Closing the Swimming Pool for the Season: More Than Just Turning It Off
Close it properly. Document what you find. Fix what needs attention. And give yourself a head start on next season.
As summer comes to an end, swimming pool operations begin to wind down. The furniture gets stored, the last swimmers leave, and eventually the pool equipment is shut down.
But closing a commercial or community swimming pool properly is more than simply turning off the pumps and putting on the cover.
For a facilities manager, the end-of-season shutdown is an important preventive-maintenance opportunity. A properly winterized pool protects expensive equipment, reduces the risk of freeze damage, and can make the following spring’s startup significantly easier.
The basic objective is straightforward: remove or protect water wherever freezing temperatures could cause damage, secure the facility for the off-season, and document anything that needs attention before the pool opens again.
Start Before You Shut Anything Down
The best pool closing doesn’t begin on the day the pool closes.
In the weeks leading up to shutdown, start looking for problems that should be addressed while the equipment is still operating. A pump that is making an unusual noise, a valve that’s difficult to operate, a leaking fitting, or deteriorated pipe insulation is much easier to investigate before the system has been winterized.
This is also a good time to review the equipment manufacturer’s winterization requirements. Every pool system is different, and the correct procedure depends on the type of pool, plumbing arrangement, equipment, and climate.
Don’t assume that last year’s procedure is automatically the right procedure this year.
Clean and Inspect the Pool
Before closing the pool, give the pool and surrounding area a thorough cleaning.
This isn’t just about leaving the facility looking good. Dirt, debris, and small maintenance issues are easier to address while everything is accessible.
Take a close look at the pool itself. Check the tile, drains, fittings, expansion joints, deck surfaces, sealants, and other components for damage or deterioration.
If you find something that needs repair, document it now.
A photograph and a work order created in September are far more useful than trying to remember what you saw several months later when you’re preparing to reopen the pool.
The Most Important Part: Protect the Plumbing
In a climate where temperatures regularly fall below freezing, one of the greatest risks during the winter is water trapped inside the pool’s plumbing and equipment.
Water expands when it freezes. That expansion can crack pipes, fittings, valves, pump housings, filters, and other components.
That’s why properly blowing out and draining the plumbing is such an important part of pool winterization.
The exact procedure will vary, but the goal is to remove water from the lines and equipment where freezing could cause damage. Main drains, skimmers, return lines, vacuum lines, water features, and other auxiliary systems all need to be considered.
This is one area where knowing your facility’s system really matters.
If you don’t have accurate piping diagrams or equipment documentation, the pool closing is a good reminder that those documents are worth creating. When you’re standing in front of a complicated mechanical system, knowing where each line goes can make maintenance significantly easier.
Turning Equipment Off Isn’t Enough
One common mistake with seasonal shutdowns is assuming that turning equipment off means the equipment is protected, it doesn’t.
A pump can be turned off and still contain water. A filter can be isolated and still contain water. A heat exchanger, valve, or section of piping can hold enough water to freeze and cause damage.
Equipment needs to be drained or winterized according to the manufacturer’s requirements.
Pay particular attention to low points and components that can trap water.
Off doesn’t necessarily mean empty. That simple distinction can prevent an expensive repair.
Don’t Forget the Mechanical Room
Once the pool itself is closed, it’s easy to stop thinking about the mechanical room. But the mechanical room remains an important part of the winterization plan.
Inspect the room before leaving it for the season. Look for leaks, damaged insulation, unprotected piping, doors or windows that don’t seal properly, and anything else that could create a problem during cold weather.
You should also know what provides freeze protection to the space.
If the mechanical room has to remain heated, what temperature is considered the minimum acceptable temperature? Is there an alarm if the temperature drops? Who receives that alarm? What happens if the building loses power?
These are facilities-management questions, not just pool-maintenance questions.
A pool can be properly winterized and still suffer damage because a mechanical room freezes.
Chemical Systems Need Attention Too
Pool chemicals and chemical-feed systems should be handled according to the equipment manufacturer’s requirements and your facility’s chemical-storage procedures.
Chemical containers, feed pumps, tubing, injection points, controllers, and associated equipment should all be addressed as part of the shutdown.
The chemical room should be left clean, secure, properly ventilated, and organized.
While you’re there, look for corrosion and deterioration. Pool chemicals can be particularly hard on equipment and surrounding building components, so the end of the season is a good opportunity to identify problems before they become larger ones.
Prepare the Deck and Seasonal Equipment
Closing the pool also means closing the pool deck.
Furniture, umbrellas, lifeguard equipment, signage, barriers, trash receptacles, and other seasonal equipment should be cleaned, inspected, repaired as necessary, and stored appropriately.
Don’t simply put damaged equipment into storage and forget about it.
If a chair is broken, create a work order. If a table needs repair, document it. If the pool cover is approaching the end of its useful life, start planning for its replacement.
The end of the season is actually a good time to think about next year’s budget.
You have a fresh view of what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to be replaced. Capture that information while it’s still fresh.
Install the Cover—Then Inspect It
Once the pool and its systems have been properly prepared, the cover can be installed according to the manufacturer’s requirements.
Before putting it away for the winter, inspect the cover and its hardware for obvious damage or deterioration.
Check for things such as:
Tears or damaged areas
Loose or damaged hardware
Deteriorated straps
Damaged anchors
Improper fit
The cover is part of the protection system for the pool during the off-season, so it should not be treated as an afterthought.
Maintain Your Pool Safety Fence
As you prepare for winter, don’t forget about your pool safety fence. Regularly inspect the fence to ensure it is in good condition and free from any damage or wear. Ensure all gates are securely locked to prevent unauthorized access during the off-season. Maintaining the integrity of the pool safety fence is crucial for creating a safer environment for children and pets.
Document the Shutdown
One of the most valuable things a facilities manager can do during a seasonal shutdown is document what was done.
Take photographs. Record the date. Note unusual conditions. Document equipment that was drained or winterized and identify anything that requires attention.
And, importantly, create work orders for deficiencies.
Don’t rely on a handwritten note tucked into a desk drawer that says, “Fix valve by pool.”
Put it into your maintenance system where it can be assigned, prioritized, tracked, and completed. Good documentation turns a seasonal shutdown into useful maintenance history.
Start Planning for Spring Now
Perhaps the biggest advantage of a well-planned pool closing is that it gives you a head start on the next pool season.
If you discovered a pump that needs rebuilding, a cover that needs replacement, damaged deck surfaces, deteriorated insulation, or equipment that’s nearing the end of its useful life, start addressing those issues now.
There is rarely a good reason to wait until April or May to begin thinking about them.
Create the work orders. Get quotes where necessary. Include capital items in your planning. Schedule repairs before the spring workload begins.
When the pool is ready to reopen, you want to be executing a plan—not discovering what needs to be done.
Closing the Pool Is Preventive Maintenance
A swimming pool may be closed for several months, but the facility manager’s responsibility doesn’t stop when the gates are locked.
A proper seasonal shutdown protects the building and equipment during one of the most challenging periods of the year. More importantly, it creates an opportunity to inspect, document, and plan.
The objective isn’t simply to get the pool closed.
It’s to leave the entire system in a known, protected, documented condition so that when spring arrives, you’re ready to bring it back into service safely and efficiently.
A successful pool closing should make the next pool opening easier.
Close it properly. Document what you find. Fix what needs attention. And give yourself a head start on next season.
Comments