HOW TO WINTERIZE AN INGROUND POOL

CHECK LIST

CHLORINE POOL/SALT (salt does not work in temperatures below 70 degrees & unit is off during winter)

BALANCERS IF NEEDED i.e. alkalinity increaser/decreaser

pH increaser/decreaser

calcium increaser

FILTER CLEANER

5 LBS SHOCK

4 LBS CHLORINE TABLETS W/FLOATER

2 QTS ALGAECIDE

2 QTS CLARIFIER

2 QTS MINERAL STAIN OUT

2 NATURAL ENZYME TREATMENT

4 GALLONS ANTIFREEZE

RUBBER PLUGS (#8, #9 OR #10 FOR EACH LINE)

GIZZMOS (ONE FOR EACH SKIMMER)

WATER BAGS (ONLY IF YOU HAVE A BAG TYPE COVER)

WET/DRY VAC

BAQUACIL

BALANCERS IF NEEDED i.e. alkalinity increaser/decreaser

pH increaser/decreaser

calcium increaser

FILTER CLEANER

1 GAL SHOCK PER 10,000 GAL OF WATER

1/2 GAL SANITIZER PER 10,000 GAL OF WATER

1 QT ALGAECIDE

2 QTS CLARIFIER

1 METAL CONTROL PER 10,000 GAL OF WATER

2 QTS NATURAL ENZYME TREATMENT

4 GALLONS ANTIFREEZE

RUBBER PLUGS (#8, #9 OR #10 FOR EACH LINE)

GIZZMOS (ONE FOR EACH SKIMMER)

WATER BAGS (ONLY IF YOU HAVE A BAG TYPE COVER)

WET/DRY VAC

HOW TO WINTERIZE AN INGROUND POOL

************** IMPORTANT ***************

IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE READ AND DO EVERYTHING IN RED BECAUSE THIS IS A MUST!!!

NOTE

IF YOUR POOL LOOKS BAD OR YOUR WATER IS NOT PROPERLY BALANCED WHEN YOU CLOSE IT, IT WILL LOOK 10 TIMES WORSE WHEN YOU OPEN IT, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE CHEMICAL COST, LABOR & DAMAGE.

CLEAN POOL

1. VACUUM WALLS, STEPS AND FLOOR

2. BRUSH WATERLINE, WALLS, STEPS AND FLOOR

3. BACKWASH AND RINSE FILTER

CHEMICALLY CLEAN FILTER

1. RUN A FILTER CLEANER TREATMENT THROUGH YOUR FILTER SO IT WILL BE CLEAN AND

READY FOR NEXT YEAR. THIS WILL STRIP BODY OILS, SUNTAN LOTIONS, COSMETICS,

TREE, PLANT, GRASS SAPS AND OTHER GREASY CONTAMINATES THAT WILL CAUSE SAND,

CARTRIDGE AND DE FILTER GRIDS TO CALCIFY & SOLIDIFY FROM SITTING ALL WINTER.

SO CLEAN IT NOW WHILE THESE CONTAMINATES ARE SOFT AND EASY TO BREAK-DOWN.

BALANCE WATER (NOTE: TEST AND TREAT POOL IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER)

1. ALKALINITY-IDEAL RANGE (125-150ppm)

A. IF LOW, GOODBYE CHLORINE! (ACIDIC WATER, LINER DRYROT, FADING, PLASTER ETCHES,

STAINING & CORROSION OCCURS) ADD 1.5 LBS OF ALKALINITY INCREASER FOR EVERY

10,000 GAL OF WATER TO RAISE ALKALINITY 10PPM. (example: to raise alkalinity from 80ppm

to 120ppm in 20,000 gallons of water, you need to raise your alkalinity 40ppm which will take 12lbs of

alkalinity increaser.)

B. IF HIGH, CHLORINE WILL NOT WORK! (SCALE FORMS AND WATER CLOUDS) ADD

pH/ALKALINITY DECREASER OR MURIATIC ACID IN SMALL AMOUNTS BUT

FREQUENTLY

2. pH-IDEAL RANGE-(7.4-7.6ppm)

A. IF LOW, GOODBYE CHLORINE! (ACIDIC WATER, LINER DRYROT, FADING, PLASTER ETCHES,

STAINING & CORROSION OCCURS) ADD pH INCREASER AS PER INSTRUCTIONS.

Note: There is no standard for raising or lowering pH. This depends upon too many other factors. For

example if the TA (total alkalinity) is high it will take more acid to lower pH than if the TA is low.

the reverse is also true. There is no standard for lowering TA. Generally though you will want to

add acid in small volumes of say 1-2 pints per 10k gallons. The amount again depends upon how

high the TA is when you start, if very high say above 180ppm you can add the higher dose and if

lower add a smaller dose. After adding wait 24hrs and recheck pH and TA. If pH is above 7.2 and

TA is still high repeat the process. Over a few days the TA will drop. Attempting to do this with

large doses of acid at one time will only cause sharp drops in pH which can damage pool liners,

plaster, plumbing and equipment and erritate swimmers.

