Step 5: Lower the Water Level
If you live in a warm, frost-free climate, you can skip this step. For freezing climates, lowering the water prevents freeze damage and keeps meltwater from overflowing your pool.
The proper water level depends on your pool liner material and winter cover type:
- Vinyl Liner Pools: Lower water to 1 inch below the bottom of the skimmer opening or tile line (whichever is lower).
- Plaster / Concrete Pools (Solid Cover): Lower water to 6 inches below the skimmer or tile line.
- Plaster / Concrete Pools (Mesh Cover): Lower water 18 to 24 inches below the skimmer or tile line.
- Automatic Covers: Maintain water levels no lower than the bottom of the skimmer to properly support the cover mechanism.
Important: Always leave enough water in the pool to support your cover against the weight of heavy snow and rain. Check local wastewater guidelines before discharging chemical-treated pool water into local storm drains.
Step 6: Deep Clean Filters & Drain Equipment
Never store dirty media or leave water sitting inside your pump and filter housing over the winter. Frozen trapped water will crack pump bodies and filter tanks.
- Cartridge Filters: Remove the filter element. Deep-clean it with a dedicated filter cleaner or a muriatic acid soak, rinse thoroughly, and let it dry completely before storing indoors. Replace worn cartridges.
- Sand Filters: Perform a deep-clean backwash cycle using a sand filter cleaning chemical to strip oils and mineral buildup.
- D.E. Filters: Bump and flush the grids or fingers, then soak in a D.E. grid cleaner or muriatic acid solution before indoor storage.
- Drain Equipment: Remove all drain plugs from your pump housing, filter tank, pool heater, chlorinator, and booster pumps. Store these loose plugs inside your empty skimmer basket so they won't get lost.
If your filter body has cracks or looks worn, replacing the sand filter now will save you time and energy in the Spring.
Step 7: Blow Out the Plumbing Lines
Removing water from your plumbing lines prevents subterranean pipe bursts that cost thousands to repair.
Warning: Pool plumbing is fragile under pressure. If you are unsure of how to use an air compressor safely on PVC lines, hire a certified pool technician.
Step-By-Step Line Purging
- Remove return eyeball fittings, skimmer baskets, and equipment drain plugs
- Set your multiport valve to Recirculate. Set the pump inlet valve to the Skimmer Line.
- Inspect your vacuum hose for holes or damage. Attach an air compressor or commercial blow-out vacuum to the pump's drain plug opening.
- Force air through the lines until water stops bubbling out of the skimmers and returns.
- Use a shop vac to suck out remaining water inside the skimmer cavity.
- Insert an expandable rubber plug or a Gizzmo (ice compensator) into the bottom of the skimmer.
- Insert rubber expansion plugs (or heavy-duty straight pressure plugs in deep-freeze areas) into each return line as air purges the water out.
- Switch the valve to the Main Drain setting for 60 seconds to push air down to the floor, creating an air lock. Switch back and turn off the air source.
- Install a thread plug in the pump inlet to protect against leaky valves.
Step 8: Remove & Store Pool Accessories
Uninstalling hardware prevents rust stains on pool decking and keeps your winter cover sitting flush. Remove all stainless steel ladders, handrails, step treads, and diving boards. Next, clean, dry, and store metal accessories indoors or in a dry shed away from direct UV sunlight. Lastly, remove directional eyeballs, cleaner wall fittings, and skimmer baskets. Store all small fittings inside your skimmer basket. Add a stain and scale cleaner to clean and protect your pool from scale buildup and stains.
Step 9: Install Your Winter Cover
Choosing and securing the right winter pool cover keeps leaves, debris, and sunlight out of your pool water all winter long.
Standard Solid Winter Covers
- Lay the cover flat and secure the perimeter using water tubes or cover weights. Never pull standard covers taut.
- Use a submersible cover pump to automatically remove rainwater and melted snow. Standing water destroys covers and poses a drowning risk to wildlife.
- Sweep off leaves with a soft push broom or rubber squeegee, but never use sharp tools like shovels or metal rakes.
Safety Covers (Mesh, Solid, or Hybrid)
- Anchor directly into your pool deck using brass anchors and heavy-duty springs
- If using a mesh or hybrid model that allows rain to drain through into the pool, monitor pool water levels throughout the winter to ensure it doesn't overflow beneath the cover.