How Do I Close My Above Ground Pool For Winter

Okay, folks, let's talk about something nobody really wants to think about: closing your above ground pool for winter. Shudder. It's like admitting summer is officially over. It’s like saying goodbye to sunshine, pool floats, and questionable tan lines. But hey, gotta do it, right?

So, you’ve got this big, beautiful (or maybe slightly algae-prone) above ground pool. Winter's coming. What's a pool owner to do? Buckle up, buttercup. Here’s the lowdown, presented with a healthy dose of my own, slightly unorthodox opinions.

The Big Clean (Or, Pretend You Did a Big Clean)

First, there's the cleaning. Everyone tells you to meticulously scrub every inch. They say you need to channel your inner Cinderella and make that pool sparkle. I'm going to be brutally honest here. Sometimes, a quick skim and a prayer is all you get. Life happens. Kids happen. The dog decided the pool was his personal bathtub. I get it. Do your best. Maybe delegate to a responsible (or semi-responsible) teenager.

Next, the chemistry. The pool store guys will try to sell you a whole pharmacy of chemicals. Balancing this, shocking that, adjusting the other thing. My hot take? Test the water, sure. Add what you need. But don't go overboard. Mother Nature has a way of taking over anyway. Plus, you’re just going to drain most of it out, right?

Water Works (And Water Drainage, Actually)

Ah, the water level. The eternal debate. Do you drain it all the way down? Do you leave some in? My opinion? Follow your pool’s instructions, for sure. But also, listen to your gut. And maybe your neighbor who’s had a pool for 20 years and claims he’s a pool-closing guru. Take everything with a grain of salt (or maybe a chlorine tablet).

Some folks swear by those gizmos that absorb the ice pressure. They’re called things like ice equalizers. They dangle in the water and prevent your pool walls from imploding when the water freezes. They seem like a good idea, right? Probably. Unless you forget to put them in. Then you have an expensive, metal-shaped paperweight.

The Cover-Up (Literally)

Then there's the cover. Ugh, the pool cover. It’s usually a giant, unwieldy tarp that requires a Herculean effort to wrangle. You’ll need the strength of ten Olympic weightlifters and the patience of a saint. My tip? Enlist friends. Promise pizza. Bribe them with the promise of a pool party next summer. Misery loves company, and all that.

And those little water tubes you fill to hold the cover down? Genius. Until they start leaking. Then you have a bunch of soggy, useless sausages lying around your pool deck. It's a delightful look. Pro tip: duct tape. It fixes everything. Even leaky water tubes. (Maybe.)

The Waiting Game (The Hardest Part)

Finally, the waiting. Months of staring at a covered pool, dreaming of warmer days. It’s a true test of patience. You'll wonder if you did everything right. You'll worry about algae blooms lurking beneath the cover. You'll question your life choices. But hey, at least you're not swimming in ice. Think of it as a forced vacation from pool maintenance.

And when spring finally arrives? Well, that's a whole other story. Expect surprises. Expect a little bit of green. Expect to spend a small fortune on chemicals. But hey, you'll be swimming again. And that's all that matters, right?

So, there you have it. My not-so-expert guide to closing your above ground pool. Remember, this is just one person’s opinion. Your mileage may vary. And if all else fails? Just hire someone. Seriously. Sometimes, it's worth every penny to avoid the pool-closing headache. Especially if you’re like me and consider yard work a form of cruel and unusual punishment.

Now go forth, and face the winter with a (mostly) closed pool and a (slightly) lighter wallet. You've got this! (Probably.) Just remember to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Because, let's face it, owning a pool is a lot like owning a really big, expensive, water-filled headache. But a headache that provides endless summer fun. Which, in my book, makes it totally worth it.

One last piece of advice? Before you totally button everything up, double check that you’ve safely stored your favorite pool floats. You don't want to open the shed in May only to find they've mysteriously sprouted legs and run off to warmer climates!

Oh, and one more thing that I almost forgot. Before completely closing your pool for the winter, make sure you bring in any pool accessories that might be damaged or ruined by the cold. You'll thank yourself in the spring when your skimmer net isn't a shattered, useless mess. And on the note of the pool itself, be sure to check with the pool's manufacterer to follow thier recommended closing and winterization process.