Not quite ready to give up your pool time just yet? We get it. When you have a backyard oasis in a state where winter often seems endless, you probably anticipate pool season for months on end. And when summer seems to fly by way too quickly, you might want to put off swimming pool closing for as long as you possibly can.
But how long can you extend pool season in Minnesota without putting your swimming pool at risk? Let’s take a look.
Recommended Time for Swimming Pool Closing in Minnesota
When you own a swimming pool in a state that sees months of freezing temperatures and snow, you must close it down before the weather gets too cold. If you keep your pool open too long, water can freeze inside the plumbing lines, pump, filter, and other components. And because water expands when it freezes, it can do quite a bit of damage to several parts of your pool.
So when is the right time? That depends on a few factors that we'll go over later on. But if you want to jot something down on your calendar so you don’t forget, National Pool Closing Day is a safe bet. The date itself varies from year to year since it falls on the third Saturday in September.
The Crucial Importance of Proper Swimming Pool Closing
Even if you shut down your pool before the weather gets cold, it could still suffer costly damage if you don’t do the job properly. And that’s why you should hire a professional for the job if you’re short on time or aren’t familiar with pool closing must-dos.
Closing a swimming pool properly involves several crucial steps, all of which must be performed in order to prevent algae growth and damage. Proper winterization also helps ensure you won’t wind up spending hours cleaning your pool when it comes time to open it back up in spring.
How Long Can You Extend Your Pool Season?
If you’re not ready to winterize your pool come September, you might not have to. But whether or not that’s true depends on the following factors.
Do You Have a Pool Heater?
If you use a pool heater, you may be able to keep your pool open for a few weeks past the end of September. But if you choose to put off closing, you must make sure the pool water stays warm enough.
Generally, you should wait to close your pool until its water temperature consistently remains below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. But definitely do it before nighttime temperatures dip below freezing. Shutting it down while the water is on the cooler side will help keep algae from growing.
If your pool heater can keep the water above 65 degrees around the clock, you can keep your swimming pool open until water temps start to dip.
What Are Outdoor Temperatures Like?
If it’s still pretty warm out come September, you might not have to close your pool right away even if it doesn’t have a heater. Again, if you want to keep your pool open longer, the water must stay on the warmer side. As soon as the temperature of the water starts dropping at night, it’s time to winterize.
Does Your Property Have Lots of Trees?
If you have lots of leaf-dropping trees near your pool, keeping it open well into the autumn season could be a real pain in the neck.
Even if you’re on a weekly pool maintenance schedule, you’ll likely end up fishing tons of leaves from the water on your own—on a daily basis. And if you’re not diligent about getting those leaves out, they could leave discoloration in your pool.
Schedule Swimming Pool Closing in the Twin Cities
Want to ensure your Twin Cities pool is properly closed and prepared to weather the winter season? Then don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Royal Pool & Spa for help! We specialize in a wide array of pool services and have proudly served thousands of pool owners in White Bear Lake over the last 30+ years.
To get a pool closing quote or learn more about our many services, give us a call at 651-779-7606 or request a quote online, and we’ll get in touch!