When to Order a Winter Safety Cover in Maryland, DC, Virginia & West Virginia
Call about six weeks before you plan to close the pool. A custom Latham safety cover takes roughly four to six weeks from your first call to delivery, and most Maryland, DC, Virginia and West Virginia pools close between mid-October and the end of the month. That puts the ideal call date in early-to-mid September. If you are reading this later, you can still order; this guide shows what to expect and how to cover the gap.
By the Calm Water Pools Team | Last verified: September 28, 2026
How long a custom safety cover actually takes
Calm Water Pools supplies custom Latham safety covers. Each one is built to your pool’s exact shape, so it cannot be pulled off a shelf. The process has four steps:
- Days 0 to 2: Latham ships you a kit for your old cover.
- Days 3 to 7: You send your old cover back (prepaid). Latham arranges the pickup at no charge.
- About 2 business days after they receive it: Latham measures your old cover and sends your exact measurements and a quote.
- About 2 weeks after you approve the quote: Your custom cover ships.
Added together, that is about four weeks before the cover ships, plus delivery. Lead times get longer in peak fall, so plan on four to six weeks from first call to cover in hand. We confirm your ship date as soon as your old cover arrives. Calm Water Pools sells the cover; installation is not included.
The call-by calendar
These windows use the four-to-six-week estimate above. They are planning estimates, not delivery promises.
| Call us by | Cover in hand (estimate) | What it means for your pool |
|---|---|---|
| September 15 | October 13 to 27 | In time for a mid-to-late-October close. This is the target. |
| September 30 | October 28 to November 11 | Catches an end-of-October close. Pools on the colder western edge, such as the Martinsburg area, may see a first frost before it arrives. |
| October 15 | November 12 to 26 | You will likely manage an open pool through the first frosts (see the frost dates below). |
| November 1 | November 29 to December 13 | Cover goes on in early winter. Plan to keep the pool maintained until then. |
| December 1 | December 29 to January 12 | Still worth ordering for the rest of winter and next season. |
When frost arrives in Maryland, DC, Virginia and West Virginia
The first frost is what sets your real deadline, because water left in plumbing can freeze and crack pipes. Frost dates vary a lot across the region. NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 climate normals show a spread of almost a month between the colder western edge and the Washington, DC area:
- Frederick, MD: By October 13 there is a 10% chance the first 32°F reading has already happened. By October 30 the odds are 50%, and by November 15 they are 90% (University of Maryland Extension).
- Martinsburg, WV: About October 17 at the 3-in-10 level (Almanac.com, NOAA normals).
- Washington, DC (Reagan National Airport station): About November 12 at the same 3-in-10 level (Almanac.com, NOAA normals).
These are long-run averages, and frost can arrive earlier in low spots and away from the city. Our guide to what month to winterize your pool covers closing dates in more detail. Homeowners in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties, WV, should plan the earliest.
If your cover will arrive after you need to close
A late cover is a scheduling problem, not a reason to skip the cover. While you wait:
- Keep the pool clean and circulating. Skim leaves regularly and keep the chemistry balanced so the water stays clear until the cover goes on.
- Protect the plumbing before the first hard freeze. Pipes and equipment are the first things to freeze. Follow our pipe-freeze guide and your pool professional’s instructions.
- Do not treat a tarp as a substitute. A tarp is not a safety cover and does not hold weight. See Can You Use a Tarp as a Winter Pool Cover?
- Follow your pool manufacturer’s winter instructions. Do not drain a fiberglass shell, and follow the written guidance for your model on water level. See our fiberglass winterizing guide and winter water level under a safety cover.
No old cover to send back?
The timeline above assumes you have an old cover for Latham to measure. If you are covering a new pool, or your old cover is gone, call us before assuming these dates apply. The measuring step works differently, and we can tell you what to expect.
Choosing mesh or solid before you call
You can save a step by knowing which fabric you want. Our mesh vs. solid guide for Maryland, DC, Virginia and West Virginia walks through the trade-offs. The winter safety covers page has the full model list.
We serve homeowners across the region, including Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Jefferson County, WV and Berkeley County, WV.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a custom winter safety cover?
Plan on four to six weeks from your first call to delivery. Latham ships a kit in the first two days, you return your old cover in three to seven days, and measurements plus a quote follow within about two business days of receipt. The cover ships about two weeks after you approve the quote, and peak-season lead times run longer.
When should I call to order?
Call about six weeks before your planned closing date. For a mid-to-late-October close, that is early-to-mid September.
Can I still order in November or December?
Yes. The cover arrives later, so keep the pool maintained and its plumbing protected until it does. Call us for the current lead time.
What if I do not have an old cover to send back?
Call us before you assume the standard timeline applies. Without an old cover, the measuring step works differently.
When is the first frost in Maryland, DC, Virginia and West Virginia?
It varies by location. NOAA normals put the median first frost in Frederick, MD at October 30, with a range from October 13 to November 15. Martinsburg, WV is earlier, at about October 17, and Washington, DC is later, at about November 12, using the same 3-in-10 measure.
Sources: University of Maryland Extension, Fall Frost or Freeze Dates in Maryland (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals); Almanac.com, Martinsburg, WV and Washington, DC (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The ordering process is Latham’s cover-pickup program as offered through Calm Water Pools. Lead times vary by season and are confirmed when your old cover is received.