The Difference Between Closing a Pool and Winterizing
Having your own pool at home is fun. You can swim and play anytime in it, use it for exercise, have a party, or simply lounge and relax. The downside, however, is that all of these activities for enjoyment are seasonal.
Unless you have an indoor or heated pool, you can only really enjoy it for about half the year, maybe even less. Even though you may not use it all year round, it would still need to be properly maintained, especially during the colder months.
Pool owners have two options: to close the pool or to winterize, and each has pros and cons. Let’s take a look at the difference between the two.
Closing a Pool
To close a pool simply means to use pool covers on it to literally close the surface. This is, in fact, something that you can do at any point in time, regardless of the season. For example, if you’re going away for a while, you could put the pool cover on to keep it relatively clean from outdoor dust and debris.
Closing a pool also means turning off the power. Flipping the switch saves on electricity too, so this is something you can definitely consider. Closing a pool, therefore, is something more of a temporary fix that you can do as often as needed, without any major obstacle to your enjoyment of the pool should you want to start using it again.
Winterizing a Pool
On the other hand, pool winterization involves preparing the pool for a complete shutdown throughout the cooler seasons. This means that all equipment is turned off, water is drained from the lines and vessels, and the accessories are removed.
Basically, a winterized pool is completely out of commission for the next few months. Especially in places where it gets really cold, it’s crucial to winterize a pool because some real damage could occur otherwise.
For example, if the water lines or vessels are not drained, the water left inside could freeze and expand, leading to vessel damage in the long run. To prevent this from happening, your pool professional will use an air blower to make sure that the insides of the pipes are all dried up once it’s shut down.
Winterizing a pool could also make use of pool covers. However, it’s going to be a bit different from the regular pool covers that you simply roll over on the surface when you want to temporarily close it. A winterizing pool cover comprises either a solid material or a mesh type that you attach over the entire pool surface.
These materials are specifically made to withstand the cold and the weight of the snow, so it’s definitely a great idea to invest in these for your pool, particularly for those who experience heavy winters.