After a long summer of lounging in the swimming pool and soaking up the sun, you might be ready to cover it up and move indoors during the winter. However, it isn’t always clear how to best approach pool closing.

Here are three tips for closing your swimming pool this fall and what you can do to protect it during the winter:

Check Your Cover for Damage

Before you start the process of covering your pool, check it carefully for damage. By spotting tears and weakened areas early, you can reinforce the cover so that it doesn’t rip when it is pulled tightly to cover your pool. If you discover large areas of damage, talk with pool contractors about replacing the cover or having it professionally repaired. 

Mark the Edges

Without the proper markings on your pool cover, it isn’t easy to tell where you can step and where you should avoid—especially when large parts of the ground are covered with leaves and snow. To protect yourself and anyone who might walk in your yard, mark the edges of your pool cover with a physical barrier. For example, by staking the lawn around the pool and tying a piece of string between the stakes, you can see where the pool starts and the ground ends—even if the ground is covered with a fresh blanket of snow. 

Keep It Clean

Depending on the pool cover, it may or may not be able to handle the weight of leaves and feet of snow, which is why keeping your cover clean is important. Refer to your cover’s owner manual for information about weight limits, or consider contacting the manufacturer to ask about debris accumulation. During the fall and winter, focus on keeping the cover free of debris by using a leaf blower or a long-handled broom. 

Do you need a little help closing your pool? Although their business closes for the season, professionals from All-American Pools in Cincinnati, OH, are available to answer your pool questions year-round. Known as the tri-state pool experts, these water and pool maintenance specialists can help with everything from full swimming pool installations and repairs to pool cleaning and state-of-the-art equipment. To learn more about their company, visit them online or call (513) 522-7161.