Pool Closing on Long Beach Island: A Shore Homeowner’s Guide
Closing a pool at the shore comes with its own quirks. Out here on Long Beach Island and across Ocean County—Manahawkin, Beach Haven, Waretown—a lot of pools belong to second homes that sit empty through the winter, and the salt air adds a wrinkle you won’t find inland. But the core reason for a proper closing is the same everywhere: our winters freeze, and water left in the plumbing cracks pipes and equipment. Here’s how pool closing on Long Beach Island should go.
Timing at the shore
Close once your water temperature holds below 60°F—generally mid-to-late October along the coast. Ocean air can run a touch milder into the fall than inland Ocean County towns like Barnegat, but not enough to skip freeze protection. Below 60°F, algae goes dormant and your water stays clear under the cover; close too early and you’ll get algae, too late and a freeze can beat you to the plumbing.
The closing steps
Balance the water a few days ahead: pH 7.2–7.6, alkalinity 80–120 ppm, calcium hardness in range.
Clean it out—skim, brush, and vacuum thoroughly so nothing stains or feeds algae over the winter.
Shock and add algaecide—shock the pool, let chlorine normalize, then add a winter algaecide.
Lower the water below the skimmer and returns.
Blow out the lines—clear skimmer, returns, and main drain, plug them, and add non-toxic pool antifreeze where needed. Fully drain the pump, filter, and heater.
Cover it securely—and at the shore, secure it extra well, because coastal wind will find any loose edge.
Two things shore pools especially need
Salt air and your equipment. Coastal air is hard on metal—pump housings, fasteners, ladders, and rails corrode faster near the ocean. Fall is the right time to rinse and inspect your equipment before it sits all winter, and to note anything that needs attention before spring. A quick wipe-down and a check now saves a corroded surprise later.
Empty second homes. If your LBI place sits vacant through the winter, your pool won’t have anyone keeping an eye on it. That makes a thorough closing and a tightly secured cover essential—there’s no one to catch a sagging cover or a problem mid-winter. For seasonal owners, a professional closing is cheap peace of mind.
The step that protects your plumbing
As always, the blow-out is the one that matters most. Water left in the lines over a freeze is what cracks underground plumbing—the priciest spring repair by far. Do it thoroughly, or leave it to us.
Close it right before you head home
A&R Pool Service closes pools across Long Beach Island and Ocean County—Manahawkin, Beach Haven, Waretown, Barnegat, and beyond. Heading back off the island for the season? Book your closing before you go, and we’ll make sure your shore pool is protected all winter.