If you are asking how to winterize my swimming pool, the short answer is this: in New Jersey, winterizing means closing the pool in the right weather window, starting with clean and balanced water, then protecting the plumbing, filtration, and exposed equipment from freeze damage before the cover goes on.
That order matters. A pool is not fully winterized just because you added a pool closing kit or stretched a cover across the top. For an in-ground pool, freeze protection is a system-level job. Levco’s pool closing service includes draining filtration, heating, and pumping systems, blowing out lines, installing winterizing plugs, lowering water below the skimmers, and installing the winter cover. That is a useful reminder that closing is a process, not a product.
In Central New Jersey, the main variable is not the calendar. It is the combination of water condition, overnight temperatures, and your pool’s equipment setup. A vinyl liner pool, a gunite pool, and a pool with a spa spillover or heater do not all close exactly the same way.
Start with timing, not the cover
One of the most common mistakes is closing too early because the swim season feels over. In a freeze-prone climate, it usually makes more sense to wait until temperatures are consistently cool enough that algae growth slows down.
Swim University summarizes the general rule this way: “When your local outside temperatures consistently stay below 65°F (18°C), that’s a good time to close” in its guide to how to winterize a pool.
That does not mean every pool in New Jersey should close on the same weekend. A shaded yard may cool faster than a sunny one. A heated pool may stay warmer later into fall. Warm spells, leaf drop, and your ability to keep the water clean late in the season all affect the best timing.
The practical takeaway is simple: do not choose a date first and figure out the water later. Get the water into good condition, then close when the weather supports it.
Close clean water, not problem water
If the water is cloudy, algae-filled, or loaded with leaves when you close it, you are storing problems for spring. Debris uses up sanitizer, can stain surfaces, and gives algae something to feed on under the cover.
Before winterizing, clean the pool thoroughly. That usually means skimming leaves, brushing walls and steps, vacuuming settled debris, and emptying baskets and other obvious collection points. The exact tools should match the pool surface. Vinyl liner pools should be brushed and vacuumed carefully to avoid damage, while gunite or plaster pools may tolerate more aggressive brushing where appropriate.
Swim University puts the warning plainly: “DO NOT close your pool while the water is green” in its pool closing guide. If your pool is green, the right move is to clear it first, not rush into closing because cold weather is coming.
Balance the water before shutdown
Once the pool is clean, the next step is water chemistry. The goal is not to make the water perfect for one afternoon. The goal is to leave the pool in a stable condition that helps reduce staining, scale, corrosion, and algae growth while circulation is off.
As Swim University notes, balanced water helps protect the pool from “corrosion and scale build-up that can occur while it’s closed” in its article on winterizing a pool.
For homeowners, the important point is to test and adjust according to your pool type, sanitizer system, and product directions. Exact target ranges can vary by source and by system, so if you are using a swimming pool closing kit or separate winter chemicals, follow the label and avoid casual mixing of products. If you are unsure how your sanitizer, algaecide, stain-prevention product, or specialty treatment interacts with the rest of your water care routine, this is a good time to ask a pool professional.
This is also where many beginner guides oversimplify the process. A pool closing kit can be convenient, but it does not replace testing. It is a bundle of chemicals, not a diagnosis of your actual water.
What pool closing kits can and cannot do
Many homeowners searching how do you winterize an inground swimming pool are really asking which chemicals to buy. Chemicals matter, but they are only one part of the closing sequence.
A typical closing may include a final sanitizer treatment and winterizing chemicals intended to help control algae and support water quality under the cover. Some kits package these together. For above-ground pools especially, guides often suggest an above ground pool winterizing kit as a simplified option. At Levco we do specialize for in-ground pools, but below you’ll find some tips for above ground pool winterization.
That can be useful if the kit matches your pool volume, you understand what is included, and your water was already tested and adjusted first. It is much less useful if you treat the kit as a substitute for cleaning, balancing, or protecting the plumbing.
In other words, a swimming pool closing kit may support winterizing, but it does not winterize the pool by itself.
Lower the water carefully and only as needed
After the water is clean and treated, the next step is usually lowering the water level to suit the pool’s winter setup. Levco’s closing page lists “lowering water level below skimmers” as part of its standard in-ground closing process, which reflects a common freeze-protection step for many in-ground pools in this region.
But this is not a one-size-fits-all instruction. The correct water level can vary based on the pool type, skimmer and return locations, cover type, manufacturer guidance, and whether the pool has attached features such as a spa or waterfall.
This is not a place to guess. Removing too much water can create problems, especially for some vinyl liner pools. Removing too little can leave vulnerable openings exposed to freeze damage. If you are not certain what your pool requires, it is safer to get pool-specific guidance before moving on.
Protect the plumbing and equipment from freezing
For an in-ground pool in New Jersey, this is the heart of winterization.
Levco describes a standard closing as including “drainage of pool filtration, heating, and pumping systems” and “blowout of filtration lines and installation of winterizing water plugs” on its New Jersey pool closing page.
That is the part many DIY summaries underplay. Water left in lines, pumps, filters, heaters, or exposed components can freeze, expand, and crack expensive equipment. The risk is one of the main reasons pool closings are more technical than they first appear.
