Many homeowners spend the entire summer building up their backyard pools, only to let them languish come wintertime. If you live in an area with freezing temperatures, it’s important to take the necessary steps to winterize your pool so that it will survive the cold months and be ready for use come spring.

There are ten key things you need to do in order to prepare your pool for winter:

  1. Drain the water. This is probably the most important step in preparing your pool for winter. You need to get rid of all the water in the pool so that it doesn’t freeze and crack the liner or damage the pump. To do this, you’ll need to turn off the pump and then use a hose or submersible pump to remove all the water.
  1. Clean the pool. Once the pool is empty, you should give it a good cleaning. This means scrubbing down all the surfaces and vacuuming the bottom to remove any dirt or debris.
  1. Remove all accessories. Any accessories that are not winterized should be removed from the pool area. This includes ladders, diving boards, slides, and anything else that could be damaged by freezing temperatures.
  1. Cover the pool. Putting a cover over your pool is one of the best ways to protect it from winter weather. Make sure to choose a heavy-duty cover that will withstand snow and ice.
  1. Inspect the cover. Periodically during the winter, you should check your pool cover to make sure it’s still in good condition. If it starts to tear or develop holes, it will need to be replaced.
  1. Add antifreeze to the pump. To protect your pool’s pump from freezing, you’ll need to add some antifreeze to it. This can be done by adding a few gallons of RV antifreeze or glycol-based pool Antifreeze directly into the skimmer basket.
  1. Store chemicals properly. All of your pool chemicals should be stored in a cool, dry place over winter. Make sure they are tightly sealed so that they don’t leak and cause damage.
  1. Keep an eye on the weather. Even if you’ve taken all the necessary steps to winterize your pool, it’s still important to keep an eye on the weather. If a sudden cold snap hits, you may need to take additional measures to protect your pool.
  1. Cover any exposed pipes. Any pipes that are not properly insulated can freeze and burst during the winter. To prevent this, you should cover any exposed pipes with insulation or a heavy-duty tarp.
  1. Have your pool professionally inspected. Once you’ve taken all the necessary steps to winterize your pool, it’s a good idea to have it professionally inspected. This way, you can be sure that everything has been done correctly and that your pool is ready for the winter season.

Now that you know how to winterize your pool, it’s time to get started. These ten steps will help you protect your pool from the cold weather and keep it in good condition all winter long.