In this guide
- What does it mean to winterize a pool in Southern California?
- Why most Long Beach pools stay open all winter
- How to winterize a pool in 6 steps
- How much should the pump run in winter?
- What chemistry targets matter in cold water?
- How Long Beach winter weather affects your pool
- When does a full pool closing make sense?
- Cold-climate steps you can skip
- Want a hand with your winter pool routine?
- Frequently asked questions
To winterize a pool in Long Beach, you keep it open and switch to a cool-season routine. Our mild winters mean you can skip blowing out lines, adding antifreeze, and draining. Run the pump for at least one full turnover a day. Hold chlorine and pH in range, and stay on top of rain and wind debris.
I'm Adam, owner and lead technician at Adam's Pool & Spa in Long Beach. I'm Jandy Certified and a Pentair Expert Installer. Every fall I get the same question: do I need to close my pool? For most homes here, the answer is no. A steady weekly pool maintenance routine through the cool months does more for your pool than a shutdown.
Why most Long Beach pools stay open all winter
Because the conditions that force a closing don't happen here. Freezing water expands and cracks plumbing, pumps, and filters, which is why cold-climate owners drain lines and add antifreeze. Our coastal winters are mild, and freezing nights are rare.
Closing a pool here can also create problems. A pool that sits without circulation or sanitizer can turn green within days of a warm spell. Then the spring opening becomes a cleanup job. Keeping the water moving and balanced all winter costs less effort than recovering a neglected pool in March.
How to winterize a pool in 6 steps
This is the cool-season setup we run on Long Beach pools each fall.
- Set the pump to one turnover a day. Find the hours your pump needs to filter every gallon once, and run at least that.
- Clean the filter. Start the season with clean cartridges or a fresh backwash so flow stays strong.
- Balance the water. Bring chlorine, pH, and alkalinity into range before the weather turns.
- Check the salt cell or feeder. Salt cells make less chlorine in cold water, so watch the readings.
- Clear the skimmers and baskets. Fall leaves and wind debris load them fast.
- Keep testing weekly. Cooler water slows chlorine use, but rain and debris still pull it down.
How much should the pump run in winter?
At least one full turnover every day. A U.S. Department of Energy guide on replacing single speed pool pumps with variable speed pumps calls one turnover every 24 hours the minimum.
To find your number, divide your pool's gallons by the pump's flow in gallons per minute, then divide by 60. That's the hours for one turnover. In summer you add extra turnovers for swimmers and heat. In winter you drop the extras and keep the base.
A variable speed pump runs longer at low speed to move the same water, and it still uses less energy doing it. If your pump can't keep up even at the daily minimum, have it checked before the season gets wetter.
What chemistry targets matter in cold water?
The same ones as summer. The CDC's guidance on home pool water treatment and testing recommends pH 7.0 to 7.8 and at least 1 ppm free chlorine. With cyanuric acid in the water, it recommends at least 2 ppm.
Cold water uses chlorine more slowly, which makes it easy to get lazy about testing. Don't. A single storm can dilute your chlorine and drop your pH overnight. Our seasonal pool care calendar lays out the month-by-month checks if you like to plan ahead.
Salt pools need a closer look. Many salt cells cut back or stop making chlorine as the water cools, so you may need to supplement. We covered that in detail in our post on salt cells in cold water.
How Long Beach winter weather affects your pool
Winter here brings three things your pool notices: rain, wind, and cool nights.
- Rain dilutes chlorine, lowers pH, and washes dirt and leaves into the water.
- Santa Ana winds can drop a week of debris into a pool in one afternoon.
- Cool nights pull heat out of the water, which matters if you run a heater.
- Shorter days mean less sun, so algae grows slower but doesn't stop.
None of this calls for closing the pool. It calls for a routine that responds to the weather. After a storm or a wind event, skim, empty the baskets, test, and adjust. If you heat the pool for winter swims, a cover keeps the heater from fighting the night air.
When does a full pool closing make sense?
Rarely, but it does happen. A closing makes sense when nobody will check the pool for months, such as a vacant rental or a home being sold. It can also fit a pool you plan to resurface in spring.
Even then, a Long Beach closing looks nothing like one in a cold state. Our pool closing service guide walks through what a closing here includes. That runs from rebalancing the water to cutting pump time to one turnover. For a pool someone still lives with, keeping it open is the better choice.
Cold-climate steps you can skip
A lot of winterizing advice online is written for places where pools freeze. In Long Beach, skip these:
- Blowing out the plumbing lines with compressed air
- Adding pool antifreeze to the pipes
- Draining the water below the returns
- Pulling the pump and filter indoors
- Turning the pump off until spring
Each of those solves a freezing problem we don't have. Some, like turning the pump off or draining, create new problems. A drained pool can expose plaster to drying and cracking, and a still pool grows algae.
The questions Long Beach pool owners ask most about getting a pool ready for winter, answered plainly.
Want a hand with your winter pool routine?
Your pool doesn't need to close for winter. It needs a schedule that fits the season and someone watching the chemistry after each storm. At Adam's Pool & Spa, we set the pump to your real turnover time and clean the filter. Then we keep the water balanced all season. We work across Long Beach and nearby neighborhoods. Schedule a visit and we'll set your pool up for winter.
Adam is the founder, owner, and lead technician of Adam's Pool & Spa, working on pools in Long Beach and nearby LA County for about fifteen years. He is Jandy Certified and a Pentair Expert Installer, and he built the business on education-first, anti-pressure service, including the "Pool School" session each new client gets.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to winterize a pool in Southern California?
Not in the cold-climate sense. Long Beach pools rarely face freezing water, so you don't blow out lines or add antifreeze. What you do is switch to a cool-season routine: one full turnover a day, steady chlorine and pH, and regular debris cleanup.
Should I drain my pool for the winter in Long Beach?
No. Draining a pool for the season adds risk and gains you nothing in our climate. A full pool keeps the plaster wet and the shell weighted. Keep the water in, keep it circulating, and keep it balanced.
Can I turn my pool pump off in winter?
Keep it running at least long enough for one full turnover every day. A U.S. Department of Energy guide calls one turnover every 24 hours the minimum. Skip the extra summer turnovers, but keep the base one.
Do I still need weekly pool service in winter?
Most Long Beach pools do better with it. Winter brings rain, leaves, and Santa Ana wind debris, and those land whether anyone swims or not. A weekly visit catches a chemistry slide before it turns into a green pool.
Should I put a cover on my pool in winter?
A cover helps if you heat the pool or have heavy tree debris. It holds heat and keeps leaves out. If you use one, keep the water circulating under it. Only a safety cover protects kids and pets.
