Labor Day is only two weeks away, which means public pools across the state will be closing soon! When you have your own pool, though, you can choose to keep it open or close it even earlier—it all depends. So, how do you decide when to close your pool for fall? In Maryland, it can be hard to tell, but use these basic guidelines to help you.

This is a key factor when it comes to pool maintenance. You don’t want to close it too early and risk your winter chemicals running out. In case you hadn’t noticed, you burn through chemicals much faster when your pool is hotter. So, if you add all the chemicals you think you’ll need to get you through the winter and we get a few hot weeks, you could uncover a big mess come springtime.

On the other side, you don’t want to wait so long to close it that the water starts to freeze, either. That can cause expensive damage to your pool equipment and connected plumbing. So, you really need to follow the weather closely over the next couple of weeks. Ideally, when temperatures fall consistently below 65 degrees, you can confidently close your pool for the season.

Keep an eye on the water, too. Even if you’re not using is consistently anymore, you should still check it regularly to monitor the pH balance and other factors. Once algae blooms start to form, that’s a sign that there’s a chemical imbalance somewhere in your pool. These green blobs can clog your filter, stain your liner, and even cause you to drain the pool completely if you’re not careful. So, if you notice anything amiss, call in the professionals before trying to close up for the season.

Although the heavy rains and storms we’ve seen this summer aren’t necessarily good for your pool, they’re not a signal to close completely. Too much rain water—or worse, run off—entering your pool can throw off its chemical balance, since it naturally tends to be acidic. This can also lead to corrosion on any metal parts of your pool, or outright damage of porous plaster. Plus, you don’t want it to overflow! It’s better to drain the excess or invest in a stronger filtration system now to allow it to adjust before winter. So, when rain’s in the forecast, opt for a cover rather than a complete close. Unless the temperatures start to drop along with it.

Hopefully, most of the signs won’t appear for a while, so we can still squeeze a few more weeks out of summer! While we’re not pool experts, we’re happy to help our clients with the surrounding areas—like the pool deck and security fence. If you need help renovating them while you’re closing out this year, just give us a call before you decide when to close your pool.