| The first thing you need to do is take care of the | | | | absorb the expansion will do such as some empty |
| water. Start by checking your pH level. It should | | | | chemical containers half filled with water. When |
| be about 7.5. If it isn't, simply add some dry acid | | | | you fit the winter cover, make sure it is tight to |
| or soda ash. | | | | prevent anything from getting underneath. |
| Next on the list is the chlorine. You want to raise | | | | Make sure children know the swimming pool is |
| the level of chlorine to somewhere around 6 to | | | | now closed and off limits to visitors. A pool cover |
| 10 ppm. | | | | is designed to keep leaves, dirt etc. out of the |
| Now add a special winterizing product that will | | | | water. It is not designed to take the weight of a |
| ensure your swimming pool is will protected from | | | | person or even a pet. If you do have mall children |
| algae during the coming winter months. | | | | their are products now available that are winter |
| Once you have added everything required you will | | | | safety covers. After a few days you will probably |
| need to leave your pump running for a good 12 | | | | have to tighten the cover again so keep an eye |
| hours. This will make sure the chlorine and | | | | on it for the first few days. You should then |
| winterizing product is completely distributed | | | | check your cover a couple of times a week |
| throughout the water. | | | | throughout winter to ensure it is still secure and |
| To get the water level in the swimming pool | | | | tight. |
| correct you should switch off your skimmer | | | | With the cover securely in place you should now |
| valve and let the water drain until it is 6" below | | | | drain the water from your filter, pump and heater. |
| the skimmer's bottom. This will prevent flooding | | | | You will find a drain plug at the bottom of each. If |
| due to rainwater. | | | | you don't do this, when the water freezes inside |
| Prepare your summer cover for storage by | | | | the equipment it will most likely damage them |
| giving it a good clean with either a pressure | | | | beyond repair. |
| washer or some fresh clean water. Once it is | | | | Once early spring arrives and the worst of the |
| thoroughly cleaned it can be put away and your | | | | weather is over, you should run your pump for a |
| winter cover taken out of storage. | | | | good 6 to 10 hours, depending on the size of |
| Before fitting the winter cover place something in | | | | your pool, to circulate the chlorine and long life |
| the pool to prevent wall damage if the water in | | | | algicide throughout the entire swimming pool. |
| your swimming pool freezes. Anything that will | | | | |