8 Essential Tools for Closing an Above Ground Pool for Winter

Closing down the backyard pool for the season is a bittersweet milestone that marks the official end of summer fun. Taking the time to winterize your investment properly now ensures you will not face cracked walls, ruined liners, or swampy water come spring. With the right set of tools, this seasonal transition becomes a straightforward weekend project rather than a stressful chore.

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Why Proper Winterization Saves Your Pool Budget

Water expands by about nine percent when it freezes into ice, creating immense outward pressure inside your pool. Without proper seasonal preparation, this expansion can easily warp steel walls, split plumbing lines, and tear expensive vinyl liners. Fixing these structural issues in the spring often costs thousands of dollars or forces a complete pool replacement.

Investing in high-quality closing equipment pays for itself by preventing these destructive freeze-thaw cycles from taking hold. Reliable plugs, covers, and pillows act as a defensive shield against winter weather and debris. A small upfront cost now saves you from the emergency expenses of structural repairs and endless spring chemical treatments.

Beyond structural protection, proper winterization preserves your pool chemistry over the long dark months. Algae thrives in stagnant, unprotected water as soon as temperatures begin to rise in early spring. Keeping the water clear and chemically balanced under a secure cover makes your spring opening fast, simple, and incredibly cheap.

Winter Cover – Blue Wave Bronze Round Cover

A solid winter cover is your pool’s first line of defense against the harsh winter elements. It blocks out sunlight to prevent algae growth, keeps leaves and debris out of the water, and stops evaporation. Without a reliable cover, your pool turns into an open-air compost bin by the time warm weather returns.

The Blue Wave Bronze Round Cover stands out due to its heavy-duty polyethylene construction and heat-sealed seams that resist ripping. It features a dark underside to completely block light, which is crucial for halting algae photosynthesis during the off-season. The cover is constructed with a generous 4-foot overlap, providing extra material to prevent pulling or slipping when snow piles up.

Sizing and installation require careful attention to your specific pool dimensions rather than a guessing game.

• Material: Heavy-duty polyethylene
• Overlap: 4-foot overlap for secure fitting
• Inclusions: Vinyl-coated steel cable and metal winch tightener
• Warranty: 8-year limited warranty
• Color: Forest green top with a black underside

This cover is ideal for pool owners in moderate winter zones who need dependable protection against wind, rain, and light snow. It is not the right choice for regions that experience heavy, prolonged snow accumulation without the support of a solid pool cover pump or extra structural bracing.

Pool Cover Pump – Little Giant APCP-1700 Pump

Standing water on top of a winter cover poses a major threat to your pool’s structural integrity. Hundreds of gallons of accumulated rain and melted snow can weigh thousands of pounds, dragging the cover down and bowing the pool walls inward. A dedicated cover pump removes this weight automatically before it can cause permanent structural damage.

The Little Giant APCP-1700 Pump is a submersible utility pump designed specifically for the punishing environment of a winter cover. It features an integrated mechanical float switch that automatically activates the pump when water reaches two inches and shuts it off when the surface is clear. This hands-off operation ensures your pool cover stays light and safe all winter long without constant manual monitoring.

Before purchasing, ensure you have a reliable outdoor extension cord that can safely reach the pool.

• Flow Rate: Up to 1,700 gallons per hour
• Discharge Port: Standard 3/4-inch garden hose connection
• Power Cord: 25-foot heavy-duty cord
• Activation: Turns on at 2 inches, off at 3/4 inch of water
• Design: Low-profile, wide-base footprint for stability on vinyl covers

This automatic pump is perfect for homeowners in high-precipitation regions who want peace of mind during heavy winter storms. It is unnecessary for pool owners in arid, desert climates where winter rainfall is minimal and evaporation naturally keeps water weight down.

Winter Chemical Kit – In The Swim Deluxe Kit

Closing a pool with unbalanced or untreated water is a recipe for staining, scaling, and a massive algae bloom. Winter chemicals work together in cold water to keep pathogens at bay and protect the vinyl liner from mineral deposits. A dedicated winter kit provides all the essential treatments in pre-measured amounts to eliminate guesswork.

The In The Swim Deluxe Kit offers a comprehensive, multi-stage chemical defense system designed for cold-water dormancy. It contains a winterizing algaecide, slow-releasing sanitizer floaters, chlorine-free shock, and a powerful stain and scale preventer. This combination ensures that the pool water remains clear, balanced, and free of mineral rings throughout the winter.

To get the best results, you must calculate your pool’s total volume before purchasing to ensure the kit is rated for your capacity.

