Closing Your Pool for the SA Winter

Who should actually close?

Inland frost belts (Joburg, Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Free State) benefit most — closing saves R600–R1,200 in winter electricity and protects exposed pipework from freezing. Cape Town and Durban: reduced filtration through winter is usually cheaper and cleaner than a full close-down.

The closing sequence

Allow a half-day:

• Final clean: brush, vacuum, skim
• Balance water to pH 7.4, alkalinity 100 ppm
• Shock-dose to break combined chlorine
• Run pump 24 h to circulate
• Add winter algaecide and a stabiliser top-up
• Drop water level to 100 mm below skimmer (concrete pools) or just below (fibreglass — never empty)
• Drain pump, salt cell, and any exposed pipework
• Fit winter cover, secure against wind

Reduced winter mode (Cape/Durban)

Run pump 2–4 h/day on a timer, maintain free chlorine 1.0–1.5 ppm, brush every two weeks, monitor monthly. Costs ~R250–R450/month in chemicals + electricity. Pool stays swim-ready into May and reopens cleanly in spring with no shock-dose.

Choosing a winter cover

Mesh safety covers (R3,500–R7,500) shed leaves and hold rainwater up to 90 kg/m² of point load — also doubles as a child-safety barrier. Solid PVC covers (R2,800–R5,500) seal tighter but need a pump to clear standing water. Bubble/solar covers are summer tools, not winter ones.