Ever opened your pool in spring to find green water, stains or a cracked pump? Poor winter closing is usually to blame. In Georgia, winters are mild most days, but a few hard freezes each year are enough to crack pipes, pumps and filters that still hold water. A proper pool closing protects against freeze damage, and the right winter chemicals keep the water clean until spring. Here are the chemicals that matter most.
5 Main Chemicals for Closing Your Pool
Closing a pool well means using the right chemical for each job. The list below covers algaecides, shock, enzymes, stain and scale preventers and chlorine, each in the amount your pool’s size calls for.
1. Winter Pool Algaecide
A winter algaecide keeps algae from growing while the pool is covered. There are three main types, and some work better over a long closed season than others:
Polymer (polyquat) algaecides are long-lasting, do not foam and do not stain, which makes them a popular choice for closing.
Higher-strength polymer algaecides, often sold at around 60% concentration, last longer and treat most types of algae.
Copper-based algaecides are strong against algae, but copper can stain plaster and turn hair green, so use them carefully and only as directed.
2. Winterizing Pool Shock
Shock is one of the most important closing chemicals. It kills bacteria and other organisms before you close the pool for the season. Many owners cut back on pool care late in the summer, so shocking before closing is especially important.
Clean the pool thoroughly before you shock, so the shock is not wasted on leaves and other organic debris. Shock also works poorly when pH is high, so balance the water first: pH around 7.2 to 7.6 and total alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm.
3. Winter Enzymes
With a mesh cover on, some contaminants still get into the water over the winter. Pool enzymes break down oils, sunscreen and other organic matter that would otherwise leave scum lines and stains and feed algae.
Enzyme treatments are sold by pool supply stores and pool closing service providers. Phosphate removers are another useful option, as they take away a food source for algae. Some enzyme products come as slow-release pods that dissolve gradually through the winter.
4. Stain and Scale Preventer
Add a stain and scale preventer before closing. It protects surfaces from staining and scale while the pool sits. Add it with the pump running, before you shut down the equipment, so it spreads evenly through the water.
These products, called sequestrants or chelating agents, keep metals like iron, manganese and copper dissolved in the water so they do not come out and stain the pool during the off-season. They are especially important if you fill your pool from well water.
5. Chlorine
Chlorine is the most effective sanitizer for pools. It kills algae, bacteria and viruses. For outdoor pools, use stabilized chlorine, which contains cyanuric acid. The stabilizer protects chlorine from sunlight so it lasts longer in the water.
To Wrap It Up
These five chemicals keep your water clean through the off-season, but freeze protection matters just as much in Georgia. Drain the pump, filter and heater, blow out the lines and add pool antifreeze where water could be trapped, or, if your pool stays open, make sure your automation’s freeze protection setting runs the pump when temperatures drop. Getting the amounts right matters, so follow each product’s label or let our team handle it. Our step-by-step guide to closing your pool covers the whole process, and if equipment fails during a freeze, call our pool repair team.
Need help with your pool in Hoschton or nearby? Call Clear Tec Pools at 678-679-0165 or book online.