Pool Closing and Winterising Checklist
Shut a pool down properly, catching the step that actually causes winter damage: water left standing in a pump, filter or pipe that then freezes.
WP-05 2 pages
Water and pools · WP-04
Pool Opening Checklist
A free printable pool opening checklist — cover removal, equipment start-up and the first water check, worked through in order at the start of the season.
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2 pages. Choose your paper size — both versions are laid out identically, so neither one gets shrunk to fit.
Print it and write on it
Fill it in type and save
The fillable versions have real form fields — open them in any PDF reader, type into them and save. Printing help.
What this sheet is for
Bring a pool back into use in the right order, so a pump is not switched on dry and a leak is found before the pool is full rather than after.
Who it is for
Owners of an in-ground or above-ground pool reopening it after winter, and anyone opening a pool at a property they do not use year-round.
How to use it
- Clear and dry the cover before folding it away.
- Work through equipment start-up before the water section — a pump run dry is the commonest opening mistake.
- Take your first water test once everything has circulated, and record it on the chemical log.
- Check gates, rails and safety equipment last, before anyone swims.
What is on the sheet
2 pages, in this order:
Page 1
Printed under the title: Bringing an in-ground or above-ground pool back into use at the start of the season, worked through in order rather than remembered on the day.
Your first reading, not ours. No target chemistry figures are printed here. Take your first reading with your own test kit once the pool is running, and correct it using your kit's instructions or your pool supplier's guidance — this sheet is the order to work through, not the levels to aim for.
Write-on lines: Pool / property · Date opened · Opened by
Cover and surrounds
- Remove standing water and debris from the cover before taking it off
- Clean and dry the cover before folding or storing it
- Clear leaves and debris from the pool surface and surrounds
- Check the deck, coping and surrounds for winter damage
Equipment start-up
- Reconnect any hoses, plugs or fittings removed for winter
- Check pump, filter and heater for cracks or damage before running them
- Prime the pump and bleed air from the system before switching on
- Run the pump and check for leaks at every joint and fitting
- Clean or backwash the filter before it takes on a season's dirt
Water
- Check and correct the water level for the skimmer
- Test the water once it has circulated, and record it on the chemical log
- Vacuum any debris left on the floor before the first swim
Page 2
Safety and surrounds
- Check gates, fencing and locks are in working order
- Check ladders, rails and diving equipment are secure
- Put the first aid kit and rescue equipment back in place
Ruled lines: Notes — damage found, parts ordered, anything for next season
Questions
Why no target chemistry figures on an opening sheet?
Because the right first dose depends on your sanitiser system, your pool surface and how the water tests once it is running — none of which this sheet can know in advance. Test it, then follow your kit's instructions or your supplier.
Related sheets
Pool Chemical and Maintenance Log
Track water chemistry as a trend, so you can correct a drift early instead of chasing a problem after it appears.
WP-01 2 pages
Spring and Summer Home Checklist
Work through the jobs that are easiest in warm, dry weather, while access is good and the heating is off.
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Weekly Pool Maintenance Checklist
Keep the physical weekly round going even when the chemistry looks fine, by giving it its own tick sheet instead of leaving it to memory.
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