What Chemicals Do You Actually Need for Pool Closing?
Before adding your winter closing products, it’s important to make sure your pool water is properly balanced.
This usually means checking:
- Sanitizer (chlorine/bromine)
- pH
- Total Alkalinity
- Calcium Hardness
Why does this matter?
Your pool water will be sitting for several months during the winter. If the water is out of balance when you close the pool, it can potentially create problems while the pool is sitting. Balanced water helps protect your pool surfaces and equipment and gives you a better starting point for spring.
Shop in store or online here for closing chemicals: Pool Chemicals – Opening/Closing — Aqua-Tech
1. Shock / Oxidize
Before pool closing, you want to make sure your pool water is as clean as possible. A pool shock treatment can help break down contaminants that have built up during the swimming season and give your water a good cleanup before winter.
2. Algaecide
An algaecide may be used as part of your winter closing routine to help prevent algae growth while the pool is closed. Even though winter temperatures are cold, algae problems can still develop during warmer periods or if conditions under the cover allow for growth.
Shop for the Day & Night Polar kit here: Day & Night Polar Kit (Treats up to 80,000L) (P/N: BYB10089) — Aqua-Tech
3. Stain And Scale Prevention
As the water sits, changes in temperature and water chemistry can create conditions where minerals can come out of solution and attach themselves to pool surfaces or equipment. This can contribute to problems such as:
- Staining on pool surfaces
- Scale buildup
- Rough deposits
- Discolouration
- Difficult cleanup when the pool is opened in the spring
A stain and scale prevention product helps keep certain minerals and metals properly suspended in the water, reducing the chance that they will settle out and attach themselves to your pool. By the time you see staining or scale, the problem has already started. Some stains and deposits can be difficult to remove and may require additional chemicals, cleaning, or professional treatment. Adding stain and scale prevention before closing helps protect the pool before problems have a chance to develop.
Don’t Forget: Chemicals Are Only One Part of Your Pool Closing
Adding the right chemicals is important, but proper winterization involves more than just treating the water.
Depending on your pool, closing may also involve:
- Cleaning the pool
- Lowering the water if required
- Preparing the equipment
- Removing water from plumbing lines
- Protecting the plumbing from freezing (Anti-freeze)
- Installing the winter cover
Not Sure What Your Pool Needs for Winter?
Every pool is different, and the best closing chemicals can depend on your pool’s water chemistry, size, equipment, and winterizing method.
Bring a water sample to Aqua-Tech at least 1 week before you want to close the pool (so you have time for any last minute balancing) and our team can help you understand what your pool needs before closing so you can head into winter with confidence!
For any chemistry related questions, reach out to our watertesting team:
Phone: 204-233-8822
Email: watertesting@aqua-tech.ca
Text: 204-817-8238
Or for technical questions, reach out to our service department and www.findmyanswers.ca
Not confident in closing the pool yourself, or just want to relax and let us close it for you?
Book your pool closing here: https://aqua-tech.ca/service/service-pool-closing/
