What to do with your pool before a hard freeze - ehow.com

Check Your Pool

• Before you decide to close down for the winter, make sure your pool is in the same condition you would require if you were going to continue to swim in. Backyard City Pools, located in Collierville, Tennesse, advises that you should first check the chemical balance of your pool water, including the pH or acidity level, alkaline level, chlorine level and calcium harness level. If you expect your pool to be ready for swimmers after the winter freeze, you have to leave it that way before you stop using it in the fall.

Clean Your Pool

• Remove all ladders, toys, railings and other pool accessories, and store them for the winter in your garage, shed or pool room. Give the walls and floor of the pool a good cleaning, removing any debris or dirt. Scrub down the walls and vacuum the floor. Dirt, leaves, sticks and other debris left in your pool during the winter months can leave stains that can be nearly impossible to remove.

  You should also clean the filter, skimmer and pump basket, and remove any excess chlorine to prevent water from becoming too chlorinated.

  After cleaning, lower the water in your in-ground pool below the level of the pumps that generally supply water. By lowering the water, you ensure that when the water freezes and expands it will not tear through your pool cover or damage the walls of the pool. Plug up the pumps and add antifreeze to the skimmer to prevent the pipes in the pump from freezing.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/way_5720200_do-pool-during-hard-freeze_.html#ixzz2mZKmneuS

That's a good thing to know about lowering the water level below the pumps! It's logical, practical and easy.

Happy Holidays!