Pool Winterizing Chemicals and Kits
Brace for the winter with pool winterizing chemicals and supplies. Winterizing your swimming pool helps prevent problems from occurring over the winter and makes it easier to begin enjoying your pool when the weather warms up. Learn how to winterize a pool with our guide on that subject, How to Winterize Above-Ground and In-Ground Pools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is winterizing a pool necessary?
A: If you live in a region where it gets cold in the winter, you’ll need to winterize the pool. A pool winterizing kit can help you stop the water from freezing and expanding, which could damage the pool’s liner and equipment.
Winterizing a pool in warm regions isn’t necessary if there’s no risk of freezing temperatures. Continue to maintain the pool, however, and keep it clean during off-seasons.
Q: What chemicals go in a pool to winterize it?
A: You’ll need to buy several chemicals separately if you don’t buy an all-in-one pool winterizing kit. You may first need chemicals to adjust the pool alkalinity. Use a pH increaser or decreaser to maintain proper pH levels during the winter. Use a calcium hardness increaser to keep water from getting cloudy and developing scale. You’ll also need a sanitizer, such as chlorine, and an algaecide.
Q: Do I need to shock my pool in the winter?
A: Yes, adding pool shock — typically a very strong chlorine treatment — to the water to kill algae and bacteria is necessary a few days before you begin winterization. Without proper shocking, algae and bacteria can survive cold temperatures and remain in the water until spring, when they can begin to grow again. Shocking the pool before you close it can make it easier to open in spring. Find out more in our guide on that topic, How to Open Your Pool.
