Have You Completed Your Pool Closing Checklist for Winter?

The essential guide to protecting your pool and preventing costly winter damage on Martha’s Vineyard and on Cape Cod

Closing your pool properly before winter is the only way to avoid issues such as cloudy pool water, damaged equipment, leaks, infiltration, and even expensive pool resurfacing or structural repairs in a gunite pool or filtration system.

With colder weather arriving earlier this year, a preventive checklist has become absolutely essential for every pool owner.

Below is a practical, comprehensive guide that applies to every type of pool, including vinyl liner pools, fiberglass pools, gunite swimming pools, smart pools, and spas.

Balance and Treat the Water

Balanced water prevents staining, corrosion, algae growth, and winter problems that often lead homeowners to search for how to clear cloudy pool water or cloudy pool water fix.

Checklist:

• Adjust pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness • Apply shock treatment if needed • Add winterizing products to stabilize the water

Lower the Water Level

Lowering the level prevents ice expansion from pushing against tile, grout, and coping, especially in vinyl liner pools and other delicate surfaces.

Checklist:

• Reduce the water level to the recommended height • Ensure skimmers are properly drained

Remove Air and Seal All Plumbing Lines

This is the most important step to prevent frozen pipes, ruptures, and future pool leak repair or full pool renovation.

Checklist:

• Blow out suction and return lines • Remove all water from plumbing • Add pool-safe antifreeze when required • Seal every line with proper plugs

Drain and Protect the Equipment

Pumps, filters, heaters, chlorinators, and salt systems are highly vulnerable to freeze damage, often resulting in costly replacement or repair.

Checklist:

• Drain pump, filter, heater, chlorinator, and salt system • Remove all drain caps • Protect valves and fittings • Store any accessories sensitive to low temperatures

Prepare the Spa (if applicable)

Your spa can remain active with freeze protection or be fully winterized. Without proper care, freeze damage can easily ruin components.

Checklist:

• Activate freeze protection or • Fully drain the spa • Blow out plumbing lines • Protect the cover and components

Protect Surface, Tile, and Coping

Gunite pools, fiberglass pools, vinyl pools, smart pools and spa premium finishes are all affected by freeze and thaw cycles, which can cause microcracks, loose tiles, or premature wear.

Checklist:

• Inspect coping and tile • Repair loose pieces • Apply protective products when recommended

Clean the Pool Before Closing

Any organic debris left behind can stain the surface or lead to cloudy pool water throughout the winter.

Checklist:

• Vacuum the entire pool • Brush walls and floor • Clean skimmer and pump baskets • Remove ladders, rails, and accessories

Why Professional Winterization Matters

A single mistake, such as a pipe that wasn’t drained completely or a valve left open, can lead to thousands of dollars in freeze-related damage.These issues impact pumps, filters, heaters, salt systems, tile, coping, and even the structural shell of gunite pools, fiberglass pools, vinyl liner pools and smart pools.

Millers Pools and Spa executes every step of the closing process with:

• Technical precision

• Proper equipment

• Skilled, certified, and experienced professionals

• Strict safety standards

• Continuous attention to your pool’s condition

For Millers Pools and Spa Clients

If you are already a

client, you can relax completely. Every step of this checklist is already included in your contract.

Our team handles the planning, execution, technical supervision, and full protection of your pool or spa, ensuring that it remains safe, stable, and ready for the next season.

With Millers Pools and Spa, your winter closing is handled with care, accuracy, and complete technical responsibility.

Not a Millers Pools and Spa Client Yet?

If you are not yet a Millers client but want the security and peace of mind that professional winterization provides, now is the time to join us.

Contact Millers Pools and Spa today and let our team take care of everything, from pool closing and spa winterization to winter maintenance and preparation for the next swimming season.

With Millers Pools and Spa, your pool stays protected all year long, and your only job is to enjoy your home, your family, and every season to its fullest.