When do you guys usually close your pool for the season?

[Katherine Morgan]

Temps are starting to drop here, and I’m trying to figure out if it’s time to shut things down. I’ve never done the closing myself before, so kinda nervous about messing it up.

Do you wait until the water gets below a certain temperature, or just go by the weather?

Also wondering if it’s worth doing the full winter chemical kit or just the basics. Any tips from people who’ve done this a few seasons would help a ton.

 

[Mark Davis]

Most people wait until water temps drop below 60°F before closing. That helps prevent algae and makes your chemicals last longer over winter. If you close too early while it's still warm, you might open to cloudy or green water.

As for the winter kit, it's worth using if you're in a cold area or won't be checking the pool much. It gives extra protection over the months. If you're in a milder climate or plan to monitor things, you might get by with just balancing pH, adding shock, and tossing in some algaecide.

Quick tip: close the pool when the water’s clean and clear, not after it starts turning. Makes spring opening way easier.

 

[Oscar Ricci]

I also wait until the water temp drops below 60°F before closing. That keeps algae from growing and helps the chemicals last longer. I usually just balance the pH, add a shock, and a little algaecide enough to get through winter.

 

[Ionut Kaminski]

Most people close when the water temp drops below about 60°F (15–16°C). I usually wait for that so algae doesn’t take off, but I don’t wait too long either, I close while the water’s still clear and balanced so opening is way easier.

 

[Alma Weber]

Most people wait until water temps drop below 60°F before closing. That helps prevent algae and makes your chemicals last longer over winter. If you close too early while it's still warm, you might open to cloudy or green water.

As for the winter kit, it's worth using if you're in a cold area or won't be checking the pool much. It gives extra protection over the months. If you're in a milder climate or plan to monitor things, you might get by with just balancing pH, adding shock, and tossing in some algaecide.

Quick tip: close the pool when the water’s clean and clear, not after it starts turning. Makes spring opening way easier.

From my experience over a few seasons, I follow the temperature rule like Mark Davis mentioned. I wait until it’s consistently below 60F because above that algae can still stay active even if the water looks clear. I once closed too early while it was still warm, and when I opened the pH had drifted and the water looked dull. Now I’m a bit more patient, make sure it’s clear and balanced first, then close so spring startup is way easier.

 

[Michael Williams]

Most people wait until water temps drop below 60°F before closing. That helps prevent algae and makes your chemicals last longer over winter. If you close too early while it's still warm, you might open to cloudy or green water.

As for the winter kit, it's worth using if you're in a cold area or won't be checking the pool much. It gives extra protection over the months. If you're in a milder climate or plan to monitor things, you might get by with just balancing pH, adding shock, and tossing in some algaecide.

Quick tip: close the pool when the water’s clean and clear, not after it starts turning. Makes spring opening way easier.

Most people wait for the water temp to drop consistently before closing, and Mark Davis’ guideline is pretty solid, around below 60°F is typically safer so algae doesn’t keep growing and your chemistry doesn’t get chewed up under the cover. Air temps can fake you out day to day, so I trust water temp more than “it feels cold,” and I close while the water is still clear and balanced instead of waiting until it starts looking dull or slick.

 

[Henry Graham]

I learned the hard way that the water temperature rule is more important than the calendar. A few seasons ago I closed mine too early because the weather felt cold, but the water was still in the mid 60s. Under the cover the chlorine disappeared faster than I expected and when I opened in spring the water had that dull green tint starting.

Now I wait until the water is consistently around that 60°F mark or a little lower. At that temperature algae activity slows way down and the chemistry holds longer through winter. I also try to close when the filter pressure and circulation are normal and the water is really clear, not just “good enough.” Starting winter with clean water makes a huge difference when you reopen.

Another thing I do before putting the cover on is run the pump a while after the final balance so everything mixes fully through the filter and plumbing. That way the whole system is starting winter in the same condition, not just the water near the surface.

Once I switched to closing a bit later like that, spring openings got a lot easier. Anyone else notice the water stays way more stable over winter when the closing temp is lower?

 

[Katherine Morgan]

I used to go by the weather forecast too, but after a couple seasons I started paying attention to the water temp instead. Air temps can swing a lot in fall, but the pool water changes slower, and that’s what really matters for algae and chemistry.

The one year I closed early the water was still around the mid 60s and I thought it would be fine because the nights were getting cold. Under the cover though the sanitizer disappeared quicker than I expected and the water opened in spring with that dull green haze starting. Ever since then I wait until the water is consistently around 60°F or a little below before shutting everything down.

I also try to close while the pool is still really clean. I’ll vacuum, backwash the filter so the pressure is normal again, then let the pump run a while after balancing so everything mixes through the system. Starting winter with clear water and normal circulation seems to make a big difference when you open again.

Once I started closing later like that the spring openings got way easier. Way less cloudiness and the chemistry comes back into range faster. Does your area cool off gradually in fall or does it drop fast once the weather turns?