- 1). Drain the inground swimming pool using the pool's built-in drainage system or insert a clean, coiled garden hose until one end and the coil reach the bottom of the pool. Keep the other end of the hose outside the pool and aimed in a direction conducive to drainage. The water will begin emptying from the pool through the hose within seconds. Some pool manufacturers recommend leaving a few inches of water in the bottom of the pool. Check your own pool's instructions and warranties and make this decision based on their recommendations.
- 2). Backwash the pool's filter. Drain filter tanks. Disconnect the swimming pool pump and filter. Be sure that no water is left in the pump by tipping it upside down until all water is out. Take drain plugs out of the pump. Drain the pool's heater and blow it out with a shop vac, air hose or compressor. Remove the drain plugs from the heater. Loosen all unions of quick disconnect fittings on both the pool pump and filter system.
- 3). Remove the return jet fittings and skimmer baskets. Skimmer baskets are the perfect place to store small pieces like drain plugs that must be removed. This will make finding these parts much easier in the spring. Blow out all of the return jet pipes using the shop vac, air hose or compressor. Repeat this process with the skimmer pipes. Finally, it is time to blow out the drain line.
- 4
This inground swimming pool has been properly closed for the winter.
Cover all exposed pipes with duct tape. Remove stray items like ropes and floats. Put away the diving board, slide and ladders. If you have a sand filter it doesn't have to be moved inside. Paper filters and the swimming pool pump must be removed and stored inside. A garage, or even an outdoor shed, is fine for winter storage of these parts. Mix chemicals per manufacturer's instructions. - 5). Check the pool cover for rips or punctures and repair as necessary. Duct tape works well for repairing swimming pool covers. Put the swimming pool cover over the pool. Fill the water tubes per manufacturer's instructions and seal closed. Lay them out, stringing them through the loops on the swimming pool cover. They may be spaced up to 1 foot. When following these simple steps, your inground swimming pool should be safe and secure until it is time to reopen in the spring or summer.
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