1. CLEAR UP ANY EXISTING PROBLEMS
If any pool problems exist, such as combined chlorine, cloudy water, or algae growth, these issues need to be resolved before the pool is winterized
2. HAVE YOUR WATER TESTED
Although your water could be perfectly balanced all summer when it comes time to close the water balance must prepare the pool for freezing as opposed to preparing the pool for swimming. Bring in a water sample to avoid corrosion or scaling in your pool.
3. CLEAN THE SOLAR BLANKET
Using BioGuard Stow Away (BioGuard Stow Away® (946ml) (P/N: 4426)– Aqua-Tech), clean the solar cover with a nylon bristle pool brush and then roll it and store it wet. Storing it with Stow Away still on the blanket will reduce the ability for mold and mildew to grow and may extend the life of your solar cover.
4. PERFORM HOUSEKEEPING CHORES
- Brush and vacuum the pool.
- Clean the water line on the liner with BioGuard Off The Wall (BioGuard Off the Wall® (3.78ltr) (P/N: 4406)– Aqua-Tech).
5. CLEAN YOUR FILTER MEDIA
Use BioGuard Filter Brite )BioGuard Filter Brite™ (250gm) (P/N: 4813)– Aqua-Tech) to ensure that your filter media is clean and ready for spring season. This product will remove oils, greases and other particles from the filter. Doing this in fall is easier while the filter is still wet. Left until spring, those particles may be more difficult to remove, reducing the efficiency of the filter.
6. LOWER THE WATER LEVEL
Use a submersible pump to lower the water to below the pool’s return outlets (jets).
7. OXIDIZE SUMMER WASTES
Add BioGuard Hibernate Shock (BioGuard Hibernate® Shock (350gm) (P/N: 1080)– Aqua-Tech) around the edges of the pool. This will oxidize off non-filterable wastes. Brush behind the application to distribute the product throughout the pool.
8. PROTECT POOL FROM ALGAE
Treat the pool with BioGuard Hibernate Algaecide II (BioGuard Hibernate® Algicide II (946ml) (P/N: 1087)– Aqua-Tech). This will prevent any algae from growing in your pool over the winter. When the pool is left untreated, it is a natural breeding ground for algae.
9. PROTECT POOL FROM STAINING AND SCALING
Prevent staining and scaling due to metals in the pool by adding BioGuard Hibernate Stain and Scale Inhibitor (BioGuard Hibernate® Stain & Scale (946ml) (P/N: 1079)– Aqua-Tech). The cold temperatures over the winter can lead to staining and scaling formation.
***DID YOUR POOL OPEN GREEN THIS SPRING? ADD POOL CLOSING COMPLETE (BioGuard Pool Closing Complete™ (2.12ltr) (P/N: 4823)– Aqua-Tech)!***
10. WINTERIZING THE POOL EQUIPMENT
- Drain water from filter, heater, pump, hoses, and pipes. Make sure electricity and/or gas are shut off.
- Protect with Dazzle Premium Anti-Freeze (Dazzle Premium Anti-Freeze (3.78ltr) (P/N: DAZ06012)– Aqua-Tech).
- Plus all return and skimmer lines and install polyethylene foam rod.
- Chemically clean the cell of your mineral springs unit.
- If you have a puck dispensing chlorinator, it should be drained and flushed but antifreeze should not be added.
NOTE: keep all the summer parts removed from pool equipment in a safe, easy place to find.
11. RAISE THE WATER LEVEL
Raise the pool water level above the pool returns to 3” below the skimmer faceplate. This keeps the pool structure more stable and assists in preventing “floating” liners.
12. COVER THE POOL
Install the pool cover and optional leaf net. Use the appropriate sized water bags to hold the winter cover in place. These bags will minimize the possibility of the blanket tearing and/or falling into the pool.
If you decide not to cover the pool or wish to use a mesh cover, you will need to add a second treatment of BioGuard Hiber Shock just before the water freezes. * Make sure to have an extra liter of Stow Away to chemically clean your winter cover in the spring! *
**As all pool equipment is different, this is a general guide only and Aqua-Tech assumes no liability. To have your pool professionally closed, please contact service@alanaqua-tech-ca
Aqua-Tech carries a pool closing kit that treats 40,000L pool (BioGuard Hibernate® Closing Kit – 40 (Treats up to 40,000ltr) (P/N: 10– Aqua-Tech) and 80,000L pool (BioGuard Hibernate® Deluxe Opening and/or Closing Kit – 80 (Treats up – Aqua-Tech).