HOW TO WINTERIZE AN INGROUND POOL

3. CALCIUM-IDEAL RANGE (200-275ppm)

A. IF LOW, CORROSIVE WATER! (ETCHES PLASTER, CORRODES METALS, WATER FOAMS, YOU

FEEL SLIMY) ADD 1 LB OF CALCIUM INCREASER PER 10,000 GAL TO RAISE 10 PPM.

B. IF HIGH, SCALE FORMS! (ROUGH DISCOLORED PLASTER, LIMES HEATER & PLUMBING).

DRAIN OR PARTIALLY DRAIN POOL IF SOURCE WATER IS NOT HIGH IN CALCIUM THEN

ADD 1 QT OF MINERAL STAIN OUT PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

SANITIZE & SHOCK

1. (CHLORINE)

A. FILL FLOAT FEEDER WITH CHLORINE TABLETS & ADJUST TO THE LOWEST SETTING.

B. SHOCK WITH 3 LB PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

2. (BAQUACIL)

A. 1/2 GAL SANITIZER PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

B. 1 GAL SHOCK PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

ALGAECIDES/CLARIFIERS/SEQUESTERING AGENTS

1. (CHLORINE)

A. ADD 1QT OF ALGAECIDE PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

B. ADD 1 QT OF CLARIFIER PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

C. ADD 1 QT OF MINERAL STAIN OUT PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. THIS IS EXTREMELY

IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE ON WELL WATER!

D. ADD 1 QT OF NATURAL ENZYME PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

2. (BAQUACIL)

A. ADD 5 1/4 OZ OF BAQUACIL ALGAECIDE PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

B. ADD 1 BOTTLE OF BAQUACIL METAL CONTROL PER 10,000 GALLONS OF

WATER. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE ON WELL WATER!

C. ADD 1 QT CLARIFIER PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

D. ADD 1 QT NATURAL ENZYME PER 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER.

WINTERIZE PLUMBING

1. WITH THE FILTER IN THE WASTE OR BACKWASH POSITION, LOWER THE WATER LEVEL

1/4” BELOW THE SKIMMER BY CLOSING SKIMMER VALVE COMPLETELY & OPENING THE

DRAIN VALVE COMPLETELY. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A SHUT OFF VALVE FOR THE

SKIMMER THEN USE A GIZZMO OR A RUBBER PLUG TO PLUG THE SUCTION HOLE IN THE

BOTTOM OF THE SKIMMER AND OPEN THE DRAIN VALVE COMPLETELY. THIS WILL

ALLOW YOU TO LOWER THE WATER LEVEL JUST BELOW THE SKIMMER WITHOUT THE

PUMP RUNNING DRY. (TIP-If you have a water bag type cover, now would be a good time to start filling

water bags to save time and speed up the winterizing process).

NOTE: AFTER DRAINING POOL BELOW SKIMMER JUST BEFORE TURNING OFF THE PUMP

UNPLUG OR OPEN SKIMMER SO THAT SKIMMER LINE WILL SUCK ALMOST

COMPLETELY DRY.

NOTE: IF YOUR MAIN DRAIN & SKIMMER ARE TIED TOGETHER AT THE SKIMMER THEN

PLUG OFF THE LINE TO DRAIN SO THAT WATER FROM POOL DOES NOT KEEP

RUNNING BACK IN, FILLING THE SKIMMER.

HOW TO WINTERIZE AN INGROUND POOL

2. REMOVE ALL EYEBALL FITTINGS FROM RETURN JETS. IMPORTANT- MAKE SURE YOU

RETRIEVE THE ENTIRE FITTING. GENERALLY THE EYEBALL FITTING IS COMPRISED OF 3

PIECES. THE LOCKING COLLAR, EYEBALL AND THREADED WALL FITTING.

3. IF APPLICABLE, REMOVE THE AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANER WALL FITTING.

4. REMOVE ALL PLUGS FROM PUMP (USUALLY 2) AND FILTER (USUALLY 1) TO LET EXCESS

WATER DRAIN OUT THEN PUT THEM BACK IN.

5. PUT THE FILTER VALVE IN THE RECIRCULATE POSITION. (NOTE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE

THIS OPTION THEN REMOVE FILTER DRAIN PLUG, LET DRAIN COMPLETELY THEN PUT

PLUG BACK IN AND CONTINUE).