• Capacity Options: Kits rated for up to 10,000, 20,000, or 35,000 gallons
• Key Contents: Winter Algaecide, Rust & Scale Preventer, Non-Chlorine Shock, and Winterizing Floater
• Compatibility: Safe for all vinyl liners and above ground pool types

This kit is a fantastic option for pool owners who want a straightforward, pre-packaged chemical routine that guarantees a clean spring opening. It is not suitable for those who prefer to source bulk individual chemicals or run highly customized copper-based sanitizing systems.

Pool Air Pillow – Robelle Ice Equalizer Pillow

When water freezes, it expands outward with immense force, which can easily split above ground pool walls and destroy the skimmer. An air pillow sits in the center of the pool under the cover, acting as a pressure-relief valve. As the ice expands inward, it compresses the pillow instead of pushing against the pool’s metal framework.

The Robelle Ice Equalizer Pillow is manufactured from thick, heavy-gauge vinyl designed to withstand extreme cold and high pressure. Unlike cheap inflatables that split along the seams, this pillow features reinforced heat-sealed edges and a secure valve that prevents air leakage under heavy snow loads.

Proper inflation is the key to preventing failure; always inflate the pillow to only 60 to 80 percent of its capacity to allow room for winter compression.

• Material: 16-gauge heavy-duty vinyl
• Size Options: 4×4 feet, 4×8 feet, and 4×15 feet
• Attachment: Heavy-duty grommets on all four corners for easy centering
• Valve: Dual-action leak-proof valve

This pillow is a mandatory purchase for pool owners in northern regions where temperatures consistently drop below freezing. It is not needed for southern climates where pools are closed but ice never forms on the water’s surface.

Skimmer Plug – Aquador Skimmer Cover Faceplate

Water entering your pool’s skimmer during the winter can freeze inside the plastic housing, causing it to crack and leak. Traditional closing methods require draining the pool water below the skimmer mouth, which wastes water and compromises the pool’s structural stability. A skimmer plug seals the opening tightly, allowing you to keep your water level high.

The Aquador Skimmer Cover Faceplate is a snap-on plastic lid that seals off the skimmer opening completely from the front of the pool. It replaces your existing skimmer faceplate with a specialized frame, allowing you to simply press the weather-resistant lid into place when winter arrives. This airtight and watertight barrier keeps water out of your skimmer plumbing without lowering your pool’s water level.

Ensure you purchase the exact model size that matches your current skimmer brand and mounting screw pattern.

• Material: UV-resistant, impact-resistant plastic
• Compatibility: Fits Hayward, Poolmaster, and other standard skimmer models
• Operation: Snap-on lid requiring no tools for seasonal installation
• Benefits: Eliminates the need to drain pool water below the skimmer line

This is an excellent tool for eco-conscious pool owners who want to conserve water and protect their skimmer housing from freeze damage. It is not suitable for pools with custom, non-standard skimmer openings that do not match standard faceplate screw dimensions.

Expansion Plug – Hayward SP1022C Rubber Plug

The return lines that pump water back into your pool must be sealed off to prevent water from entering the filtration plumbing. If water gets trapped in these underground or exposed pipes during a freeze, the expanding ice will split the PVC or flexible hoses. A reliable expansion plug blocks these openings from the inside of the pool wall.

The Hayward SP1022C Rubber Plug features a tapered rubber body with a non-corrosive nylon wing nut and stainless steel bolt. As you tighten the wing nut, the rubber compresses and expands to create a completely airtight seal inside the pipe. This durable design ensures that no water can seep past the plug, even under extreme winter pressure.

Always verify the interior diameter of your return lines to choose the correct plug size, as a loose fit will fail during a hard freeze.

• Size: Standard 1.5-inch diameter
• Material: Heavy-duty, chemical-resistant neoprene rubber
• Hardware: Corrosion-proof nylon wing nut and stainless steel bolt
• Application: Ideal for return inlets, cleaner lines, and skimmer bottoms

This plug is a must-have for anyone looking to secure standard threaded or smooth 1.5-inch return lines before winter. It is not suitable for oversized drain outlets or non-standard plumbing fixtures that require specialized threaded caps.

Cover Seal – Blue Wave Cover Shield Wrap

High winds are one of the most common causes of winter cover failure on above ground pools. If wind gets underneath the edges of the cover, it can create a sail effect, ripping the cover or pulling the anchor cables loose. Wrapping the perimeter of your pool seals these gaps and keeps the cover pinned securely in place.

The Blue Wave Cover Shield Wrap functions like heavy-duty, UV-stabilized plastic stretch wrap designed specifically for outdoor use. It clings tightly to itself, wrapping around the top rail and outer wall of your pool to block wind from getting underneath. This tight seal also prevents dirt, leaves, and bugs from blowing into your clean water during autumn storms.

Applying the wrap is a two-person job, as one person needs to hold the roll while the other guides it tightly around the pool wall.

