If you’re thinking about closing your pool soon, it’s a good idea to test your water balance in advance so that you have time to circulate any necessary adjusting products before the closing date. So if not able to get your water professionally tested, at least use your test strips to check your pH & alkalinity levels and raise them if necessary. At closing, we prefer to see both of these on the high end of the ok range, especially if you use the kind of winter cover that allows rainwater to drain through into the pool.
We also recommend a concentrated algaecide such as AlgiPro 40, as well as some Meta Stain Prevent (especially for drain-through covers, pools with heaters, and any relatively new liners) to be added and circulated shortly before closing. Then one last shock of liquid chlorine is usually the standard.
We’re still hoping for more warm weather though! But if you think the time has come, those are some helpful tips for preparing properly.