Pool Closing Supplies Checklist: What You Actually Need
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Quick answer
Buy supplies from the closing plan, not the other way around. Most owners need water-testing and cleaning supplies, an appropriate winter cover, and model/plumbing-specific items for the chosen winterization method. Freeze-climate closures may also require skimmer protection, line plugs and equipment drain parts. Above-ground cover systems may use an air pillow. Chemicals depend on measured water conditions and product compatibility. Do not buy a giant kit first and then invent reasons to use every item in it.
Safety
Closing supplies are not interchangeable. A wrong plug, cover, chemical or equipment part can damage the pool or fail to protect it. Never improvise compressed-air line clearing, mix chemicals, or open pressurized filtration equipment.
Build the shopping list in six groups
Separate the job into testing/cleaning, chemistry, plumbing protection, equipment winterization, cover management and documentation. That prevents a closing kit from becoming a substitute for the actual procedure.
| Job | Typical supplies | Buy only when |
|---|---|---|
| Test and clean the pool | Water test kit, brush, leaf rake/skimmer net, vacuum or cleaner | These tools match the normal pool surface and maintenance system |
| Prepare water chemistry | Only the sanitizer/oxidizer, balance products, algaecide or seasonal products supported by tests and labels | Measured water and the sanitizer/surface system show a need |
| Protect skimmer and lines | Model/plumbing-size-specific winterizing plugs, skimmer plate/gizmo and professional line-protection equipment | The full winterization method calls for them and the sizes are verified |
| Drain equipment | Existing model-specific pump/filter/heater/sanitizer drain components; replacement plugs only if damaged or missing | The equipment manual identifies the drain points and parts |
| Cover the pool | Correct winter cover, anchoring/water bags as appropriate, cover pump for compatible solid covers, air pillow for applicable above-ground systems | The cover manufacturer and pool type call for the item |
| Document the job | Labels, storage bag/container for plugs, photos or a printed/digital checklist | Always; spring startup is safer when winter changes are recorded |
Testing supplies come before closing chemicals
If the test kit is missing or the reagents are stale, fix that before shopping for balancing or winter products. The closing chemistry decision depends on current water, not the month on the calendar.
Verify every plug by size and location
A skimmer gizmo, return-line plug, pump drain plug and filter drain plug do different jobs. Label each part by its equipment or plumbing location so the spring-opening process does not rely on a bag of anonymous threaded pieces.
Match the cover system to the pool
In-ground, above-ground, solid, mesh and safety covers use different anchoring and water-management methods. A cover pump is relevant to compatible solid-cover systems, while Pentair notes an air pillow as part of some above-ground winter cover setups.
Do not overbuy chemicals
If the pool is already balanced and the chosen system does not require a particular additive, owning a bottle is not a reason to put it in the water. Buy products you can justify from tests, compatibility and the closing procedure.
Keep a spring-opening box
Store clean, dry drain plugs, small fittings, labels and the closing record together. Photograph where each piece was removed. This inexpensive organizational step can prevent spring mistakes and unnecessary replacement-part orders.
What you may need
- Water test kit
- Winter cover
- Pool cover pump where appropriate
- Winterizing plugs
- Skimmer gizmo
- Above-ground air pillow when specified
- Pool closing kit only when compatible
- Model-specific pump/filter drain plugs only if replacements are needed
Products mentioned in this guide
These are product categories referenced by the guide, not tested or ranked picks. Check the product description, your pool or equipment model, and the seller listing before buying.
Comprehensive pool water test kit
A DPD/FAS-DPD style kit used to read chlorine, pH, alkalinity, stabilizer and hardness.
Places to check
Winter pool cover
Pool cover selected for the pool type, dimensions, anchoring method, weather exposure, and manufacturer installation requirements.
Places to check
Pool cover pump
Pump used to remove accumulated water from compatible solid pool covers. Follow the cover and pump instructions.
Places to check
Pool winterizing plugs
Model- and plumbing-size-specific plugs used as part of a proper winterization procedure. Match thread and fitting size before purchase.
Places to check
Skimmer winterizing plug or gizmo
Skimmer protection device selected to match the skimmer and the winterization procedure used for the pool.
Places to check
Above-ground pool winter air pillow
Inflatable pillow used under some above-ground winter covers. Size and use depend on the pool and cover instructions.
Places to check
Pool closing or winterizing kit
Bundled seasonal chemicals whose contents and concentrations vary. Use only products compatible with the pool system and follow each label.
Places to check
Pool pump drain plug
Model-specific drain plug or plug-and-O-ring assembly used on compatible pool pumps. Confirm the exact pump make, model, plug location, and manufacturer part specification before ordering. Winterization procedures commonly require removing existing drain plugs rather than installing a new one.
Places to check
Pool filter drain plug
Model-specific drain plug, cap, or gasket used on compatible pool filters. Match the exact filter make, model, drain location, and manufacturer part specification before ordering.
Places to check
Related guides
- What Chemicals Do You Need to Close a Pool?There is no universal list of chemicals that every pool must receive at closing. Test the water first, correct meaningful balance or sanitation problems, and then use only winterization products that are compatible with the pool surface, sanitizer, cover, and equipment. Pentair's current winterization guidance tells owners to balance the water and shock before adding winterization chemicals, but the exact products and doses still come from the measured water conditions and each product label. A bundled closing kit is a convenience, not a substitute for testing.
- Should You Lower the Water When Closing a Pool?Sometimes, but not by one universal number. Pentair's full winterization guidance says lowering water can help with freeze and overflow protection, while its Sun Belt partial-closure guidance explicitly says not to lower the water because circulation continues through the skimmers. The correct level depends on whether the pool is fully winterized or kept circulating, the cover, skimmer-protection method, pool construction, groundwater conditions, and local professional guidance.
- How to Close an In-Ground Pool for WinterA winter closing is a system-protection job, not simply putting on a cover. Clean and balance the pool first, then follow the exact equipment and plumbing winterization procedure for the installation. In freeze climates, the most consequential work is getting water out of, or safely protected within, vulnerable equipment and lines. If you cannot verify that step, hire a pool professional.
- How to Winterize an Above-Ground PoolAbove-ground winterization protects both the water system and the pool structure. Clean and balance the pool, remove equipment and accessories that should be stored, follow the pump/filter/plumbing manuals, protect the skimmer and return fittings according to the pool's winterization method, and install a cover intended for that pool. Do not drain an above-ground pool simply because winter is coming unless the pool manufacturer specifically directs it.
- How to Winterize a Pool PumpA pool pump is winterized by preventing freeze-prone water from remaining trapped in the pump and connected plumbing. Shut the equipment down safely, follow the exact pump manual for drain plugs, pot/lid position, unions and storage, and winterize the suction/return lines as a separate plumbing task. Pentair's current winter guidance specifically references removing pump pot and volute drain plugs during severe winter conditions. Do not run a pump dry as a substitute for draining it.
- How to Winterize a Pool FilterWinterize the installed filter model, not a generic “filter.” Shut the pump off, relieve all vessel pressure through the manual air-relief procedure, and drain the filter using the model's specified drain points. Cartridge, sand and DE filters use different internal media and service procedures. Pentair's current filter safety guidance emphasizes pressure relief before service, and several Pentair filter families include dedicated drains specifically for service and winterization.
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General reference information for pool owners. It is not a substitute for your equipment manuals, product labels, or a qualified local pool professional. Read our editorial standards.