Winterization Tips to Protect Your Aquatic Facility

Waters Edge

Get Help: Waters Edge Aquatic Design offers operational and maintenance training at location sites. If you are a past or future client, we are vested in the longevity and quality of life of your aquatic facility. Contact us to discuss your needs further and help ensure your aquatic facility is protected from the elements this winter, and download our free Winterization Checklist in the meantime.

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  • Drain pumps and piping, check low points.
  • Drain and winterize strainers.
  • Drain your filter areas and check for any issues.
  • Drain and clean all chemical lines.
  • Store deck equipment somewhere dry, away from chemicals, and protected from the elements.
  • Mechanical equipment should be assessed and repaired or replaced as needed.
  • Ice frozen in pool pipe
    Check that valves are open and water is out of the system to avoid busted pipes.

As you reflect on this past summer, it’s essential to start planning to ensure your outdoor aquatic facility opens smoothly next pool season. A thorough winterization process helps you avoid headaches that could lead to costly repairs or, worse, major pool leaks, which can cause an extended closure.

Waters Edge recommends performing a complete shutdown to extend your pool’s lifespan. Here are some tangible steps you can take before the holiday season:

1. Completely Drain and Protect Plumbing

The foundation of proper pool winterization is simple: get all the water out. Even small amounts of trapped water can freeze, expand, and burst pipes. The lowest points of pipes in a well-engineered pool should have drain plugs. Keep these plugs open throughout the winter to allow water to escape. Just make sure you don’t lose the plugs!

Often overlooked are the check valves. These valves keep water flowing in one direction, preventing backflow during operation. Make sure these stay open during the winter as well.

Visually check pumps and strainer baskets to confirm that all the water is out. Water left in pumps, strainer baskets, and pipes can freeze during the colder months, causing pipes to burst. While bursting pipes are easy to detect in the pump room, bursts in return lines or pipes under concrete are difficult to detect and more costly to repair.

Problems like burst pipes and leaks can delay openings or even lead to a complete pool closure. Follow these precautions to save thousands of dollars on repairs and prevent the need for disruptive concrete removal in the spring.

2. Clean and Clear Chemical System

Residual chemicals left in a system over the winter can increase buildup, potentially clogging and dirtying your lines. If you don’t perform proper maintenance on your chemical system, you may notice your pool water appears cloudy or even green. If your chemical levels are testing at an un-registerable level, it could be a sign that your lines are clogged. Be sure to look for cracking, discoloration, or rigid sections in your chemical lines, and plan to replace them if any are present. Start each season with ideal water chemistry by cleaning the chemical system during your winterization process.

Rinsing your pool basin and equipment, such as slides, with a garden hose or power washer helps eliminate chemicals from sitting on the surface all winter. Harsh chemicals can erode paint, plastics, and protective coatings. For extra protection, wax your slides at the end of each pool season.

Don’t forget to store probes and sensitive chemical equipment according to the manufacturer’s recommendations!

3. Protect Equipment and Accessories

Winter is hard on pool gear if it’s stored improperly. Fully dry your rescue tubes by laying them flat and away from any chemicals. While hanging tubes up during the short summer months is okay, leaving them up year-round causes the straps to fray and the tubes to deform. Avoid throwing all tubes into one bag, as they may become moldy and require replacement.

Aquatics Operations and Project Manager Brian Hill recommends bagging each tube once they’ve thoroughly dried to keep them clean, protected, and in pristine condition.

Deck accessories and equipment, such as ladders, basketball goals, diving boards, and floatables, should be removed and stored correctly in a dry, safe place out of the elements. Concession equipment and any non-perishable items should also be accounted for and stored. Do not store any items next to chemicals, as this can cause equipment to deteriorate.

4. Plan Ahead for Next Season

Your pool’s offseason isn’t just the ideal time for winterization; it’s also a perfect opportunity to set your aquatic facility up for future success. A clear operational plan helps ensure a seamless startup in the spring.

Take inventory of supplies, identify needed repairs, and schedule quality-of-life maintenance during this time to maximize the time your pool is open during the summer. Look back on the previous pool season while recording key operational data such as attendance, revenue, expenses, and programming to inform planning for the upcoming year. Review staffing information early to support seasonal retention and onboarding.

Please review this information and our Winterization Checklist with your pool’s staff and record your winterization process for future posterity. Practicing these steps each offseason will not only save you from costly repairs but also increase your pool’s chances of remaining open throughout the summer.

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