Winters in Auburn and Opelika are mild compared to most of the country. Plenty of December and January afternoons feel like fall, and it’s easy to forget the pool is out there at all. But East Alabama still gets cold snaps and hard freezes, and a single night in the low 20s is enough to crack a pump housing, split a filter tank, or burst a pipe that still has water sitting in it. This guide covers what pool owners here should do over the winter — whether your pool is closed under a cover or kept running — and what to do when a hard freeze shows up in the forecast.
Closed or Kept Running: Two Kinds of Winter Pools
Most pools in our area spend the winter one of two ways:
- Closed and winterized. The water is chemically treated, the plumbing is blown out and protected with antifreeze, the equipment is drained, and a winter cover or safety cover goes on. This is what a full pool closing & winterization includes.
- Kept open. The pump and filter keep running on a schedule, the water stays balanced, and the pool is looked after much like it is in summer, just with less work.
Both approaches can work. The difference is what protects the pool from freezing. A closed pool is protected because there’s no water left in the lines and equipment to freeze. An open pool is protected because the water keeps moving. The care each one needs over the winter is different, so we’ll take them one at a time.
Caring for a Closed Pool Over the Winter
Closing a pool doesn’t mean forgetting about it until spring. A few minutes of checking every couple of weeks, and after any big storm, keeps small problems from turning into expensive ones.
Keep the Cover Clear of Water and Leaves
With all the oaks and pines around Auburn and Opelika, covers collect a lot of leaves and needles over the winter. On a solid cover, rainwater pools on top, mixes with those leaves, and turns into a heavy, dirty puddle. Too much weight sitting on the cover strains the straps and anchors, and the debris can get into the pool when the cover comes off in spring. Use a cover pump to remove standing water, and clear leaves off with a leaf rake or soft broom.
Mesh covers let rain drain through, so standing water is rarely an issue, but leaves still pile up on top and should be cleared off now and then. If you’re still deciding between the two, our guide on mesh vs. solid pool safety covers compares how each one handles winter.
Keep an Eye on the Water Level
A safety cover is designed to rest just above the water. If the water level drops too far, the cover loses that support and the straps carry more of the load. On a vinyl liner pool, very low water can also let the liner shift and wrinkle. If you notice the level has dropped noticeably since closing, it’s worth figuring out why — heavy evaporation in a dry spell is one thing, but a steady drop can point to a leak.
Check on the Water Once or Twice
A winterizing treatment holds algae back for a long time, but a long stretch of warm weather can use it up faster than expected — and Alabama winters often have a warm week or two. Peek under a corner of the cover during a warm spell. If the water is starting to look cloudy or green, a mid-winter dose of chlorine or algaecide now is much easier than clearing a swamp at opening time. If you’re not sure what it needs, stop by our store for chemicals and advice.
Make Sure the Cover Stays Secure
After a windy storm, walk around the pool and check that every strap is still attached to its anchor and the cover is sitting evenly. A strap that has popped loose is easy to reattach right away, and a cover that stays taut is a cover that keeps debris — and kids and pets — out of the water.
Leave the Equipment Alone
On a winterized pool, the pump, filter, and lines have been drained on purpose. Don’t turn the pump on “just to circulate” on a warm day; running a pump with no water in it can damage it, and refilling the lines undoes the freeze protection you paid for. If you do want to reopen early for a warm spell, give us a call first.
Good to know: If a thin layer of ice forms on the water under a cover or on top of a solid cover, leave it alone. Breaking ice by hitting it can tear a cover or puncture a vinyl liner. It will melt on its own once the sun comes out.
If You Keep Your Pool Running Through the Winter
Some Auburn and Opelika homeowners prefer to keep their pools open year-round. That’s a workable choice here, but it means the pool depends on its equipment to stay safe on cold nights.
Run the Pump on Freezing Nights
Moving water is much less likely to freeze than water sitting still in a pipe. When temperatures are forecast to drop to freezing or below, keep the pump running continuously through the night instead of on its normal timer schedule. Many newer pumps and automation systems have a built-in freeze protection setting that turns the pump on automatically when the air gets close to freezing — if yours does, make sure it’s turned on. If you’re not sure whether your system has it, ask us.
