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HiringWinterizing

Should I winterize my pool myself or hire a pool company?

Do it yourself on an above-ground pool: it is draining, drying and storing. Hire a pool company for an in-ground pool, a gas heater, hard-wired equipment or any plumbing blow-out, since compressed air can make components explode. Get at least three written bids and limit any deposit to 10% or $1,000, whichever is less.

Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.

By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished

Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.

Step by step

Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.

  1. Step 1: Identify the pool type

    Decide whether it is an above-ground pool you can drain and store, or an in-ground pool with buried plumbing.

  2. Step 2: List the equipment

    Note any gas heater, hard-wired pump, salt system or sand filter, and find the owner's manual for each.

  3. Step 3: Sort the jobs

    Mark which jobs involve gas, hard-wired power or compressed air; those go to a pro.[3]

  4. Step 4: Do the safe parts yourself

    Draining hoses, the ladder, the cover and a dry-and-fold of an above-ground liner are ordinary yard work.[1]

  5. Step 5: Get written bids

    For the rest, get at least three written bids with a line-by-line scope.[6]

  6. Step 6: Check the licence

    Look up the company on DPOR before signing if the work could reach $1,000.[6]

Short answer

For an above-ground pool you can usually do it yourself: it is draining, drying and storing, with no gas and no buried plumbing. Hire a pool company when the pool is in-ground, when it has a gas heater, hard-wired pump or salt system, or when the plumbing needs to be cleared with air. Those are the parts of the job that carry the real risk.

A rolled-up residential swimming pool cover lying beside a pool
Photo: SMC at English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

What a DIY closing looks like

On an above-ground pool the manufacturer advice is simple. If you live in a region where the temperature drops below 32°F (0°C), the best option is to drain, pack up and store your pool.[1] You clean and drain the pump, filter housing, and hoses,[1] dry the liner so mold cannot grow, and keep the ladder, hoses and pump parts indoors in a dry place. Our guide on how to winterize an above-ground pool has the sequence.

You also need the equipment-specific steps from your owner's manual. For a sand filter, the manufacturer says to completely drain the tank by unscrewing the drain cap at the base of the filter tank and to leave the cap off during winter.[4] If you skip this kind of step, the EPA notes the result: freezing water can cause cracks, which can later cause leaks.[2]

Where DIY gets risky

Compressed air. Many online guides tell owners to blow out their lines with a shop compressor. Hayward's manual warns that purging the system with compressed air can cause components to explode, with risk of severe injury or death, and allows only a low-pressure, high-volume blower.[3]

Antifreeze. The same manual says to use only propylene glycol as antifreeze in a pool and spa system, because other antifreezes are highly toxic and may damage plastic components.[3]

Power. Draining a pump means working near its power. The manual's warning is that failure to disconnect power may result in serious personal injury or death, so turn off power to the motor before draining the pump.[3]

Gas heaters. A pool heater's shutdown begins with turning off the gas valve, the manual gas valve and the electrical supply, then removing panels to reach the drain plug on the return header.[5] A homeowner should not open gas equipment.

Suction outlets. Hayward notes that failure to remove plugs used in winterization from the suction outlets can raise the risk of suction entrapment, so when you open the pool in spring, someone must confirm the plugs are out.[4]

When hiring makes sense

A company is worth the money when the pool is in-ground, when you do not have the owner's manuals, when you have a heater or salt system, when you cannot be there at the right time, or when you want someone to carry the liability for the plumbing. It also helps if you have had a freeze-related problem before.

How to hire

Get at least three written bids and insist on a detailed written contract.[6] Ask what the company uses to clear the lines and which antifreeze, if any, it adds. Limit your deposit to 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.[6] For costs, see what pool winterizing costs in Virginia.

If the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work,[6] and Virginia defines swimming pool construction contracting as the service that provides for the construction, repair, improvement, or removal of in-ground swimming pools.[7] A repair found during closing can cross that line. Check the business on DPOR's licence lookup.

Stop and call a pro if

  • Your pool has a gas heater. Leave the gas side to a qualified technician.[5]
  • You are about to use a compressor on the lines. Stop; the manufacturer warns of explosion risk.[3]
  • The pump is hard-wired. Have the power disconnected by someone qualified before you drain it.
  • The pool is losing water. That is a leak to diagnose, not a winterizing step.

Getting help in Virginia

If you decide to do it yourself, how to backwash a sand filter helps with the filter. Browse pool equipment repair answers and the pool maintenance directory for more.

When you are ready, describe the job and local pool companies will quote it.

Common questions

Can I winterize an in-ground pool myself?
Some owners do, but the plumbing blow-out, antifreeze choice, heater shutdown and pump wiring are where mistakes cost money or hurt people. If you are not sure, hire a pool company for the in-ground plumbing and do the cover and cleanup yourself.
Is it dangerous to blow out pool lines with a compressor?
Yes. Hayward's manual warns that purging the system with compressed air can cause components to explode, with risk of severe injury or death, and allows only a low-pressure, high-volume blower.
Does a pool company need a contractor licence to winterize?
A routine closing is maintenance, but Virginia requires a contractor licence for work valued at $1,000 or more, and in-ground pool repair is defined as swimming pool construction contracting. Check DPOR's licence lookup.
What deposit is reasonable?
The Board for Contractors suggests no more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.

Sources

  1. [1] Winterizing Your Above Ground Pool (manufacturer guide), Funsicle. Checked October 27, 2026.
  2. [2] Pool Water Efficiency: Jump Into Savings, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.
  3. [3] Super Pump Series Owner's Manual (ISSPSERIES), Hayward Pool Products. Checked October 27, 2026.
  4. [4] S200 Series High Rate Sand Filter Owner's Manual (IS200), Hayward Pool Products. Checked October 27, 2026.
  5. [5] Gas-Fired Pool and Spa Heater Installation and Operation Manual, Raypak. Checked October 27, 2026.
  6. [6] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 27, 2026.
  7. [7] 18VAC50-22-30, Definitions of specialty services (Board for Contractors Regulations), Virginia Administrative Code, Virginia General Assembly. Checked October 27, 2026.

Want a pro to handle it?

Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.