Much like shoe size, one size does not fit all! One method of pool care does not work for every pool, or every pool owner. Sure, there are preferences and practices that can lead to a more successful pool season, and these main ingredients don’t vary too much from situation to situation. But the details, the finishing touches, parsley vs. mint (metaphorically speaking, of course, don't throw a garnish in your pool) are very much up to the individual.
So you may be thinking, “Is it too early to close my pool? August is feeling like late October out there. But what if we have a heat wave in the fall again? Is opening the pool next spring going to be a pea-soup green headache if we close too soon?”
All valid points of consideration! Unfortunately, there’s no way to know what the weather will really do until it happens. On average, at least in Connecticut, most pool owners will winterize their pool sometime after Labor Day and before Thanksgiving.
That’s a pretty big window!
So here are some other questions you can ask yourself which may help you make your decision.
- What kind of use have you gotten out of your pool this season, and how much use do you expect to get out of your pool before you know it absolutely must be closed for the winter? Or more simply put, in this season of life, how likely are you to use the pool? If the kids are back in school, and work is ramping up again, it may not make sense to keep the pool open. But if you think, "We could get a couple more weekends out of it, even on chilly days," it probably doesn't make sense to close it!
- Is your pool balanced? An imbalanced pool closed and left over winter can be a corrosive nightmare, leading to pool structure and equipment damage. It may not be time to close if your water it not balanced. I know some pool owners who can't be bothered to keep the water balanced towards the end of the season, and feel they are adding chemicals simply to pump them right out again when they drop the water below the skimmer line. There's not much to say to that, other than, "$20 dollars of chemicals now, or $2,000 dollars in repairs and replacements later." It may not be next year, but that corrosive water will be very expensive in the long run if not treated. At the very least, when it comes time to close, drop the water level, and then retest your balance before buttoning everything up for the next 4 to 5 months.
- Is the weather and water consistently a low temperature? Sure, that brisk feeling in the air has lingered for a few days, and you’re itching to pull out that storage bin in the attic packed with cozy sweaters. But as we know well, the weather can fluctuate. Waiting until water temperatures are consistently between 50- and 65-degrees Fahrenheit is probably the best key indicator of when to close your pool.
The good news is that most pools require very little chemical adjustment towards the end of August, so it’s not likely that you’ll spend a lot of time and money on keeping it clean., especially if you have a cover to help keep autumn leaves from settling in your pool. If you enjoy the pool during the summer, and don’t really use it after Labor Day, there’s no rule that says it can’t sit another few weeks, or even longer, before winterizing and closing.
The key is consistently cold weather, but before consistently freezing weather, proper chemical balance, and knowing your anticipated pool use for the coming months.