The end of summer doesn’t mean forgetting your pool
There’s something wistful about that last swim of the season. The water still feels pleasant, but the air no longer cooperates. Leaves start to fall, afternoons grow shorter… and you know the pool will stop being the heart of the garden for a while.
However, closing the season doesn’t mean turning your back on it. Quite the opposite. This is precisely when it deserves a bit more attention. The way you prepare your pool for winter can make a huge difference when the warmth returns.
It’s not about making life complicated. It’s about leaving everything in order, with care, so that in a few months you only have to remove the cover, adjust a couple of things… and enjoy again as if nothing had happened.
Why is it important to prepare the pool for winter?
It may be tempting to leave it as is and deal with it in spring. But the truth is that a poorly winterized pool leads to green water, stains on liners, parts damaged by frost… and more work (and cost) than you might expect.
Untreated stagnant water becomes a perfect breeding ground for algae and bacteria. Pipes can suffer if the water freezes. And accumulated debris—leaves, soil, insects—not only makes the shell look bad, it can also affect the filtration system.
The good news is that with proper preparation, all of that can be avoided. No need for a big technical setup or major investments. Just follow a few steps, have the right products on hand, and spend a little time before the real cold sets in.
Essential checklist to get your pool ready before the cold
What works best here is being clear from the start—a kind of end-of-season ritual. Here’s the checklist we recommend:
- Deep cleaning: Start by leaving the pool spotless. Walls, floor, skimmers, baskets… everything. A robotic cleaner helps, but doesn’t replace a manual touch-up. The idea is to leave nothing that could rot or degrade over time.
- Adjust pH: As important as cleaning is balancing the water. pH should be between 7.2 and 7.6. If it’s out of range, winterizing products won’t work properly.
- Shock chlorination: A solid dose of fast-acting chlorine eliminates microorganisms before you “close” the pool. Keep the pump running for several hours afterwards to distribute it evenly.
- Add a winterizing product: A specific product that prevents algae and bacteria growth during the cold months. Apply it with clean, balanced water. Usually, a second dose mid-winter is enough in milder climates.
- Lower the water level (if you’ll cover it): Especially when using a floating or bubble cover, leave the water a few centimeters below the skimmer.
- Protect the equipment: Close valves, drain lines if there’s a risk of frost, and wash filters thoroughly. In some cases, winter floats are placed in the pool to prevent expansion damage if it freezes.
- Set the pump schedule (or leave it off): It depends on the winterizing method you choose: active (occasional filtration) or passive (pool completely shut down). Both are valid when done correctly.
To cover or not to cover? The eternal October question
It’s one of the big debates when the season changes: is it worth covering the pool? In most cases, yes. A cover—even a basic one—reduces debris, shields the water from sunlight (key to preventing algae), and helps maintain water balance for longer.
There are many types: from simple tarps to automatic systems that roll up at the touch of a button. Even high enclosures that let you keep using the pool in winter if it’s heated.
The best option? The one that fits your budget, space, and usage. But if you won’t be using the pool for months, leaving it uncovered is almost a guarantee you’ll have to redo all the work in spring.
Practical tips that make a difference and prevent spring headaches
- If you use liquid winterizing products, distribute them across the entire surface; don’t just pour them in one corner.
- Choose a calm day with no wind to place the cover. It sounds trivial, but it saves you from fighting with lifting corners.
- Write down the date you applied the winterizing product, so you won’t forget a mid-season booster if needed.
- If there’s lots of vegetation nearby, check the cover from time to time and remove accumulated leaves. It takes little effort and prevents them from sinking.
- Above all, don’t wait for the real cold to arrive. October is usually the perfect month to get everything ready.
Preparing the pool for winter isn’t a chore—it’s a gesture of care. A way of saying: rest now, we’ll meet again. And when the time comes, everything will be in its place.
