A Guide To Winterizing a Below-Ground Pool

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Double-Check That Everything Is Turned Off

Once you’ve drained the water to just below the level of the skimmer and covered the pool, make sure all pumps are completely turned off. Running the pool once you’ve lowered water levels will likely damage the mechanics.

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Winterizing an In-Ground Pool in Non-Freezing Climates

“In regions where the ground doesn’t freeze, the winterization process is less extensive,” says Meece. You can eliminate many of the steps because there’s no risk of things icing up.

Balance the chemistry

“Balance the pool’s water chemistry, similar to freezing climates,” says Meece. Because you presumably won’t be swimming for a while, this is a good time to shock the pool.

Clean the pool

As per the step above, give the pool a good cleaning before you shut or slow things down for the winter.

Add the cover

I live in a non-freezing climate and keep our in-ground pool uncovered during the winter, although we still run the pump a few hours a day and the pool robot about once a week. But every year, my husband talks about investing in a pool cover — and Meece recommends it.

“Using a pool cover is still advisable to keep out leaves and debris,” he says, “even though you may not need to worry about freeze-related damage.”

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Swim Year-Round?

Meece says depending on your pool, location and the lengths you’re willing to go to, it’s possible to enjoy your pool year-round.

“To keep open year-round, you will still have to ensure that your pool pump and heater are running effectively and efficiently,” he says. “Ensure that you install a pool heater powerful enough to keep your pool warm during cold temperatures.”

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