Summer always seems to go by too quickly in Michigan. After another great season enjoying your pool, cooler temperatures mean it’s time to start thinking about properly closing and winterizing your swimming pool.
Proper pool closing is one of the most important things you can do to protect your investment. Michigan’s freezing temperatures, snow, and ice can be hard on pools and equipment. Taking the right steps in the fall can help prevent freeze damage, algae growth, plumbing problems, staining, and costly repairs—and make opening your pool much easier next spring.
Whether you have an above-ground or inground swimming pool, Sunny’s Pools & More has the water testing, pool chemicals, winterizing supplies, closing kits, covers, and expert advice you need to close your pool with confidence.
When Should You Close Your Pool in Michigan?
Many Michigan pool owners begin thinking about closing their pools around Labor Day, but warm weather can sometimes continue well into September or even October.
There isn’t one perfect closing date for every pool. What matters most is giving yourself enough time to properly prepare the water, clean the pool, winterize the equipment, and protect the plumbing before freezing temperatures arrive.
Don’t wait until the first hard freeze is in the forecast to start the process.
Why Proper Pool Closing Matters
Water expands when it freezes, which means water left inside plumbing lines, pumps, filters, heaters, or other pool equipment can cause serious damage during a Michigan winter.
Properly winterizing your pool helps:
- Prevent freeze damage to plumbing and equipment
- Reduce algae growth during the winter
- Protect liners and pool surfaces from staining or damage
- Keep leaves and debris out of the pool
- Make spring pool opening easier
- Reduce the risk of expensive repairs
A little extra preparation in the fall can save you a lot of work when swimming season returns.
Start Preparing About a Week Before Closing
Pool closing should begin before the day you actually install the winter cover.
About a week before you plan to close your pool, consider adding a phosphate remover if your water needs it. Phosphates can provide a food source for algae, so reducing phosphate levels before the pool sits unused for several months can help reduce the chance of algae developing over the winter.
Because every pool is different, we recommend testing your water before adding closing chemicals.
Step-by-Step Pool Closing Checklist
1. Clean the Pool Thoroughly
Start with a clean pool.
Brush the walls and floor, vacuum the pool, skim the surface, and remove leaves or other debris. Organic material left in the pool all winter can contribute to staining, algae, and poor water quality in the spring.
This is also a good time to remove ladders, cleaners, toys, and other accessories that will not remain in the pool during the winter.
2. Test Your Pool Water
Before adding your winterizing chemicals, test the pool water.
Proper water balance is especially important when the water will be sitting in the pool for several months. Unbalanced water can contribute to staining, scaling, corrosion, liner problems, and other issues.
A closing water test should evaluate important factors including:
- pH
- Total alkalinity
- Calcium or water hardness
- Sanitizer level
- Stabilizer when applicable
- Phosphate levels when applicable
You can test your water at home, or bring a water sample to Sunny’s Pools & More for computerized water testing and recommendations.
3. Balance the Water
Once you know what your water needs, make the necessary adjustments before adding your final winter treatments.
Balancing the water first gives your closing chemicals the best opportunity to work properly throughout the off-season.
If you make significant adjustments to your water chemistry, consider having the water tested again before completing the closing process. Our team can help determine the appropriate levels based on your pool surface, sanitizer system, and water conditions.
4. Lower the Water Level as Needed
The proper winter water level depends on your pool type, cover, skimmer, plumbing configuration, and manufacturer recommendations.
Lower the water only as much as your particular winterizing process requires. Avoid automatically draining large amounts of water without first checking the recommendations for your pool.
If you are unsure how far your water should be lowered, ask the Sunny’s Pools & More team before proceeding.
5. Prepare the Plumbing and Equipment for Winter
Water remaining inside pool plumbing and equipment can freeze, expand, and cause damage.
Depending on your pool system, winterization may include draining or blowing out plumbing lines, protecting the skimmer and return fittings, draining pumps and filters, winterizing heaters, and safely storing removable equipment.
Above-ground and inground pools can require different closing procedures, so always follow the recommendations for your specific pool and equipment.
6. Add Your Pool Closing Chemicals
Once the pool is clean and the water has been properly balanced, it’s time to add the appropriate winterizing products.
Common pool closing products can include:
- Pool shock
- Winter algaecide
- Phosphate remover
- Metal sequestrant or stain-prevention treatment
- Enzyme treatments
- Sanitizer-specific winter treatments
The exact products you need will depend on your pool size, water chemistry, and sanitizing system.
Sunny’s carries winterizing products for traditional chlorine pools as well as alternative water-care systems such as Baquacil, mineral systems, and other specialty programs.
Make Pool Closing Easier With a Pool Closing Kit
One of the easiest ways to simplify the chemical side of winterizing your pool is with a complete opening and closing kit.
The Poolife® Pool Care Collection includes a convenient opening/closing system designed to take the guesswork out of seasonal pool care.
The Poolife opening/closing kit includes:
- Open/Close Algistat
- TurboShock® shock treatment
- Metal-removing agent
The kit is designed for pools up to 20,000 gallons and provides several of the essential treatments needed to prepare your water for the off-season.
Poolife closing kits and other winterizing chemicals are available at Sunny’s Pools & More locations.
Don’t Forget the Winter Pool Cover
Once your pool and equipment have been prepared for winter, properly installing your winter cover is the final layer of protection.
A quality winter pool cover helps keep leaves, dirt, and other debris out of the water while limiting exposure to sunlight that can encourage algae growth.
Inspect your cover before installation for excessive wear, holes, damaged straps, or other problems. Make sure you are using a cover designed for your pool type and follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Depending on your pool, you may also need winterizing accessories such as plugs, water tubes, cover clips, an ice equalizer pillow, or other closing equipment.
Water Testing Before Pool Closing
One of the easiest mistakes to make when closing a pool is adding a standard dose of chemicals without knowing what is already in the water.
Every pool has different chemistry.
Before you close, bring a water sample to Sunny’s Pools & More. Water testing can help identify what needs to be adjusted before the pool is winterized, so you can purchase the products your pool actually needs rather than guessing.
For the best sample, collect water from below the surface and bring it in a clean container. Let our team know that you are preparing to close the pool as well as the type of sanitizer and equipment you use.
We can help you develop a closing plan based on your actual water conditions.
Pool Closing Supplies at Sunny’s Pools & More
Sunny’s Pools & More carries the products you need to prepare your swimming pool for a Michigan winter, including:
- Pool closing and winterizing kits
- Pool shock
- Winter algaecide
- Phosphate removers
- Stain and metal-control products
- Water-testing supplies
- Winter pool covers
- Winterizing plugs and accessories
- Pool and equipment replacement parts
Not sure which products work with your pool? Bring us a water sample and tell us about your pool size, equipment, and chemical system. Our knowledgeable team can help you put together the right closing supplies.
Need Help Closing Your Pool?
Properly closing your pool now can prevent unnecessary work and expensive surprises next spring.
Whether you need help balancing your water, choosing winter chemicals, finding the correct closing kit, replacing a winter cover, or figuring out how to winterize your particular pool system, Sunny’s Pools & More is here to help.
Visit your nearest Sunny’s Pools & More location or contact us today with your pool closing questions.
Close it right now—and open it easier next spring!