6. USE A WET/DRY VAC IN EXHAUST MODE. PUT THE HOSE IN THE SKIMMER LINE GOING

BACK TO PUMP. THIS WILL FORCE ANY REMAINING WATER THROUGH EQUIPMENT AND

BACK TO THE POOL EXITING THE RETURN LINES WHERE THE JETS WERE. TIP- IF YOU

ARE WINTERIZING THE POOL BY YOURSELF THEN IN ORDER TO PLUG THE LINES WHILE

BLOWING THEM FREE FROM WATER, FIRST TAKE 3’ OF 1-1/2” PVC PIPE AND GLUE A 1-1/2”

PVC MALE ADAPTER TO IT. SCREW THE MALE ADAPTER INTO THE SKIMMER SUCTION

LINE. DUCT TAPE YOUR WET/DRY VAC HOSE ON TO THE PVC PIPE. THIS WILL ALLOW

YOU TO BLOW THE LINES FREE OF WATER WHILE PLUGGING THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

7. USING #9 OR #10 RUBBER WINTERIZING PLUGS, PLUG EACH LINE STARTING WITH THE

FIRST ONE THAT BLOWS AIR AND CONTINUE CONSECUTIVELY UNTIL ALL LINES ARE

PLUGGED.

8. REMOVE PVC PIPE AND GIZZMOS FROM SKIMMERS.

9. POUR 1 GALLON OF POOL ANTIFREEZE IN EACH SKIMMER.

10. RE-INSTALL GIZZMOS ONLY IN THE SKIMMERS BECAUSE THEY ABSORB THE EXPANSION

OF ICE DURING FREEZING SO AS NOT TO DAMAGE THE SKIMMERS.

11. POUR 1/3 OF A GALLON OF POOL ANTIFREEZE IN EACH SKIMMER. THIS WILL GIVE

ADDED PROTECTION SO THAT WHEN YOU RAISE THE WATER LEVEL BACK INTO THE

SKIMMERS, THE ANTIFREEZE MIXED WITH THE WATER WILL KEEP IT FROM FREEZING

THUS KEEPING THE SKIMMER WALL FROM CRACKING.

12. TO PROTECT YOUR POOLS LINER, TILE, GROUT, PLASTER AND STRUCTURE, TAKE 3

GALLONS OF POOL ANTIFREEZE AND POUR OUT JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW AIR IN

THE TAPERED NECK PORTION ONLY SO THAT THEY WILL FLOAT IN THE WATER AT THE

PROPER LEVEL. TIP-Do not pour out too much, otherwise the jugs will float too high in the water and

when the water starts to freeze they will be pushed up on top of the ice which will in turn defeat the

purpose. THIS PROCEDURE IS VITAL BECAUSE WHEN THE WATER FREEZES, THIS

ALLOWS THE ANTIFREEZE JUGS TO TAKE THE EXPANSION OF THE ICE. THIS SIMPLE

AND INEXPENSIVE PROCEDURE SAVES YOU MONEY AVOIDING DAMAGE TO YOUR

POOL AND YOU’LL EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR POOLS LINER, PLASTER, TILE AND

GROUT. SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT BY FLOATING TIRE INNER TUBES, FIRE WOOD

LOGS AND OTHER INFLATABLES, THAT THEY ARE DOING BASICALLY THE SAME THING.

NO!! IT IS NOT THE SAME THING! INFLATABLES FLOAT ON TOP OF THE WATER AND

WOOD WILL NOT GIVE BECAUSE IT IS A SOLID OBJECT. YOU GET ABSOLUTELY NO

BENEFIT FROM EITHER ONE OF THESE ITEMS.

NOTE: DO NOT USE AUTOMOBILE ANTIFREEZE BECAUSE IT IS VERY TOXIC AND

PETROLEUM BASED AND WILL RUIN YOUR LINER, PLASTER AND EQUIPMENT!

HOW TO WINTERIZE AN INGROUND POOL

EQUIPMENT

PUMP-REMOVE DRAIN PLUGS (USUALLY 2)

FILTER-REMOVE DRAIN PLUG (USUALLY 1)

AUTOMATIC CHLORINATOR-REMOVE CHLORINE TABLETS AND DRAIN PLUG (USUALLY 1)

AUTOMATIC POOL CLEANER BOOSTER PUMP-REMOVE DRAIN PLUG (USUALLY 1)

HEATER-REMOVE DRAIN PLUGS

OPEN PETCOCK VALVES

DISCONNECT PRESSURE SWITCH (look for 1/4” copper line located behind door up and under)

TURN GAS VALVE KNOB TO OFF POSITION

TURN THERMOSTAT DOWN

TIP- Put all plugs to all equipment in pump basket so that you’ll know where to find them next season.

COVER

(SAFETY COVER)

1. WHEN UNROLLING, UNFOLDING & STRETCHING COVER BE CAREFUL NOT TO DRAG &

SNAG COVER ON THE ANCHORS. TIP- Unroll and spread cover first before raising deck anchors.