• Material: Tough, UV-resistant stretch film
• Dimensions: Available in rolls of 500 or 1,000 feet
• Width: 20 inches wide for optimal coverage
• Installation: Clings to itself without leaving sticky adhesive residue behind

This product is highly effective for pools situated in wide-open, windy areas or coastal zones prone to winter gales. It is not necessary for heavily shielded backyards with high privacy fences or dense windbreaks that block the wind naturally.

Leaf Net Cover – Blue Wave Deluxe Leaf Net

Deciduous trees can dump hundreds of pounds of wet, heavy leaves onto your pool cover in a matter of weeks. If left to rot on a solid cover, these leaves turn into a heavy, acidic sludge that is incredibly difficult to remove in the spring. A leaf net cover catches this debris, allowing you to peel it away in one easy motion once the trees are bare.

The Blue Wave Deluxe Leaf Net is constructed from a durable, lightweight woven polyethylene mesh that allows water to pass through while trapping the smallest leaves. It features a generous 3-foot overlap that drapes comfortably over your primary winter cover. This design makes it easy to lift off the pool, taking all the accumulated organic debris with it in a single step.

Install the leaf net directly on top of your solid winter cover in the early autumn, and remove it completely once all the trees have finished shedding.

• Material: Lightweight, UV-protected woven polyethylene mesh
• Overlap: 3-foot overlap for secure placement over winter covers
• Inclusions: Heavy-duty vinyl-coated steel cable and metal winch
• Maintenance: Shake off dry leaves, rinse, and store dry for next autumn

This net is an invaluable time-saver for pool owners with heavy oak, maple, or pine trees hanging over their backyard. It is not worth the investment for clean yards with minimal foliage or yards surrounded only by evergreens.

How to Balance Pool Chemistry Before Closing

Closing your pool without balancing the water chemistry is an invitation for liner degradation and metal corrosion. Acidic water will slowly eat away at your copper heat exchangers and vinyl liner over the winter, while high-pH water leads to scale buildup. Getting your chemical levels perfect before sealing the cover ensures your pool surfaces stay protected in the cold.

Begin by adjusting your total alkalinity to between 80 and 120 parts per million (ppm), which stabilizes your pH levels. Next, adjust your pH to a range of 7.2 to 7.6, and ensure your calcium hardness sits around 200 to 400 ppm to protect your pool walls. Once these levels are set, add your winter shock and run the filter for at least twenty-four hours to distribute the chemicals evenly.

A common pitfall is adding winter shock and immediately covering the pool, which can bleach and weaken your vinyl liner. Allow the chlorine level to return to normal levels (between 1 and 3 ppm) before installing the winter cover and pillows. This extra step prevents chemical off-gassing from destroying your cover and liner during the winter hibernation.

Storing Your Filtration Gear Safely for Winter

Leaving water inside your pump, filter tank, or heater over the winter will almost certainly result in catastrophic freeze damage. When water turns to ice inside plastic housings, the pressure will crack the pump basket, filter manifold, and multi-port valve. Safely draining and storing your filtration gear is essential to avoid purchasing a whole new system in the spring.

Start by disconnecting all flexible hoses, draining them completely, and storing them in a dry, rodent-free area. Open the drain plugs on your pump housing and filter tank, allowing all trapped water to empty out entirely. If you have a sand filter, leave the drain cap off; if you use a cartridge filter, remove the element, clean it, and let it dry before storing.

Bring small, delicate components like pressure gauges, pump baskets, and rubber O-rings indoors to protect them from extreme temperature fluctuations. Coat all rubber seals with a silicone-based pool lubricant to prevent them from drying out and cracking during the dry winter months. Store the main pump motor in a garage or basement to keep moisture from rusting the internal electrical components.

Preventing Freeze Damage to Above Ground Walls

Above ground pool walls lack the structural support of surrounding earth, making them highly vulnerable to ice-related damage. When water freezes, it pushes outward against the metal frame, which can cause the walls to buckle or collapse entirely. Understanding how to manage this pressure is key to ensuring your pool structure survives the winter intact.

Never tighten your winter cover cable so tightly that it pulls down on the top rails of the pool wall. As snow and ice accumulate on top of the cover, this downward pull can collapse the metal uprights. Using an air pillow creates a flexible center point, forcing ice to expand inward and upward rather than pushing directly against the pool walls.

Keep a close eye on your pool’s water level throughout the winter months, checking for unexpected drops. A mid-winter leak will cause the water level to drop under the ice sheet, leaving the heavy ice suspended in mid-air. This suspended ice sheet will eventually drop, pulling the pool walls down with it and causing catastrophic structural failure.

Conclusion

Taking the time to close your above ground pool with the right tools ensures a stress-free transition into the cold months. By protecting your liner, plumbing, and structural walls now, you set yourself up for a quick and cost-effective spring opening. With your winter gear properly deployed, you can relax and watch the snow fall, knowing your backyard oasis is safe and secure.