Water Level: The water level in your pool should be kept at or just below the skimmer when the cover is in use. However, the water level should not be lower than 18″ from the top of the pool.
The best way to keep your winter cover on your pool is simply to maintain 2 inches of water on top of it and keep it free of leaves and other debris and monitor the water level inside the pool regularly.
In most cases, you will want to drain the pool to be at least 4 to 6 inches below the top of the skimmer. This allows adequate space for expansion of the water throughout the winter without risking damage to the pool.
It is very important to evaluate the water level in your pool and keep your water level well below the coping and tile or otherwise when the water freezes it will expand and the force of the ice will crack tile and coping resulting in expensive repairs.
Close the pool for winter – but don't drain it.
In winter, the water in your pool is still your friend. Especially when properly winterized, it helps to protect the pool liner, keep it clean and prevent unnecessary damage from debris, harsh weather and other factors.
Do you need to drain any water when winterizing an above ground pool? The answer hinges on how you protect your skimmer during the winter. If you're concerned about freezing and cracking, and don't use a winter skimmer cover plate, then you should drain the water level below the skimmer and returns.
This is why the Intex pools manufacturer strongly recommends draining and disassembling your pool if the temperatures in your area drop to or below 41°F (5°C). And so do we. We don't want your cozy winter by the fire to be ruined by a messy pool collapse.
The cover is designed to touch the surface of the water. So your pool should always be filled when covered, and the water level should never go below 18 inches from the top of the pool. Check the water level of the pool and fill it up if it goes below 18 inches.
Using our skimmer cover, the Skimmer Plug for aboveground pools (shown here) will keep a thick ice sheet from freezing into the inside of the skimmer, which can crumple the wall below the skimmer, if the ice sheet shifts or if the pool loses even a small amount of water supporting the ice sheet.
A common question asked is, “Can above ground pools stay up year round?” And although the easy answer is that “Yes, they can,” whether you want to leave them up year-round really depends on the type of pool you have. Dismantling some above ground pools for the winter may be more hassle than it's worth.
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.
Mild climate pools often freeze across the surface overnight. However, if the ice sheet becomes thicker than ¼” to ½”, it will put pressure on your pool tile and skimmers as the ice expands. Most pool tile is frost-free, but you should keep the water under the perimeter pool tile band to be safe.
If you have a vinyl-lined above-ground pool, leaving it full for the winter will protect the vinyl liner from shrinkage and other damage. Since these pools are above ground level, keeping them full ensures that the wind will not damage the walls, liner, or frame.
Winter Damage On Above Ground Pools can happen without proper preparation. The top level of the water freezes and forms a sheet of ice on the top layer. If there is a leak in the liner, or too much weight on top of the cover the ice sheet can fall down further into the pool, scraping and ripping the liner.
Intex brand metal frame pools often last up to 7 years.
Store Your Pool at Room Temperature
A large, clean, new trash can placed in the basement or garage may be an ideal location for winter storage. You'll also want to drain the pump and filter and store them indoors or out of the elements.
The harsh weather conditions throughout the winter season can create potential damage to more than just the pipes. What happens when you don't winterize your pool is that the water could turn green with algae. If the chlorine system stops functioning, you'll say adieu to the beautiful blue pool you know and love.
It is best to close your pool when the temperature of the water is consistently below 60 degrees. Once the water temperature drops below 60 degrees, microorganisms and algae cannot grow and become dormant for the winter season.
Even with proper and regular pool maintenance, it's often necessary to drain your pool — completely or partially — every 3-5 years. Draining your pool often isn't necessary, especially if you're following a proper and regular maintenance program.
Do I Need A Pool Pillow? While they're not 100% necessary, winter pool pillows are incredibly helpful. They help protect your pool from expanding ice and promote even weight distribution, which is why we highly encourage them for pool owners.