(WATER BAG COVER)

1. WHILE LOWERING WATER LEVEL START FILLING WATER BAGS NOW TO SAVE TIME

MAKING YOUR WINTERIZING PROCESS MUCH FASTER.

2. FILL WATER BAGS 1/2 TO 3/4 FULL ONLY!

3. LAY BAGS END TO END MAKING SURE THEY TOUCH. THIS WILL KEEP OUT BLOWING

DEBRIS FROM MAKING ITS WAY UNDER THE COVER.

4. ADD 1” TO 2” OF WATER ON TOP OF COVER TO HOLD DOWN IN WIND.

NOTE: DO NOT COMPLETELY FILL WATER BAGS OR THEY WILL BUST FROM FREEZING

AND/OR ROLL OFF THE COVER AND DECK. WHEN THEY ARE 1/2 FLAT THE

WATER HAS ROOM TO EXPAND AND STAY STATIONARY.

*************** IMPORTANT ***************

IF YOU HAVE A WATER BAG TYPE COVER, DO NOT LET MORE THAN 4” TO 6” OF WATER ACCUMULATE ON YOUR COVER OR IT WILL FALL IN FROM THE EXTREME WEIGHT DUMPING DEBRIS IN YOUR CLEAN POOL CAUSING A LOT OF WORK LATER PLUS CAUSING STRESS AND WEAR ON COVER, RESULTING IN TEARS AND HOLES WHICH ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. DO NOT LET DEBRIS SET ON COVER LONG ENOUGH TO BREAK DOWN AND DECAY. THIS WILL DETERIORATE THE COVER WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, PLUS THIS FINE SILT WILL PASS THROUGH YOUR COVER AND CONTAMINATE YOUR POOL WATER THUS RESULTING IN DIRTY POOL WATER AT SPRING OPENING.

ATTENTION

* 8 YEAR PRO-RATED FIRST 2 YEARS FULL

* ALL COVER WARRANTY CLAIMS ARE BETWEEN MANUFACTURER AND CUSTOMER.

* YOU MUST PRESENT PROOF OF PURCHASE.

* WARRANTY COVERS SEPARATION AT THE SEAMS ONLY!

* DAMAGE FROM ANIMALS, WIND, HAIL, CHEMICALS AND FRAYING ARE NOT COVERED.

HOW TO WINTERIZE AN INGROUND POOL

INSURANCE

TO INSURE LESS WORK AND A CLEANER, CLEARER POOL WHEN OPENING THE FOLLOWING SPRING, YOU’LL NEED TO GIVE YOUR POOL A BOOSTER TREATMENT.

YOU SEE, YOUR POOL LIES DORMANT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN BACTERIA AND ALGAE CAN’T GROW. BUT AS WE HEAD INTO SPRING, THE DAYS ARE GETTING LONGER THUS, SUBJECTING YOUR POOL TO MORE SUNLIGHT AND WARMER TEMPERATURES WHICH PROMOTES BACTERIA AND ALGAE GROWTH. ALSO SPRING WEATHER BRINGS SPORES AND POLLENS FROM BUDDING TREES, PLANTS AND GRASSES NOT TO MENTION MOLDS AS A RESULT FROM THE SPRING RAINS WHICH BECOME AIR BORN AND FURTHER CONTAMINATE YOUR POOLS WATER AND DILUTE ANY TRACE CHEMICALS THAT MAY BE LEFT.

IF YOU WERE TO LOOK UNDER YOUR POOLS COVER IN FEBRUARY, THE WATER IS PROBABLY STILL CLEAR BUT THE NEXT 60 DAYS ARE CRITICAL BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN YOUR POOL WILL GO THROUGH A METAMORPHOSIS CHANGING FROM CLEAN TO GREEN, COSTING YOU MORE MONEY AND TIME TO CORRECT. TRUST US, THIS SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE TREATMENT REALLY WORKS!

CHLORINE POOL BAQUACIL POOL

ADD: 2 QTS ALGAECIDE ADD: 1 QT ALGAECIDE

2 QTS CLARIFIER 2 QTS CLARIFIER

2 QTS STAIN & SCALE 2 METALCONTROL

5 LBS SHOCK 2 GAL SHOCK

FILL FLOAT FEEDER WITH CHLORINE TABLETS 2 SANITIZERS

STIR WATER WITH POOL BRUSH STIR WATER WITH POOL BRUSH

REMEMBER, THE BETTER INFORMED AND EDUCATED YOU ARE, THE MORE YOU’LL LOVE YOUR SWIMMING POOL AND WE’LL HAVE A CUSTOMER FOR LIFE.

RESPECTFULLY,

THE SWIMMING POOL PEOPLE

CRYSTAL CLEAR POOLS

AND REMEMBER WE MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TO SHOP HERE WITH OUR BEST PRICE GUARANTEE. IF YOU FIND IT CHEAPER WE’LL MATCH IT!

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