It's possible to leave your above-ground pool up all winter with the water in it, since draining it completely may cause it to collapse. However, several steps and precautions are necessary to keep your pool safe through the winter.
In climates where temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, Intex recommends you disassemble and store your pool. Temperatures at these levels can cause ice damage to the pool. Disassemble and store the pool in the fall when temperatures drop and you are no longer using the pool.
The lightweight materials Intex uses make it fast and easy to set up a pool. But this ease comes with the downside of the pool being more vulnerable to ice damage. Leaving your Intex pool out in colder temperatures can completely rupture your pool lining.
Your Pool Could Crack
Surface cracks are very common in pools that don't get winterized. Harsh conditions can lead to cracks as well as any water that is left inside the pool. That water will likely freeze and could lead to surface cracks.
Add Chlorine to Your Pool to Ensure a Clean Opening
In the fall, make sure to add chlorine and algaecide to your pool for over the winter. Don't add too much chlorine though. If the chlorine level is too high over the winter, you can bleach the liner.
Lower the Pool Water Level
When winterizing your above ground pool, lower the water level around 4" to 6" below the skimmer. You can do this with a submersible pump or by siphoning the water out with a short garden hose.
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.
Pool antifreeze is not for the pool, but for the pipes. For aboveground pools, you should use an air pillow to break up the ice sheet that forms in the pool, or you can use half a dozen milk jugs, filled partially with pebbles and pool antifreeze, to absorb the ice expansion.
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.
2018. A high-quality above ground pool from Valley Pool & Spa should last between 10 and 20 years depending on how well you care for it. However, your pool liner will not last as long as your pool. Contact a pool expert at our store to see if you need a new liner before you decide to replace your entire pool.
Lower The Salt Level
Use salt test strips for an accurate reading and when the season starts cooling down, do not add anymore salt to the pool. It is better not to have a lot of salt in your pool toward the end of the season.
Ideally, your pool's chemistry should remain as balanced as possible throughout the winter. Keeping everything balanced is easily accomplished by testing the water at least once per week. There's a low chance that you'll need to add chlorine as long as the pool isn't being used and there is no water circulation.
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.
Intex is a popular manufacturer of temporary above-ground pools. How long they last depends on a number of factors, but the simple answer is that the inflatable pools will last 2-4 years and the metal frame types will last between 4-8 years.
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.
Clear pipes and equipment of water using a blower or compressor and plug the pipes at the pool. Add swimming pool antifreeze to the lines to prevent freezing. Place a Gizzmo* (or similar device) in the skimmer to seal it and absorb pressure from ice.
The weather needs to be at or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-6.7°C) the pool pipes to freeze solid. At 32°F (0°C), water will begin to freeze up and will eventually freeze solid but after some hours or days.
The effect of frozen water or ice can be devastating. The frozen water(ice) becomes heavier, thus applying more pressure on the pool as a whole. This means that: The pool tiles will crack or come off completely.