Routine cleaning and water testing are reasonable DIY tasks for many homeowners. Line blowouts, equipment drainage, heater shutdown, and winterization of attached spas or waterfalls are different. Mistakes there can be costly, and those systems often need model-specific procedures. Levco also lists spa, heater, and waterfall winterization as separate add-ons, which is a good reminder that these features need their own attention rather than being treated as part of a generic closing.
If your pool has a heater, attached spa, waterfall, automation, or older plumbing with an uncertain layout, professional closing is worth serious consideration.
Remove accessories before the cover goes on
Winterizing is easier when removable parts are taken out, cleaned, and stored properly. Levco’s closing service includes removal of ladders, diving boards, rails, skimmer baskets, and eyeball directional fittings.
That step helps in two ways. First, removable parts generally hold up better when they are not left exposed through months of freeze-thaw cycles. Second, removing them helps prepare the pool for plugs, cover fit, and safer off-season conditions.
If you are handling your own closing, keep small fittings organized and labeled. Spring openings go more smoothly when parts are stored together instead of scattered around the garage.
The cover is the last step, not the whole job
A lot of homeowners think winterizing means “put the cover on.” In reality, the cover protects the work you already did. It does not replace cleaning, balancing, or freeze protection underneath.
This is also where it helps to separate above-ground and in-ground cover systems.
An above-ground winter cover is usually a seasonal cover secured around the pool wall, often with a cable and winch system. Above-ground closing guides may also include an air pillow and specific plugs or skimmer protection components.
An in-ground safety cover is different. Levco’s pool safety cover page describes these covers as custom measured and installed to fit the pool’s exact shape, providing debris control and “a layer of security” for children and pets. These are not interchangeable with a generic tarp-style winter cover.
That difference affects both function and installation:
- Above-ground winter cover: seasonal protection for an above-ground pool
- Standard in-ground winter cover: seasonal debris and weather protection
- In-ground safety cover: custom-fitted cover system that also adds a safety layer
If you want a deeper comparison of cover options, Levco’s page on in-ground pool safety covers is the better place to focus on that decision. For winterizing purposes, the key point is that the cover belongs near the end of the process, not at the beginning.
A practical closing sequence for most in-ground pools
For many New Jersey in-ground pools, the closing flow looks like this:
- Wait for a suitable weather window instead of closing too early.
- Clean the pool thoroughly.
- Test and balance the water.
- Add final winter chemicals as appropriate for your pool and products.
- Lower the water to the correct level for the pool and cover system.
- Drain and protect pumps, filters, heaters, and related equipment.
- Blow out lines and install winterizing plugs where required.
- Remove ladders, rails, baskets, and directional fittings.
- Install the winter cover or safety cover correctly.
That order matters because each step supports the next one. Clean water is easier to balance. Balanced water is better to leave standing. Protected lines and equipment reduce freeze risk. A properly installed cover helps preserve the work you just did.
How to close your above-ground swimming pool
Because many people searching this topic also want to know how to close your above ground swimming pool or how to close pool above ground, it is worth covering the basics.
The overall logic is similar: clean the pool, balance the water, add winter chemicals if appropriate, protect openings and equipment, then install the cover. Swim University’s guide to winterizing an above-ground pool also notes that many above-ground owners use a winterizing kit, skimmer protection, plugs, an air pillow, and a cover secured with a cable and winch.
The important distinction is that above-ground winter covers and accessories are not the same as in-ground safety covers. They solve different problems and install differently.
Just as important, this article cannot confirm that Levco provides above-ground closing service. The supplied Levco sources support in-ground pool closings and in-ground safety covers, so above-ground pool owners should not assume the same service offering without direct confirmation.
Check the pool during the winter
A properly closed pool should not need constant attention, but it should not be ignored until spring either. In Central New Jersey, wind, heavy leaf drop, rain, snow, and freeze-thaw cycles can all affect the cover and the area around the pool.
A few periodic checks can prevent bigger problems:
- make sure the cover is still secure
- remove heavy debris accumulation when appropriate
- watch for standing water or drainage issues around the pool area
- look for obvious storm damage
This matters even more if your yard already has drainage challenges. Winter runoff and saturated ground can affect decking, coping, and the pool perimeter even when the water itself was closed correctly.
When professional help makes sense
Some homeowners can handle parts of closing on their own. But if your main goal is to avoid spring damage, the highest-risk parts are usually the ones hidden from view: plumbing lines, heaters, valves, pumps, filters, and attached features.
Professional help is often the better choice when:
- you have an in-ground pool with multiple systems
- you are unsure how far to lower the water
- you do not have the equipment or experience to blow out lines
- your pool has a heater, spa, or waterfall
- you want an in-ground safety cover measured or installed properly
- you have had cloudy openings or freeze-related issues before
Levco documents in-ground pool closing services in New Jersey and also offers custom-fitted safety covers for in-ground pools. For homeowners in Central New Jersey, that makes Levco a practical local option when the job goes beyond basic end-of-season cleanup.
The main takeaway
Winterizing a swimming pool in New Jersey is really about protecting the pool through freeze conditions, not just putting it away for the season. Start with timing. Close clean water, not problem water. Treat chemistry as preparation, not the whole solution. Then make sure the plumbing, filtration, and equipment are protected before the cover is installed.
If you want help with an in-ground pool closing or a safety cover in Central New Jersey, request a complimentary consultation with Levco Pools or call 908-231-9359.
