With the cooler days of autumn imminent, it’s time to start thinking of closing the pool for another season.

You can always turn to the professionals to tackle this necessary chore – expect to pay between $150 – $300. It’s a fairly simple task, however, and if you choose to do it yourself, here are the steps you will have to complete.

1. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, add a winterizing chemical kit to the water to balance the water’s chemistry for the winter season. Do this a few days before you close the pool.

2. Clean the pool. Remove all equipment, including ladders, baskets, filters, etc., rinse off all equipment and lay out to dry completely. Skim the pool, vacuum and brush the water line.

3. Drain the water and equipment. The water line should be at least a few inches below the skimmer. To avoid damage to your expensive equipment over the winter, make sure to thoroughly drain pumps, filters, heaters and chlorinators. Use a shop vac or air compressor to blow out every last drop of water.

4. Be sure to blow out the plumbing lines as well and use plugs to ensure no more water enters them.

5. Cover the pool as tightly as possible to prevent debris and rainwater from entering. You can use air pillows to hold the cover up in the centre, allowing debris and moisture to slide off.

6. After equipment has dried completely, safely store indoors if possible.

After your pool has been taken care of it’s time to put your garden to bed for the winter and get a jumpstart to the spring season. Take a look at these fall garden tips.