Even though you have plenty of time left in the Arizona swimming pool season, you may want to start thinking about how to properly prepare your pool to be closed for the season.

Properly winterizing your pool is essential in keeping the pool’s structure, plumbing, and equipment in tip top shape, so here are some of our tips on what you should do to close your pool when the time comes this season.

When’s the Best Time to Start Closing the Pool?

Smart pool owners will begin testing the water of the pool one week before fully winterizing their pool.  Regularly begin checking the weather forecast starting in September (or later, depending on where you live) and make sure that you leave yourself enough time to close the pool before the temperatures sink below freezing.

To Empty or Not to Empty?

Not sure whether you should completely empty your pool or not? When in doubt, it’s always best to keep the pool full rather than drain it.   Draining a pool without taking the proper precautions can result in the build up of hydrostatic pressure, which can completely destroy in-ground concrete pools.

How Should I Clean the Water?

On the day that you plan on officially closing your pool, take the time to thoroughly vacuum all areas of the pool. Check your pool filter and see whether or not it has a “waste” indicator”.  If not, make sure that the vacuum is kept only on the “filter” position.

Next, you’ll want to go about treating the water.  This means balancing:

• pH levels
• Calcium hardness
• Total alkalinity

Do I Need a Winterizing Treatment?

Winterizing treatments are a “must” for anyone who lives in a colder climate, as the water in your pool can become corrosive when temperatures dip below 28°F. But it isn’t so necessary in a warmer climate like Arizona.

How Low Should the Water Go?

Depending on the type of cover that you’ll be placing over your pool, you should lower the water level as follows:

• Vinyl-Lined Covers: 1 inch below the skimmer mouth (or more if you receive heavy snow and/or rain during the fall/winter).

• Painted/Natural Finish Solid Material Cover:  6 inches below the skimmer mouth.

• Plaster Finish Solid Material Cover:  1 to 6 inches below either the tile line or the skimmer mouth (whichever is lower).

• Automatic Cover:  Maintain a water level that is at around the same level as the bottom of the skimmer mouth.

Shasta Pools is a Phoenix pool builder who provides a variety of services including swimming pool remodeling, commercial pool building, and pool service and repair. Since its establishment in 1967, Shasta has helped over 80,000 families realize their dream of pool ownership. By providing exceptional value, quality craftsmanship and superior customer service, the Shasta team continues to fulfill the corporate mission of astonishing and delighting their customers and exceeding expectations. You can learn more about Shasta Pools & Spas by visiting them online, or by connecting with them on Facebook or Twitter.