The end of summer is always bittersweet for pool owners. While the floaties are being deflated and the patio furniture is being covered, your pool—your backyard’s biggest investment—is quietly waiting for its most important task of the year: hibernation.
Many owners think “winterizing” just means throwing a cover on top and walking away. This is a costly mistake. Properly closing your pool is the single most important maintenance you will perform all year. It’s the difference between a simple, sparkling-clear spring opening and a green, swampy, expensive nightmare.
Failure to winterize correctly can lead to cracked pipes, a destroyed filter, a damaged pump, and stubborn algae blooms that can take weeks and hundreds of dollars to fix.
But what if your “off-season” didn’t have to mean a stagnant, problematic pool? What if a revolutionary new product could work during these quiet months to ensure your water stays pristine? This guide will walk you through the essential steps to winterize your pool like a pro and introduce you to your new off-season MVP: DualPool.
Part 1: The Step-by-Step Guide to a “Hard Close” (For Colder Climates)
For those in climates where temperatures drop below freezing, a “hard close” is non-negotiable. This process involves draining your equipment to prevent water from freezing, expanding, and cracking your plumbing. Don’t start this process until the outdoor temperature is consistently below 65°F (18°C) to prevent algae from growing under the cover.
Step 1: Deep Clean the Pool
You must close a clean pool. Any organic debris (leaves, dirt, algae) left in the water will decay all winter, feeding new algae and staining your pool surfaces.
- Skim all floating debris from the surface.
- Brush the walls, steps, and floor thoroughly to dislodge any clinging algae or dirt.
- Vacuum the entire pool. For a heavy debris load, set your filter to “Waste” or “Drain” to vacuum the dirty water directly out of the pool, bypassing your filter.
Step 2: Test and Balance Your Water
Think of this as your pool’s “hibernation formula.” Perfectly balanced water is stable and non-corrosive, protecting your plaster, vinyl, and fiberglass surfaces during the long winter. Get your water tested or use a quality home kit.
Adjust your chemicals to these winter-closing levels:
- pH: 7.2 – 7.6
- Alkalinity: 80 – 120 ppm (This buffers the pH and prevents it from crashing)
- Calcium Hardness: 200 – 400 ppm (Protects surfaces from etching and pitting)
- Chlorine: 1 – 3 ppm
Step 3: Shock and Add Winter Chemicals
A day or two before you close, shock the pool with a heavy dose of chlorine shock to kill any lingering bacteria and algae. Let the pump run for 8-12 hours to circulate it fully.
Once the chlorine level has returned to normal (1-3 ppm), add your winterizing chemicals. This typically includes a long-lasting, non-copper winter algaecide and a stain and scale preventer to stop minerals from staining your surfaces. Circulate these for several hours as well.
Step 4: Lower the Water Level
You must get the water out of your plumbing. Lower the water level using your pump’s “Waste” setting or a submersible pump.
- For pools with mesh covers: Lower the water 12-18 inches below the skimmer opening.
- For pools with solid, floating covers: Lower the water 3-6 inches below the skimmer.
Step 5: Drain, Blow Out, and Plug Your Equipment
This is the most critical step to prevent freeze damage.
- Turn off all power to your pool equipment at the circuit breaker.
- Drain all equipment: Remove the drain plugs from your pump, filter, heater, and any chlorinator. Open the air relief valve on your filter. Store all the plugs in your pump basket so you don’t lose them!
- Blow out the lines: Using a shop vac or an air compressor, force all water out of the plumbing. Start at the skimmer, blowing air through the pipes until bubbles come out of the return jets in the pool. Then, move to the pump and blow air back through the return lines. You want the lines to be completely empty.
- Plug the lines: Once a line is clear of water, securely insert a winterizing expansion plug into the return jets and skimmer opening.
- Add Antifreeze (Optional but Recommended): For extra protection, pour non-toxic pool antifreeze into the skimmer and return lines after blowing them out. This protects against any small amount of water that may have been missed.
Step 6: Install Your Winter Cover
Your final step. Secure your winter cover over the pool. A safety cover (either mesh or solid) that anchors into your deck is the safest and most effective option. It prevents debris, sunlight (which feeds algae), and, most importantly, accidental drowning.
Part 2: The Off-Season Problem and the DualPool Solution
The scenario above is for a “hard close.” But what about the “off-season” in warmer climates? And how can you make the spring opening easier for everyone?
The Problem: Whether your pool is “hard-closed” or just being used less, the water is largely stagnant. Phosphates (algae’s favorite food) build up from rainwater, dust, and microscopic debris. Fine particles cloud the water. By the time spring arrives, you’re opening a dull, lifeless, and “sludgy” pool that requires days of filtering, shocking, and clarifying.
This is where DualPool revolutionizes the off-season.
Scenario 1: The “Warm Climate” Off-Season (Arizona, Florida, Texas, etc.)
In these regions, you don’t “close” your pool—you just reduce pump time and chemical use. This is the perfect environment for DualPool.
- What to do: Simply place DualPool in your skimmer basket as normal.
- How it works: DualPool’s patent-pending, self-dosing technology works anytime the pump is on. Even on a reduced 4-6 hour cycle, it continuously releases its two-stage formula.
- The Result: All winter long, DualPool is actively removing phosphates, binding fine suspended solids, and polishing your water. While your neighbor’s pool gets dull and cloudy, yours stays sparkling. When the first warm day of spring hits, you don’t have an “opening.” Your pool is already pristine and ready to enjoy. It’s the ultimate low-maintenance solution for the year-round pool.
Scenario 2: The “Cold Climate” Shoulder Seasons (The Secret Weapon)
If you have a “hard close,” you can’t use DualPool in the skimmer during winter because the system is drained. Instead, you use it strategically in the “shoulder seasons” to guarantee an easy spring opening.
- The “Pre-Closing” Polish: In the 2-3 weeks before you perform your hard close (Step 1 above), add DualPool to your skimmer. As you’re brushing, vacuuming, and balancing, DualPool will be working overtime. It will remove the maximum amount of phosphates and fine contaminants before they get trapped under the cover. You’re not just closing a clean pool; you’re closing a pristine pool. This starves any potential winter algae and dramatically reduces the buildup of winter gunk.
- The “Spring Opening” Kick-Start: When you de-winterize, your water will inevitably be cloudy from settled dust and micro-particles. Before you even think about adding shock, do this:
- Pull your winter plugs and re-install your equipment drain plugs.
- Fill the pool back to its normal level.
- Turn on the pump.
- Add your new DualPool to the skimmer.
Your Best Pool Year Starts in the Winter
Protecting your pool is a year-round job, but it doesn’t have to be a hard one. A proper winterization protects your expensive equipment from damage. And now, with DualPool, you can protect your water quality during the off-season, too.
Whether you’re ensuring crystal-clear water all winter in a warm climate or giving yourself the head-start you need for a fast spring opening, DualPool is the ultimate off-season partner.