Winterizing Your Pool
Regardless of where you live, closing up or winterizing your pool is an important process in order to protect it from the elements and keep it in the best possible condition, ready for your enjoyment next summer.
Preparing an above ground pool for winter, in areas where the water doesn't freeze is less involved. Often you'll need to do little more than cover it and reduce the amount of time the pump circulates the water by half.
In areas that suffer a colder winter, closing a swimming pool involves removing some of the water in order to prevent ice damage in the coldest periods. However, before draining your pool, you need to make sure the water is in good condition otherwise it will spend the winter stagnant and unfiltered. To do this chemically balance your water by making sure the pH and total alkalinity are within the correct range.
Clean the floor and surface of your pool, removing dirt and debris by vacuuming and skimming the surface. This will ensure that the leaves, pine needles and general dirt don't break down over the winter and cause algae to grow in the water.
Using your usual pool supplies, shock the water one final time and run your filter constantly for a 24 to 48 hour period to ensure the pool water is as clean as possible before winter.
If you have a sand filter you will probably need to backwash it before winterizing. If you have a cartridge filter, it should be removed according to manufacturer's instructions after the pool is partially drained.