How deep should I drain my Pool in the winter?
It's acceptable to drain the pool a few more inches below that if you live in an area that gets heavy precipitation during the winter months. Some pool professionals even suggest draining the water to as much as 6 inches below the skimmer — about the level of the bottom of the pool's return jet.
Do above ground swimming pools need to be drained?
Above ground pools rely on water to keep their structure. It is imperative to keep the water level at least more than half way filled at all times. There are a few situations though, where you will need to completely drain your above ground pool so you will be left with the question, what is the proper way to drain my pool?
How far below the ground should a above ground pool be?
Above-Ground Pools. It's acceptable to drain the pool a few more inches below that if you live in an area that gets heavy precipitation during the winter months. Some pool professionals even suggest draining the water to as much as 6 inches below the skimmer — about the level of the bottom of the pool's return jet.
How much water should I drain from my swimming pool?
The amount of water you drain from the pool will depend on the type of pool you own. Partially draining the water from your swimming pool allows you to disconnect the filter from the pool without the water spilling from the filter connections.
How far below skimmer to drain above-ground pool for winter?
around 4" to 6"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.
How far down should you drain an above-ground pool?
An electric pump will not drain out every inch of water from your swimming pool. Turn the pump off once the water level is too low for it to drain any further (6-12 inches deep).
How low should I lower my pool for winter?
If you are using a solid winter pool cover (one that floats on the surface and is held in place by water weights), lower the water level 3-4″ below the bottom of the skimmer opening. The exception to this is if you are using a skimmer plug across the front of the skimmer opening.
Is it better to drain above-ground pool for winter?
A: It's not a good idea to drain an above ground pool for winter. Snow, ice, extreme cold and errant debris will likely cause significant damage to a pool sitting out exposed to the elements. It's also expensive and time consuming to refill and chemically balance a new pool full of water in the spring.
How do I winterize my above-ground pool?
How to Close Your Above Ground Pool in 10 StepsStep 1: Deep Clean. ... Step 2: Balance your Water. ... Step 3: Add Winterizing Chemicals. ... Step 4: Add Pump Protector. ... Step 5: Protect Your Return and Skimmer. ... Step 6: Prepare Your Filter for Hibernation. ... Step 7: Clear the Pool. ... Step 8: Set Up Ice Equalizer Pillow.More items...•
Will my above-ground pool collapse if I drain it?
An empty pool (or as little as 1/4 filled) and an exposed liner on a hot day can cause the liner to shrink from the heat and deem the liner useless. An empty pool is also susceptible to collapse. Especially, in high winds and/or bad weather. Keep in mind!
Should I drain my pool below the skimmer for winter?
Although it may seem scary to leave water in a pool during freezing temperatures, you can actually damage your pool more by removing too much water. Your water should only be drained so it sits just below the skimmer and jets. This helps make sure that no water can get into the pumping system.
Can I leave water in my pool over winter?
You may naturally assume it's best to completely drain your pool of water for the winter months, because you fear the water will freeze and cause damage. Actually, it's not good to leave your pool empty when the weather gets cold.
Does an above-ground pool freeze solid?
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. The unfrozen area under the Air Pillows allows room for ice to expand into, instead of expanding in an outward direction against the walls.
Does leaving a pool empty damage it?
The Problem With An Empty Pool When that amount of weight and pressure is removed from the structure, the pool can actually pop out of the ground due to ground pressure forcing it up. This can compromise its structural integrity, damaging the walls, floor, liners, and even the deck itself.
What level should pool water be in winter?
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.
At what temp will pool pump freeze?
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. The same is true for inground pool equipment that is not running when temperatures are below freezing.
Do I need to lower the water level in my pool?
It is recommended you have your water level between one-third and one-half up the swimming pool skimmer box opening. If the level is higher than that, it may slow or even stop debris from being pulled into the skimmer box through the plate or valve.
What is the winter setting on pool pump?
After a backwash and rinse, place the valve to the “winterize” setting on the top mount valve. This will allow water to drain from the valve. Next, you're going to have to completely drain all the water from the filter tank. To do this simply unscrew and remove the drain cap on the bottom of the filter barrel.
