Swim season
Closing Your Pool for Winter in Virginia
How to close a Virginia pool properly — or keep it open longer when the weather allows.
Virginia winters are milder than the Midwest, but a careless close still costs time in the spring. Here is a practical approach.
Decide: full close or extended season
Many Tidewater families swim into fall. If you are staying open, keep chemistry and skimming active and do not treat October like July. If you are closing, do it on purpose — not after neglect.
Chemistry before the cover
Balance the water. Clean the filter. A pool closed dirty is a pool that opens worse.
Water level and cover type
Follow the requirements for your cover. Auto-covers and mesh safety covers have different water-level needs. Wrong levels cause cover stress and debris problems.
Equipment
Shut down and protect equipment as specified for your system. In a hard freeze, unprotected lines and equipment can fail. Mild winters are not a guarantee every year.
After the close
Check the cover after storms. Remove standing water on solid covers. Do not wait until March to discover a problem.
Tell us whether you are closing or staying in the water. Schedule seasonal care if you are unsure.