You can winterize a pool yourself.

Yes, but it’s a lot of work, and one mistake can cost you a cracked shell or busted plumbing.

The basics are simple: clean the pool, balance the water chemistry, lower the water level below the skimmer, blow out the return lines with an air compressor, plug the lines, add antifreeze (the RV kind, not automotive), drain the pump and filter, cover it tight.

The part people mess up most is forgetting to remove the drain plugs on the pump and filter. Water freezes and expands, and that’s how you get a $2000 repair next spring. Also, get a heavy-duty cover that actually stays on – rocks or water bags, not the cheap straps that snap in January.

If that sounds like too much, pay a pro. But if you’re handy and patient, it’s doable in a weekend.

Get the air pillow under the cover. It saves the cover from sagging under snow weight.