl pool, and now everyone is telling us we need to close it for winter — but nobody can agree on exactly what that means. We have a mesh safety cover, and I've gotten completely opposite advice about how much water to drain out before we put it on. One neighbor says drop it below the skimmer, another says below the returns, and my pool store guy shrugged and said we might not even need to lower it at all with a mesh cover?

I honestly have no idea what any of those terms even mean yet, or where those parts are on my pool. I'm afraid of draining too much and damaging the liner, or not draining enough and having pipes freeze and crack over the winter. Is there a standard answer here, or does it really depend on what type of cover you're using?

Also — a few people have mentioned that the rules are different for above-ground pools and solid covers, and now I'm even more confused. Can someone break this down in plain language for a complete first-timer?…more

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Pump Problems Easy 15 minutes 1,789 👍 0

Can You Run Pool Pump With Cover On? Safety & Efficiency

Between my morning coffee run and checking the backyard, I spotted my pool pump still humming away with yesterday's cover locked on tight. My primary concerns are maintaining adequate ventilation around the pump housing and ensuring optimal energy efficiency during covered operation periods.

Are there specific operational guidelines I should follow for different cover types (solar, safety, winter covers)? I want to verify that continuous pump operation won't create any mechanical stress or ventilation issues that could compromise system performance or safety parameters.…more

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Winterizing Medium 30–45 minutes 37 👍 1

What Goes in Your Skimmer When Closing for Winter?

Found myself in a debate with a neighbor and now I'm second-guessing everything I thought I knew about winterizing my inground pool. We get legitimate hard freezes here — not just a few nights of light frost — and I want to make sure I'm not cracking my skimmer housing this year.

My neighbor swears by dropping a half-filled milk jug into the skimmer and calling it a day, but a guy at the pool store told me I really need antifreeze poured in there or my skimmer will crack no matter what. A friend who closed pools professionally said just blow the lines and plug it — no antifreeze needed. Now I've got three different opinions and I'm reading about Gizzmos, rubber expansion plugs, foam backer rod, and antifreeze on top of all of it.

After blowing out the skimmer line with a shop vac, what actually needs to go into the skimmer, in what order? Is the antifreeze genuinely necessary or is that the pool store upselling me? And does it matter whether I use a Gizzmo versus a rubber plug versus the milk jug trick?…more

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Maintenance Medium 1-3 days for installation 523 👍 2

Pool Fence Requirements: Do You Need One? Safety Guide 2026

According to my contractor, I'm looking at $3,200 for pool fencing and wondering if it's actually legally required before my installation is complete.

Anyone know the actual requirements? Like how deep does a pool have to be before you need fencing, and are there specific rules about the fence height or gate types? Just want to make sure I'm following all the safety regulations and not getting hit with any surprise violations from the city!…more

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Maintenance Easy 45 minutes 497 👍 1

Do I Need a Pool Pillow for Winter? Complete Guide

Despite being on a tight budget for winter pool closing, I'm wondering if a pool pillow is actually necessary or just another expense I can skip? I've been researching proper closing procedures and keep seeing conflicting information about pool pillows (air pillows). Some sources say they're absolutely critical, while others suggest they're optional accessories.

Specifically, I need to understand whether pool pillows actually provide meaningful protection against freeze damage to pool walls and equipment. My pool is located in an area where temperatures regularly drop below freezing for extended periods during winter months. What's the technical reasoning behind using these pillows, and what risks am I facing if I skip this component of winterization?…more

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Equipment Medium 2–3 hours (plus cure time) 1,085 👍 45

Add a Shutoff Valve to Your Pool Waste Line

My pool equipment pad has a waste line that just dumps straight out to the side yard with zero control — no valve, nothing. I found a YouTube tutorial on how to splice in a shutoff valve, grabbed the supplies, and cut into the pipe... and now I've got a bigger mess than before. The dry-fit didn't hold the way the video showed, one of my cuts came out slightly angled, and I'm second-guessing the whole thing before I actually glue anything permanently.

The waste line is 1½-inch PVC coming off the back of my multiport filter valve. It dribbles between backwash cycles because there's nothing shutting it off, and I'd like to fix that properly. I want to understand what type of valve to actually use here, how to prep the pipe ends correctly after a rough cut, and how to solvent-weld everything so it doesn't leak or blow apart under pressure.

Can someone walk me through the real process — choosing the right valve, making clean cuts, dry-fitting, priming and cementing, and how long I need to wait before firing the pump back up? I want to get this right the second time.…more

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Maintenance Medium 4-6 hours 282 👍 0

How to Winterize Your Pool: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Tried winterizing my pool last week using online guides, but algae is already forming — did I screw up the process somehow? What's the proper order? Chemistry first or cleaning? How low should water go? What chemicals do I need?

Don't want to mess this up and deal with a green swamp come spring. Last year skipped some steps and regretted it.…more

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Winterizing Medium 4-6 hours 298 👍 0

How to Winterize Pool: Complete Troubleshooting Guide 2026

After ignoring winterization last fall, my pool pipes started making weird cracking sounds this spring and now I'm staring at burst pipes and algae soup. I'm determined not to repeat that nightmare! I know it involves chemicals and lowering water levels, but I'm clearly missing something important in my process.

What's the complete step-by-step process for winterizing? How long should I plan for this whole ordeal, and what are the critical steps I probably screwed up last time? I want to make sure I'm protecting against freeze damage while keeping the water in decent shape for spring startup.…more

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Winterizing Easy 30 minutes 70 👍 0

Gizzmo vs Rubber Plug: Best Way to Winterize a Skimmer?

During every fall closing season, I find myself second-guessing the advice I get at the pool store. This year I'm closing my inground pool on my own for the first time, and the store recommended I pick up a Gizzmo for the skimmer. The thing is, my neighbor has been closing his pool for years using nothing more than a rubber plug and a jug of antifreeze poured into the skimmer basket — and his skimmer has never cracked.

So now I'm wondering: does a Gizzmo actually do something fundamentally different, or is it just a more expensive version of the same idea? And the guy at the store also mentioned keeping the skimmer cover plate on top. Is that step necessary if I already have the Gizzmo in place, or is that overkill?…more

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