· by Michael Blair, Nashville's Pool & Spa
Middle Tennessee gives a longer pool season than most of the country and still freezes hard enough to split equipment. Both ends of the season need doing properly.
Closing
Balance the chemistry first, then lower the water below the skimmer, blow out and plug the lines, drain the pump, filter and heater, and add winterizing chemicals before covering.
Equipment left holding water is what cracks. The plumbing lines matter as much as the pump.
Timing the close
Wait until water temperature is consistently below about 60°F, which in Nashville is usually late October or November. Closing while it is still warm lets algae establish under the cover.
Closing too late risks a surprise early freeze on a charged system.
- Balance chemistry before closing, not after
- Water below the skimmer, lines blown and plugged
- Pump, filter and heater fully drained
- Close below 60°F, usually late October or November
- Open before the water warms enough for algae, usually April
Opening
Open before the water is warm enough for algae rather than when you want to swim — usually April here. Removing a cover from green water is a much bigger job than opening early.
Reinstall plugs, prime the pump, run the filter continuously for a day or two, then balance the chemistry.
The cover
A cover that holds water and debris becomes heavy and sags, and the load can damage the coping and the cover itself. Pump standing water off it through the winter.
Safety covers are worth the difference in a household with children or pets, and they shed water rather than holding it.