Opening and Closing a Pool Around a Missouri Spring and Fall

Missouri doesn't ease into its seasons. A warm week in March can be followed by a hard freeze, and a mild October can turn on a single cold night. That makes opening and closing a pool a little different here than in places where the weather is more predictable. The idea in both cases is the same: leave the pool in the condition it needs to be in for the months it's going to sit, and do it before the weather decides for you.

Closing in the fall: the part that protects the pool

Closing is the more important job of the two, because mistakes in fall show up as damage in spring. The broad shape of it is the same on almost every pool.

• Clean the pool well: skim, brush and vacuum while the water is still comfortable to work in
• Balance the water so it isn't sitting through winter with problems baked in
• Lower the water to the level your pool type calls for, which is different for liner, fiberglass and shotcrete pools, so ask before you pull the plug
• Clear and protect the plumbing lines and equipment so nothing holds water through a freeze
• Put on a cover that fits and is secured properly

Details vary a lot between pool types, and that's the reason closings go wrong when they come from a generic checklist found online. A vinyl liner pool has particular concerns about water level. A pool with a heater, a salt system or a UV unit has more equipment to winterize. If you're not sure about any step, it's worth a phone call before you start.

Test the water before you close

Pre-winterization is one of the things the free water testing at Columbia Pool & Spa is set up for. Bring a sample from about a foot under the surface, 8 to 12 ounces, and ask what the water needs before the cover goes on. It's a small errand that takes the guesswork out of what to add, and it helps you start spring with a pool that didn't spend months out of balance.

Opening in the spring: take it slowly

When the cover comes off, resist the urge to rush. Pull the cover when the weather has settled, not on the first warm Saturday. Clean the cover and let it dry before you store it. Reconnect the equipment, check the pump, filter and any heater or salt system for anything that looks cracked or worn, bring the water level up, and start the pump and filter. Then test the water and get it balanced before anyone gets in.

This is the other time a water sample earns its keep. Spring start-up is on the list of things the store tests for, and the readings after a winter under a cover can surprise you. Cloudy or green water at opening isn't unusual. What matters is working out what it needs and in what order.

When to hand it to a crew

Plenty of owners do their own openings and closings and do them well. Columbia Pool & Spa also offers both as a service, with a free inspection. That inspection is the useful part. A crew that sees a lot of pools notices the cracked fitting, the worn pump seal or the tired cover before it turns into a mid-summer repair.

If you'd rather learn to do it yourself, they run a one-time pool school for owners, where someone walks you through your own equipment. It's a good fit for a first-time pool owner or anyone who bought a house with a pool already in the yard.

Don't forget the hot tub

A hot tub doesn't close for winter the way a pool does, since plenty of people use theirs through the cold months. It still needs attention on a schedule. The recommendation from Columbia Pool & Spa is to drain and clean it every 3 to 6 months. Fall is a natural point to do one of those cycles, with a fresh fill and a water test, so you go into the cold months with clean water and a cover in good condition.

If the cover on a pool or a tub has seen better days, fall is also the time to look at replacement. Safety covers for pools and smart top, monster and standard covers for hot tubs are all handled through the service side.

Pick your dates, then make the call

The best time to book an opening or closing is before everyone else does. Spring and fall both get busy, and the weather gives you a short window. Call the Columbia showroom at (573) 874-6972 to talk about openings, closings or an inspection, or the Osage Beach showroom at (573) 878-5152 if your pool is at the Lake.