How to prevent algae growth in pool?
Along with that, you will need to add some winter algaecide to prevent the growth of harmful algae even in the cold winter months. Disconnect and store the pool lines. After you have your water good to go, move on to your pool lines. Disconnect them, allow them to dry completely, then store them in a dark, dry area.
What is a soft sided above ground pool made of?
Soft-sided above ground pools are made from an extremely durable polyester material that is coated in a urethane sealant. This material ensures that your soft-sided pool can handle normal wear and tear without busting, ripping, or popping on any given day.
Why do metal pool frames shrink?
If you were to disassemble a metal frame pool every season, you run the risk of damaging the pool liner, allowing the pool liner to shrink over the course of the winter months due to a lack of water keeping it taut, and chance damaging the pool frame itself .
Do you need to winterize a metal frame?
Although you may not have to take your metal frame down for the winter, you do need to winterize it to give it the boost it needs to endure those cold winter months. If you want to skip the hard stuff and give yourself a bit of a leg up, go ahead and opt for the use of a winter closing kit.
Do you need to take down a soft sided above ground pool?
So, you will need to take down any soft-sided above ground pools that are made up of this type of material, lest the pool will sing a different tune than what it carried during the glorious days of summer. Due to the make-up of the material soft-sided pools are made of, weathering extreme temperatures can cause the material to get too cold which ...
Can you take down a pool every winter?
Due to the nature of their construction, it would be nearly impossible to take these pools down every winter. They are built with a metal frame, have a separate pool liner inserted, and require dozens of different bolts to hold them together.
Can you take down an above ground pool in winter?
If you have an above ground pool made of aluminum, steel, or resin, there is no need to take it down for the winter. Due to their permanent construction, it could cause the pool to lose structural integrity. However, if you have a soft-sided pool and live in a cold climate, it should be taken down. It would be a tremendous task to take down large ...
How long does it take to drain an above ground pool?
How To Drain An Above Ground Pool (Step-By-Step) Depending on the size of your pool, the draining process can take as little as an hour and as long as half a day while you wait for the water to empty. With that being said, preparing your above-ground swimming pool for draining is still pretty straightforward and can be broken down into a series ...
Why do you need to dry your pool liner?
In this case, drying is absolutely critical in order to prevent algae and other nasties from making a home in your pool. Not only does this lead to a health risk but it also creates more work later when you have to fix the problem.
How to repair a pool liner?
The most common scenarios are as follows: 1 Replacing your pool liner. A compromised pool liner can be repaired without having to drain the water, assuming you’re using a reputable underwater repair kit. But replacing a liner is a different story, and this will always require you to completely drain your pool. 2 Replacing stale water with new. There’s little point putting fresh water in without first removing the old. Of course, it should be noted that your water shouldn’t need replacing if the correct pool care is applied, and that includes properly closing or winterizing your pool. 3 Fixing your pool chemistry. Most chemical imbalances can be solved without having to drain your pool, but chlorine lock is an exception to the rule. This is due to excess pool stabilizer or a pH imbalance, and can only be resolved by replacing the water. 4 Moving your pool to a new location. It makes little sense moving an above-ground that holds water, not to mention the risk of damaging the pool if you try to do so. Whether you’re moving it a few feet or a few kilometres, draining is necessary. 5 Storing your pool. If you need to pack things away for the winter or just need to free up space in the yard, removing the water is a must.
Can a hose drain everything?
Keep in mind that a hose wont be able to drain everything and you will be left with at least a few inches of water. This is not an issue if you’re just fixing a chemical imbalance, but most other scenarios will require that all water is emptied out.
Can you replace a pool liner without draining?
But replacing a liner is a different story, and this will always require you to completely drain your pool. Replacing stale water with new.
Can you move a pool to a new location?
Moving your pool to a new location. It makes little sense moving an above-ground that holds water, not to mention the risk of damaging the pool if you try to do so. Whether you’re moving it a few feet or a few kilometres, draining is necessary. Storing your pool. If you need to pack things away for the winter or just need to free up space in ...
Can you replace stale water in a pool?
Of course, it should be noted that your water shouldn’t need replacing if the correct pool care is applied, and that includes properly closing or winterizing your pool. Fixing your pool chemistry.
