Closing your Pool in Wisconsin: What to Expect Before, During and After
Closing your pool in Wisconsin is an important part of protecting it through a harsh Wisconsin winter. To help your appointment go smoothly, we’ve outlined what most pool companies will need when they arrive, what homeowners should complete beforehand and what to expect after the pool has been winterized.
Before Your Pool Company Arrives to close your pool in Wisconsin:
Make sure the pool water is clean, clear and balanced.
Remove toys, floats and loose objects from the pool area.
Provide clear access to the pool and equipment pad.
Unlock gates and secure pets.
Make sure electricity and water are available.
Locate winter plugs, cover hardware and other closing components and leave on pool deck where the service technicians can easily find them.
Notify Pool Pros of any known equipment problems or water loss.
Complete any builder required specific preparation: __________
Excessively dirty or green water, inaccessible equipment or missing winterizing components may require additional work, additional charges or a return appointment.
Appointment Times and Arrival Windows
Most pool companies will give a window of time for the scheduled closing. Morning, midday or afternoon. Its hard to dial in exact times because not all clients have their pools prepared and some make last minute changes to the scope of the pool closing that affects the amount of time a pool closing may take.
Most pool companies schedule the pool closings in routes by grouping pool closings by geographic location to increase efficiencies. For instance at Pool Pros we have Central Wisconsin Pool Closings on a Tuesday, then Door County Wisconsin Pool Closings on a Wednesday.
Bonus! You do not need to be home during your pool closing. As long as you have your pool cover and or any winter plugs or supplies needed out on the pool deck by the pool, a pool service company does not need you to be home during the pool closing.
Weather may affect the schedule. Since pool service technicians use specialized electric blowers to blow out your plumbing lines its not ideal to be operating them in rain. So if there is rain, it is likey that your closing may be rescheduled.
Delays or changes in the pool closing schedule can be communicated through phone call, text or email.
What a Typical Pool Closing in Wisconsin Includes:
Addition of Pool Shock Treatment
Blowing out of all pool plumbing and plugging line at the pool
Addition of non toxic pool antifreeze to the underground plumbing (not the pool)
Brushing of interior surface of pool
Removal of water from pool equipment: heater, pump, filter, chlorinator
Removal of basketball, volleyball and or handrails
Starting price: $300.00: The price can vary based on the exact service each client and each pool need. Some clients prefer a minimal pool closing while others prefer a complete closing with additional pool closing chemicals, winter cover installation , etc. So the price can vary and most pool companies offer and ala carte style pool closing that allows each client to tailor their pool closing to their preference.
Possible additional charges: There could be additional charges for water features or other obstacles around the pool that may increase the amount of time needed to close the pool. Each additional plumbing line may require additional antifreeze and labor to purge the water from the line.
What Is Not Included in a Pool Closing
Cleaning severely dirty or green pools
Repairs discovered during closing
Replacement plugs or missing components
Winter-cover repairs
Excessive water removal
Removal or storage of accessories
Return visits
Closing water features or equipment not listed in the original service request
What Will the Equipment Pad Look Like?
Drain plugs may be removed and placed int eh pools pump basket
Equipment may contain antifreeze or other winterizing protection.
Valves may be left in specific off/closed positions and should remain in those positions.
Certain components may be disconnected or stored.
The equipment should not be operated after closing.
Clients should not reinstall plugs or reposition valves.
Should Pool Equipment Be Covered?
At Pool Pros we don't recommend covering your pool equipment for the winter. Over the years we have found that pool equipment which is covered over winter have higher rates of damage from rodents as compared to pool equipment that is not covered. So we dont recommend covering your pool equipment.
What Should You Expect From the Winter Cover?
Your pools safety style winter cover should be nice and tightly stretched across the pool.
A Safety Style Mesh Winter cover will not accumulate water on top of it throughout the winter. The mesh fabric allows the water to filter through the mesh while any debris will stay on top.
Safety Covers do not require the use of a cover pump.
A Winter Safety Cover is designed to support people and pets. Although we dont recommend walking on your pool cover.
Do not use an automatic pool cover as a winter cover.
The Pool Owners Responsibilities During Winter
Monitor the pool’s water level. If you have a fiberglass pool you will want to ensure the pools water level stays at the bottom of the skimmer and no lower or higher. This water level helps prevent the pool water from expanding up and into the pool decking and causing damage. Concrete, Stone and other types of coping can be damaged from the frozen water in the pool if the water level is allowed to get too high before freeze up.
As spring starts to approach you will want to monitor your sump pipe, site tube, sump pit if your pool is equipped with one. Make sure that as the snow melts that all the ground water is pumped out to alleviate hydrostatic pressure on your pool. Check this frequently as the spring thaw begins.
Avoid walking on the pools winter cover.
Watch for unusual water loss.
Contact your pool service company before adjusting equipment or removing winter plugs.
Follow any additional instructions supplied after closing.
What If We Discover a Problem?
Explain that closing a pool sometimes reveals:
Leaking equipment
Damaged plugs or fittings
Cover wear
Heater problems
Water loss
Equipment that cannot be winterized normally
Good Pool Service Technicians will provide a condition report if anything is found that needs to be addressed and follow up.
When Should You Close Your Pool in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin pool-closing appointments fill quickly. We recommend reserving your preferred closing period early, especially if you have an automatic cover, water features or additional equipment requiring winterization. We always recommend using the Pool Company that built your pool for follow up service like Pool Openings and Closings. No one will know your pool better than the company that built it. In this case most pool builders will send out emails and or snail mail flyers reminding clients to schedule their pool openings about a month or 2 before its time to get things rolling. Generally speaking its best to close your pool before it is below freezing and when its not above 70 degrees during the day. Somewhere right in between is the sweet spot. Which in Wisconsin can vary from end of September to the end of October. Each year its a little bit different.
Shameless Call to Action
Pool Pros provides professional winter closings for fiberglass pools we have installed throughout Northeast and Central Wisconsin. If your pool closing is already scheduled, use this guide to prepare for our arrival. If you still need an appointment, contact Pool Pros before the remaining fall dates are filled.
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