Why Prepare Your Pool for Winter?

It is essential to plan the winterizing of your pool after the swimming season. This step protects your pool equipment against the harshness of winter, such as bad weather and frost.
This will facilitate the reopening of your pool when sunny days arrive.

When Should You Winterize Your Pool?

Winterizing should be done as soon as you decide to stop using your pool. However, stopping filtration too early in the season (when the water temperature is above 12°C) could promote the development of algae and bacteria, making the restart more complicated the following spring. When the water temperature of your pool drops below 12°C, the proliferation of algae or bacteria is naturally limited. This is the right time to winterize your pool.

Which Type of Winterizing Should You Choose?

You have two choices available:

• Active winterizing
• Passive winterizing

Active Winterizing

Active winterizing consists of reducing pool operation by keeping the filtration system running for a few hours a day or continuously when the temperature drops below +5°C to avoid any risk of freezing. Installing an anti-freeze device can prevent freezing by automatically starting filtration below a certain temperature.

Passive Winterizing

Passive winterizing involves a total shutdown of your pool and its equipment.

Thoroughly Clean Your Pool

First, it is important to thoroughly clean the pool, vacuum all deposits, leaves, and debris, and clean the water line well.

Adjust the Water Level

Next, you should reduce the water level of your pool to 10 cm below the return jets.

Emptying a pool completely can cause damage to the structure of the basin. It is recommended to consult your installer or contact us beforehand.

1. Normal level, 2. Return jet, 3. Winterizing level, 4. Allow 10 cm.

To lower the water level:

If your pool has a main drain and a sand or diatomaceous earth filter:

1. 1. • Set the multiport valve to the “backwash” position,
      • Close the valve (or valves) coming from the skimmer,
      • Close the vacuum point valve and only open the main drain valve,
      • Open your waste water drainage valve (if your system has one),
      • Turn on your filtration pump and monitor the drop in water level below the return jets.

This method drains the pool, reducing the water level to about 10 cm below the return jets while cleaning your filter.

Once the level is reached:

1. 1. • Stop the pump,
      • Close the main drain,
      • Adjust the multiport valve to the filtration position,
      • In the technical room, open the skimmer valve(s) and activate the vacuum point valve,
      • Restart the pump to allow the remaining water in the pipes and filter to drain into the pool.
      • Run the pump until there is no more water flowing from the return jets.
      • Stop the filtration pump,
      • Add a winterizing product to the basin,
      • Remove the directional eyeballs from the return jets and replace them with winterizing plugs,
      • Install a winterizing plug in the vacuum point,
      • Remove the skimmer baskets, place a gizzmo in each skimmer by screwing it into the opening to prevent water from returning to the pipes. If this is not possible, use a standard winterizing plug in the opening and add a gizzmo in each skimmer.

Apply the winterizing product following the manufacturer’s recommendations. This product aims to prevent the proliferation of algae and fungi, as well as the accumulation of scale and dissolved mineral deposits. It will make reopening your pool in the spring easier.

Protect the Walls from Frost with Winterizing Floats

To prevent damage caused by frost on your pool structure, install winterizing floats diagonally across your basin. These floats are compressible, so that the pressure of the ice will not be exerted against the walls or structure, avoiding irreversible damage, but rather by compressing the floats. Also, remember to place “gizzmo” bottles in the skimmers to secure them.

1. winter

If you have a winter cover, you can install it now.

If your technical room is above the pool water level, open the valves halfway and place the multiport valve in the winter position. If this option is not available, position it between two settings (to prevent the inner gasket from sticking).

If your technical room is below the pool water level, close all valves and set the multiport valve to the closed position.

1. Technical room below water level, valves closed and multiport valve in closed position

Finally, disconnect the electrical panel.

Don’t forget to winterize additional equipment, such as salt chlorinators and dosing pumps, by referring to the manufacturer’s manuals.
Your pool will thus be protected during the winter.

Active winterizing

Active winterizing consists of keeping your pool filtration running throughout the winter.

Advantages

1. 1. • Your water quality will be optimal.
      • The pump will avoid the risk of seizing due to a prolonged shutdown.
      • You will avoid a laborious cleaning in the spring.
      • Savings on winterizing and restart products.

As part of an active winterizing, continue to clean your pool regularly, especially if it is not covered. Ensure that filtration runs continuously when approaching 5°C and especially in case of frost.
It is recommended to install a frost protection unit that will ensure the pump’s operation for you.