Opening and Closing a Pool Around a Michigan Winter

In Michigan, a pool owner's year has two bookends. In fall you close the pool so winter can't hurt it, and in spring you open it and find out whether that worked. Both jobs are simple on paper and easy to get wrong in practice, mostly because a mistake doesn't show up until months later. Here's how the cycle works for above-ground and wood pools, and where the problems tend to hide.

Pick the closing date by the weather, not the calendar

There's no single right date. The better guide is the water and the trees. Closing too early lets algae bloom in warm water under a cover. Closing too late means leaves and debris in the pool and a scramble against the first hard freeze. A reasonable moment is once the water has cooled down and stays cool, before the leaves have finished falling and before overnight freezes become regular. If you rely on a pool company, line up the date early so it isn't set by whoever happens to have an opening.

What winterizing really covers

Closing is more than throwing a cover on. A thorough winterizing deals with the water, the equipment and the plumbing:

• Clean the pool and balance the water so it stays clear under the cover
• Lower the water to the level that suits the pool type, which differs from one pool to the next
• Drain the pump, filter and heater so no water sits inside to freeze
• Clear the lines and plug or cap the fittings where water could collect
• Pull and store the ladder, skimmer baskets, hoses and other loose accessories
• Fit the cover snugly and secure it so wind can't get under it

Water left in a pump housing, filter tank or pipe will freeze, expand and crack the part, and you won't know until you try to run it in spring.

Covers: the part people underestimate

A cover keeps leaves and sunlight out and keeps the pool from turning into a swamp. A poorly fitted one does the opposite. It sags, collects water and debris, tears at its edges, or blows off in a storm. Check it during the winter, especially after heavy wind or snow. If water pools on top, that weight pulls on the edges of the pool and can strain the top rail. Don't let a cover go the whole winter without a look.

What freeze damage looks like

When something has gone wrong over winter, the signs are usually clear in spring:

• A cracked skimmer housing or return fitting, often a hairline split you only see when water runs
• A split pump or filter housing, or a fitting that sprays when you start up
• Lines that leak at joints where trapped water froze
• A liner torn or pulled from the track after ice pushed on it
• A wall that leans or bows where it didn't last fall
• A wood frame that has shifted or opened up at the joints

A pool that lost water over the winter isn't always a freeze problem. It can also be a leak that started before closing, which is why it helps to note the water level the day you close.

Spring opening checks

Opening is more than pulling the cover off. Before you fill and run anything, walk the pool and go through these in order:

• Remove the cover carefully, keeping dirty water and debris out of the pool
• Look at the wall, liner and track before the water goes up
• Reassemble the pump, filter and plumbing, and inspect each fitting as you go
• Bring the water to the right level and start the pump, watching for leaks and odd sounds
• Test and balance the water once it's circulating

Start the equipment with your eyes on every connection. A pump that runs dry or pushes against a cracked line can burn itself out. If something isn't right, shut it off and call before running it again.

Get it done once, and done right

Bob Clement Pool Service handles pool opening and closing, including winterizing, along with the repairs that opening day often uncovers. The company's promise is that you won't have to call back for the same problem. If the spring check turns up a rusted wall, a worn liner or a cracked fitting, the same crew can deal with it instead of sending you to someone else.

To book a closing or opening, or to have a winter-worn pool looked at, call (586) 463-2090 for a free estimate. The office is open Monday through Saturday, 8 to 5.