How to Close a Villa Pool for Winter

A pool left unused over winter can turn into a much bigger job by spring if it is closed carelessly: green water, a frozen pipe, damaged equipment. Closed in the right order, a pool gets through winter with far fewer problems, which also makes opening it for the season easier. Here is the order to follow when getting a villa pool ready for winter.

A final clean and balanced water

Before closing up, clean the pool thoroughly: remove leaves and dirt from the floor and walls, and backwash the filter. Then balance the water chemically, bringing pH and disinfectant level into the right range. Water left unbalanced encourages algae and sediment to build up even in cold weather. If the water has already turned green, find the cause first — see the guide on a pool turning green.

Setting the water level

Before closing, the water level is usually lowered a little, depending on the cover used and the climate; as a general reference it is brought below the skimmer opening, though the exact amount depends on the type of pool. The point is to stop water, which expands when it freezes, from pushing against the skimmer and the edge tiles. Severe frost is uncommon in Fethiye, but keeping the water level under control is still worth doing.

Protecting the equipment

Water left standing in the pump, filter and pipework is the main source of frost damage. So:

• Drain the pump and filter, or protect them, following the manufacturer's instructions.
• Check any outdoor plugs and valves; leave them open if the manufacturer recommends it.
• Decide, based on the manufacturer's guidance, how the electrical equipment (pump, lighting) should run over winter — continuously, on a timer, or switched off.

Never guess with anything involving electrical connections; always have a licensed electrician handle it.

Covering the pool and protecting the edges

A suitable winter cover keeps leaves and dirt out of the water and cuts down algae growth considerably. The cover should be taut and properly secured, so it neither blows around in the wind nor lets water pool on top of it. If the edge tiles or grout have cracks, repairing them before winter stops the freeze-thaw cycle from making them worse.

Checking in over winter

Even with the pool fully closed, a monthly look is worth doing: check the cover is still in place, the water level hasn't dropped too far, and there is no visible leak. If the level is dropping faster than expected, it helps to work out whether that is evaporation or an actual leak; a simple way is to mark the level and track it over a few days. If you live away from the property, this check can be done regularly as part of a Home Care Plan alongside the rest of the house's winter checks — see the guide on winterising an empty house for the general picture.

Frequently asked questions

Does the pool need to be fully drained? Usually not, and for most pool types it is not recommended; an empty shell can suffer structural problems from ground pressure. The water level is lowered, not emptied completely.

Why does chemical balance matter in winter? Unbalanced water can grow algae and sediment even at low temperatures, which then means more chemicals and more time at the spring opening.

Can a pool be closed without a cover? It can, but dirt and leaves will degrade water quality quickly; a cover cuts that down considerably and makes the spring clean much easier.

For the full scope of pool care, see the pool maintenance page.

This guide is for general information. Every home is different; for your own home, ask a company that has seen the work on site for a written quotation.