Tie strong string or thin rope to both ends of the pillow; it should have grommets on the edges for this purpose. Place the pillow in the center of the pool. Secure the other ends of the strings to the edge of the pool to keep the pillow in place.
Placing the Air Pillow
The air pillow must be in the center of the pool to do its job properly. Positioning your air pillow in the middle of your pool will ensure an equal distribution of snow, rainwater, and other debris.
Tieing an ice equalizer pillow in place will help keep debris and water within reach of the edge of the pool. Do not get worried if your pool pillow has popped or deflated.
Air Pillows are a winter closing essential for aboveground pools in colder climates. This rugged vinyl air pillow absorbs the pressure of freezing and thawing to protect the cover and walls of your pool. When your pool water freezes, the Air Pillow compresses to relieve pressure on your pool walls.
Important: We highly recommend using an actual pool air pillow for this purpose. Inner tubes or exercise balls won't work as well, if they work at all. Made from 16 gauge vinyl, this air pillow absorbs pressure caused by ice expansion, protecting the swimming pool walls from damage during the winter months.
Air Pillows, aka Ice Equalizers or ice compensators, are your best defense against ice damage. The presence of an Air Pillow prevents ice from freezing under the air pillow, which stops solid ice sheets across the top of the aboveground pool.
Protect Your Above Ground Pool From Expanding Ice
This is the most important reason to use an air pillow in your above ground swimming pool, especially if you live in an area where temperatures get below freezing. When you opt not to use one, the pool cover sits right on top of the water.
How Many Air Pillows Do I Need? As a general rule, you shouldn't need many air pillows. Air pillows are most effective when they remain in the center of the pool. They become less effective when they float around the pool.
DO NOT use heater during extreme cold unless it has been constantly running prior to the drop in temperature. Manufacturers state heaters should not be run at temperatures 68 and below. Adjust pool and spa jets upwards to reduce surface freezing.
No! All pool types (in-ground, above ground, on-ground) need to keep water in the pool during winter, do not drain your pool to avoid the ice! In ground pools can pop out of the ground, and above ground pools can collapse inward, and the liner will shrink and discolor.
Helpful tips to keep your pool and its equipment safe during freezing temperatures. Run your pool pump continuously when temperatures are near or below freezing. You don't need to run your heater, moving water likely will not freeze. Disconnect any aerators and lines to slides.
Only blow enough air into the pool pillow to inflate it up to 60-80% capacity. After inflation, it should still feel quite soft. If you blew up the device entirely, there would be no room for compression. Place duct tape over the air valve to prevent the pillow from deflating over the winter.
Pool Collapse – An above ground pool collapse is often caused by the results of ice damage, but it can also happen when there is too much snow accumulated on top of the pool and the frame cannot handle the weight.
Yes, saltwater pools will still freeze if you leave them full during the winter. They don't have the salt levels of ocean water. The freezing point is slightly lower than a traditional pool, but you will still need to close or winterize your pool. Also, salt cells will not operate at temperatures below 50 degrees.
You'll need to keep draining water off the cover with a pump or siphon to protect it from damage. Important: Never drain an above ground pool completely when winterizing. Your vinyl liner can dry out, shortening its life considerably.
If your pool equipment isn't winterized, water can freeze inside of your pump, filter or heater damaging these components so it's important to keep water flowing through your pool's system the entire time the temperature is freezing.
If you have an above ground pool with the pool filter system and plumbing above ground (like nearly all above ground pools), pipes and pumps can freeze up in less than an hour of minus 32 degrees.
Even if you have your pool covered, some debris may still get in it during the winter. For this reason, you should consider running your pump on occasion whenever the outdoor temperature is between 35 and 65 degrees. Around four to six hours should be sufficient to remove debris and help promote good circulation.
We suggest using the 4 x 4 Air Pillow on pools up to 24' round. Use the 4 x 8 Air Pillow on pools 28' round and up and on small oval pools. Use the 4 x 15 Air Pillow on Large (15 x 30 and larger) Oval aboveground pools.
In warmer climates, Intex advises to keep your pool up, if you prefer. However, you must winterize the pool when keeping it full throughout the winter. If your area maintains tropical climates all year long, you may not need to winterize your pool at all, especially if you use your pool on a regular basis.
The size of your pool, the efficiency of your pump and filter, and how dirty your pool is are just some of the factors you need to consider. Nevertheless, most pool cleaning professionals would advise against running a pool pump for more than 8 hours a day.