Six checkpoints before leaving the stop
- Check the local NWS forecast and record the close date.
- Test and record water chemistry and visible condition.
- Identify every suction, return, cleaner, spa, and feature line.
- Follow the cover and equipment manuals for water level, draining, and storage.
- Document each winterized line, plug, equipment drain, and cover condition.
- Record declined work and give the next crew a spring handoff.
Do not use a generic water-level rule: skimmer design, liner, cover type, and the manufacturer's directions change the decision. If the plumbing map is uncertain, stop and use a qualified closing professional instead of guessing which branch a valve serves.
Minimum photo and note set
- Before photo: pool water, cover, and wide equipment pad.
- Nameplates for pump, heater, filter, salt system, and automation.
- Each drained component and removed plug, with its storage location.
- Each return and skimmer after winterization, plus valve positions.
- Cover anchors, straps, pump placement, pre-existing damage, and customer decision.
Equipment paths
Use the variable-speed pump, salt cell, and heater pages as documentation prompts. The line blowout page describes what proof to capture; it is not a pressure or compressor procedure. If a customer declines a correction, use the declined-work note format.
Questions
When should a Midwest pool be closed?
Before sustained freezing conditions threaten water-filled lines and equipment. Check the local NWS forecast and the pool's actual exposure; there is no universal city closing date.
Does a checklist replace the equipment manuals?
No. The exact pump, filter, heater, salt system, and cover manuals govern their own shutdown and storage steps. Use this list to document that those steps were checked.