How Much Does a Pool Closing Service Cost?

Average Pool Closing Costs

What Is Involved in Closing a Pool?

If you live in an area where winter temperatures drop below 65°F, you'll need to close your pool during the winter months. This is called winterizing a pool. You can do this job yourself, but many people prefer to hire a local pool maintenance service, as it's quite an involved process. You may also have winterization as part of your annual pool maintenance costs if you have a yearly service contract. 

If you've sprung for the cost of a pool enclosure, you can likely put off closing your pool for an extra month or so. If you have a heated pool enclosure and a heated pool, you may not need to close your pool at all.

Winterizing a pool includes:

• Removing, cleaning, and storing accessories like filter baskets and ladders

• Shocking the pool to kill algae and bacteria

• Deep cleaning the pool, including vacuuming the bottom, scrubbing the walls, and removing all debris

• Lowering the water level appropriately

• Draining and lubricating the pool equipment

• Testing and balancing the remaining water

• Covering and securing the pool for winter

Cost to Close a Pool by Type

The size of the pool makes little difference to the price of a closing service, but the type of pool does. Above-ground pools are easier to winterize than in-ground pools, so they naturally cost less. 

Above-Ground Pool

Closing an above-ground pool costs between $150 and $200. They cost less to close because the process is simpler and faster. Generally, above-ground pools have less equipment and fewer accessories than in-ground types, making the covers easier to get into place. 

In-Ground Pool

In-ground pool closing costs between $200 and $400. Winterizing an in-ground pool takes longer and involves more than the same process on an above-ground pool. In-ground pools are often larger and incorporate more equipment that needs winterization. Those pools with water features and spa areas, or multiple heaters and drains, cost more to drain because the job takes more time.

Pool Closing for Winter Cost Breakdown

Winterizing and closing a pool is a laborious task, so naturally, most of the cost goes toward paying for labor. The price also includes the pool chemicals necessary to prevent algae and bacterial growth during the closed season. 

Materials

The winterization process requires a range of chemicals that ensure your pool water remains healthy through the winter. This avoids the expense of pool draining, deep cleaning, and filling when the weather warms up. Consider the pool chemicals your pro will use and how much each costs. Note that you'll only pay for the portion of the product your pool requires, with the cost already included in the project quote.

Labor

Labor for a pool closure costs between $75 and $100 per hour. The price of labor makes up the bulk of the cost of winterizing your pool. The pool technician expends a lot of time, skill, and energy safely winterizing all the pool equipment, cleaning the pool itself, and shocking and balancing the water.

Other Pool Closing Cost Factors

Because every pool setup is unique, your pool technician will have a range of add-on costs for work other than the standard. So, for example, if you have extra equipment for your spa that needs draining and lubricating, or you have a solar heater that requires antifreeze, these are considered add-ons and will increase the price of the pool closing service.

Add-Ons

If you splurged on the cost of building your pool by adding custom elements, a spa area, a hot tub, or a soaking pool, you'll likely need to pay extra for winterizing these add-ons.

Adding an Air Pillow

Adding air pillows to your pool costs $10 to $30 per pillow. These sit below the pool cover and balance the weight of any snow and ice buildup. This helps to prevent the pool walls from caving in under the weight of the snow and ice.

Adding a Winter Pill

Adding a winter pill costs $15 to $25. Winter pills aren't always necessary, but they're a good option if you've previously had issues with algae or bacteria over winter. These floating devices slowly release chemicals into the water throughout the winter to inhibit bacterial and algal growth.

Getting a New Pool Cover

When your pro starts winterizing your pool, they'll check the integrity of your pool cover. If it has irreparable damage, you'll need a replacement. A new pool cover costs $100 to $20,000, depending on the size of your pool and the type of cover you need. The typical range, though, is $800 to $2,500.

DIY Pool Winterization vs. Hiring a Pro

While it's possible to winterize a pool yourself, the service is affordable and saves a lot of potential headaches and expenses down the road. Therefore, most people prefer to hire a pool service to close their pool for the off-season. Compared to the cost of installing an in-ground pool or the price of an above-ground pool, the cost of a pool closing service is minimal. 

Getting it wrong can damage your pool and the equipment, and the cost of pool repairs is significant compared to the cost of pool closing. In the worst case, if you drain the water too much or don't use the protection, the pool walls could cave in, or the liner could tear beyond repair. Repairing or replacing a pool liner costs $350 to $5,000. 

So, while the process is fairly simple, it's best to let a pro tackle your winter pool closure.