Up here in the Hudson Valley, winter arrives with conviction. From Newburgh to Wappingers Falls to Montgomery, our pools face genuine, sustained freezes—and water left in the plumbing when it freezes will crack pipes, pumps, and filters. Pool closing in the Hudson Valley is a job with a real deadline, and getting the timing and the process right is what saves you an expensive spring. Here’s how.
When to Close in the Hudson Valley
Close once your water temperature holds below 60°F—typically early-to-mid October in our region, a little earlier than areas farther south. The Valley cools off quickly once fall sets in, and the first hard freeze can arrive sooner than newcomers expect. Below 60°F, algae goes dormant and your water stays clear under the cover. Close too early in a warm New Windsor afternoon and you’ll get algae; wait too long and a freeze can crack your lines. Watch the forecast closely through October.
The Pool Closing Process
- Balance the water a few days ahead: pH 7.2–7.6, alkalinity 80–120 ppm, calcium hardness in range. This protects your surfaces over a long Hudson Valley winter.
- Clean it out—skim, brush, and vacuum. With all the trees across Orange and Dutchess counties, leaf drop is heavy; leftover debris stains and feeds algae.
- 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 with a compressor or shop vac, plug them, and add non-toxic pool antifreeze where needed. Fully drain the pump, filter, and heater, and pull the drain plugs.
- Cover it securely with a safety or winter cover rated for snow load, and keep it clear of standing water and debris.
Why An Early, Thorough Close Matters Here
The Hudson Valley’s combination of an early first freeze and long, cold winters is exactly what punishes a sloppy closing. Any water left behind in the lines gets frozen and thawed over and over for months, and that freeze-thaw cycle cracks plumbing that might survive a milder region. Don’t wait for a “normal” late-October close if the forecast shows an early cold snap—close on the weather.
The Step That Protects Your Investment
If you remember one thing: never leave water in the lines. Cracked underground plumbing is the costliest spring repair, and it’s almost always from a skipped or rushed blow-out. Do it right, or let us handle it.
Book Before the Freeze
Galati Pools & Spas closes pools across the Hudson Valley—Newburgh, Wappingers Falls, New Windsor, Montgomery, and the surrounding towns. Our fall schedule fills fast as the cold moves in. Reach out to get your closing booked before the first freeze.