When is the best time to have water in a pool?
In fact, the winter is possibly the most important time to make sure that you have water in your pool. Now, to get technical, there are MANY different kinds of swimming pools, located in MANY different kinds of climates. The geography of the pool, combined with the unique construction style used for your specific pool, ...
What happens when you drain a fiberglass pool?
Usually when you drain a fiberglass pool you would be actively controlling the ground water surrounding the pool for the entirety of the time the pool is empty. This would include pulling the hydrostatic relief valves and continually pumping the water that fills into the pool from beneath.
Why is my concrete pool not moving?
Even with a small amount of force from ground water trying to lift the pool, a concrete pool will not move because it is extremely heavy itself.
Why do you put a vinyl liner in a pool?
Just as with an aboveground vinyl pool, but even more important, the vinyl liner and water weight in the pool actually serve to strengthen and protect the overall shape and structure. This is one of the reasons why "draining your pool for us" made the top list of things you should NEVER say to your pool guy.
Why leave a vinyl pool empty?
Leaving a vinyl pool empty for an extended period of time, especially in cold climate areas, significantly reduces the strength of the pool to resist structural failures like shifting or bowing walls, or collapsing of the slopes in the pool.
Can you drain an above ground pool in the winter?
Before we can talk about why you should not drain an above ground pool for the winter you should first familiarize yourself with some of the different types of aboveground pools. Temporary pools are not meant to withstand freezing off season temperatures. These entry level swimming pools are the only type of pool which you can drain and pack away for the winter. Aboveground pools that have a vinyl liner are what I would consider to be the entry level pool into the "professional quality" category, so this is where we will start.#N#An aboveground pool with a vinyl liner should not be drained, but for a different reason than inground vinyl liner pools. Usually, aboveground pools do not have a shallow end and a deep end - most are flat bottom. Even those with floor contours will usually only have a "dished hopper" (a pool sloped to the deepest point in the middle) or a coved section where the wall meets the floor. Without a deep end to pull the liner away from the shallow end, most likely you could drain an above ground pool and the liner would not shift much. Much. Once a vinyl liner has been exposed to UV from the sun, as well as chemicals such as chlorine, it will shrink slightly and lose elasticity. This is why you can not re-purpose an old pool liner. Once used, if you let the liner dry out it will become stiff and brittle. Very old liners shatter like glass when you let them dry out. The older the liner is, the less plasticizers will remain in the material.#N#When you drain an above ground pool the liner will shrink, shift, and ultimately never go back to as good as it once was - even if you refill with water right away after draining. It would be common to expect to see wrinkles in the liner if you did drain and refill your above ground pool. Even if you are thinking that you need a new liner anyway, what you might not realize is that the weight of the water on the floor helps to protect it. You do not want to leave your pool empty for the winter even if you need a new liner as this will result in, at minimum, extra work that needs to be done to the floor when it comes time to hang a new liner in the pool. It is also worth noting that there are many different styles of aboveground pool kit. Some of these styles rely on the weight of the water pushing out on the walls to help structurally support the pool kit. A pool like this left empty for the winter would very likely suffer structural stresses and failures to the wall components.
Is it bad to drain a concrete pool in the winter?
Draining a concrete pool for the winter is a bad idea. Unfortunately there are enough people who drain theirs "successfully" as to spread misinformation to other concrete pool owners as to what is OK, and not OK to do to your pool.
Why drain water from pool?
Partially draining the water from your swimming pool allows you to disconnect the filter from the pool without the water spilling from the filter connections. The water must also be partially drained to protect components such as the skimmer and return jet from freezing and expanding in winter's frozen temperatures.
What is a mesh cover for a pool?
A mesh cover is a porous cover that keeps out dirt and debris while slowly allowing your pool to fill up with precipitation. The mesh covers helps fight evaporation during a long winter, but it requires you to drain more water, ...
Is it necessary to drain a pool for winter?
Draining a portion of the water is an essential part of winterizing a swimming pool for the season. Image Credit: Backyardcitypools.com. Living in a cooler seasonal climate means that at the end of a long summer, it's time to winterize your pool.