Keep Skimmer and Pump Baskets Empty
Leaves are the biggest winter chore for an open pool. A clogged skimmer or pump basket cuts down the flow of water, and reduced flow is exactly what you don’t want on a freezing night. Empty the baskets regularly, and always check them before a cold front comes through.
Keep the Water Balanced
Colder water slows algae down, but it doesn’t stop it. Test the water every week or two and keep chlorine and pH in range. Balanced water also protects your surfaces and equipment — our guide on how to clean a pool walks through testing and balancing step by step.
Don’t Let the Water Level Drop
If the water falls below the skimmer opening, the pump can start pulling in air instead of water. A pump that loses prime on a freezing night isn’t moving water through the lines, which defeats the whole point of running it. Top off the pool if the level gets low.
What to Do When a Hard Freeze Is in the Forecast
When a cold front is headed our way, a little preparation the day before goes a long way:
- Open pools: Set the pump to run all night, empty the skimmer and pump baskets, confirm the water level is in the middle of the skimmer opening, and check that water is actually flowing back into the pool through the return jets.
- Closed pools: Pump standing water off a solid cover so it doesn’t freeze into a heavy sheet of ice, and make sure the cover is secure.
- Power outages: If the power goes out during a freeze, an open pool loses its protection because the pump stops. If you expect a long outage in freezing weather, call us for advice on draining exposed equipment.
- After the freeze: Walk out to the equipment pad and look for cracks, drips, or puddles around the pump, filter, and above-ground plumbing. Catching a small leak early is much cheaper than finding a big one in spring.
Signs Something Needs Attention This Winter
Call us if you notice any of these over the winter months:
- The water level is dropping steadily even though it hasn’t been dry or windy.
- The cover is sagging badly, a strap or anchor has pulled loose, or the cover is torn.
- The water under the cover has turned green or cloudy.
- There’s water leaking from the pump, filter, or any of the plumbing after a cold night.
- An open pool’s pump is running but very little water is coming out of the return jets.
Use the Off-Season to Get Ready for Spring
Winter is also the easiest time to plan ahead. If your liner is faded, wrinkled, or losing water, the off-season is a good time to look at options — our guide to the signs you need a new pool liner explains what to look for. If you don’t have a safety cover yet, one can be installed any time of year. And when the weather starts warming up, a professional pool opening gets your pool clean, balanced, and ready to swim, followed by weekly maintenance to keep it that way all season.
Winter Pool Care FAQs
Do I need to winterize my pool in Auburn, AL?
Auburn and Opelika winters are mild, but they still bring hard freezes. Either winterize the pool fully — with the water treated, lines blown out, equipment drained, and a cover installed — or keep it running and make sure the pump runs whenever temperatures drop to freezing. A pool that is neither winterized nor circulating is the one at risk of freeze damage.
Should I run my pool pump when it’s freezing?
If your pool is open, yes. Keep the pump running continuously on freezing nights so water keeps moving through the pipes and equipment. If your pool has been closed and winterized, no — the equipment has been drained on purpose and should not be turned on.
How do I get rainwater off my pool cover?
On a solid cover, use a cover pump to remove standing water, and clear leaves off with a leaf rake or soft broom. Mesh covers let rain drain through on their own, but leaves should still be cleared off the top from time to time.
Should I check my pool water while it’s closed for the winter?
It’s a good idea to look under the cover once or twice, especially after a warm spell. If the water is starting to turn cloudy or green, adding chlorine or algaecide mid-winter is much easier than clearing a green pool in the spring.
What should I do if my pool equipment froze?
Turn off power to any equipment that may be damaged, let everything thaw, and then check the pump, filter, and plumbing for cracks or leaks before running it again. If you see damage, give Clear H2O a call at (334) 821-7809.
Related Services
- Pool Closing & Winterization — chemical treatment, line blowout, and equipment drain-down
- Pool Safety Covers — custom-fit mesh and solid covers
- Pool Opening — get your pool swim-ready in the spring
- Weekly Maintenance — balanced water all season long
- Opelika Pool Service — the same services for Opelika pool owners
Need Help Getting Your Pool Through the Winter?
Clear H2O has been serving Auburn & Opelika pool owners since 2004. Call us about closing your pool or installing a safety cover, or stop by the store for chemicals, parts, and advice.