Should I drain my above ground pool for winter?
6 min read
Asked by: Maggie Washington
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.
How much water do you need to remove an above ground pool for the winter?
4 to 6 inches
Adjust Water Levels
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.
How do I drain my above ground pool for the winter?
Open the shut-off out for just your main drain. Put your filter on back wash or rinse. And cut your pump on and it'll pump your water down to virtually nothing.
Should I drain my above ground pool?
Important: Never completely drain an above ground pool. This can cause your pool to collapse. If your pool is plumbed with detachable, flexible hoses, remove them and store for the winter. Remove all drain plugs from the pump, filter tank, and any other pool equipment.
Does an above-ground pool freeze solid?
Above ground pools use Air Pillows to keep the ice sheet from freezing completely solid across the pool.
Do you put antifreeze in above-ground pool?
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.
What happens if you don’t winterize your above-ground pool?
Without winterizing your pool, 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. Come spring, your pool will be a homely sight and cause a real dent in your wallet. Bacteria that feed on algae could even cause health risks.
Will draining a pool damage the liner?
If you drain your pool you can cause your vinyl pool liner to shrink and upon refilling, if the liner has lost its elasticity it can cause the liner to rip or tear. The liner can also become hard and brittle. The older the vinyl material is the more likely this is to happen.
Does draining a pool damage it?
First, if the draining is done at the wrong time or under the wrong conditions, you can actually risk damaging your pool structure and liner. All the water from your pool needs to go somewhere when it’s drained, and that usually means the ground.
Should I drain my swimming pool in winter?
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.
Can I leave my pool uncovered all winter?
No, but winter covers protect your pool from stains, algae growth and poor water balance that could damage pool surfaces. Pool covers block both debris and sunlight, to conserve your winter chemicals and protect soft and shiny surfaces.
Should you cover pool winter?
Fundamentally, swimming pool covers protect your pool from falling or blowing debris and can protect against pool related accidents. Covering your pool will also protect the shell of your pool in colder weather, making it less likely to crack than it would without a cover.
What do you do with your pool in the winter?
How To Winterize Your Pool in 8 Easy Steps
- Clean the pool.
- Balance the water.
- Remove pool accessories.
- Clean and backwash the filter.
- Lower the water level.
- Drain your pump, filters, heaters, and chlorinating equipment.
- Empty your chemical feeder.
- Cover your pool.
Will my pool turn green over the winter?
Similarly, a solid cover with drain panels allows microscopic contaminants into the pool throughout the winter, consuming the chemicals and enabling the water to turn green.
Do pools need chlorine in the winter?
You do not need as much pool shock during winter as you normally would to achieve the same effect. The National Institutes of Health found that at normal summer water temperatures, the efficacy of chlorine was 2-3 times less than for water temperatures around 50 degrees.
How do I get rid of algae in my pool after winter?
If your pool has been overrun by algae, you should instead follow these steps:
- Manual vacuuming. Vacuum your pool on your filter’s waste setting. …
- Brush your pool walls and floor. …
- Test and balance the water. …
- Shock Your Pool. …
- Use A Cover On Your Pool.
How do I fix my green pool after winter?
How to Fix Green Pool Water Fast
- Brush the Pool Walls and Floor. …
- Test The Alkalinity and pH Level. …
- Shock Your Pool with Chlorine to Kill Algae. …
- Run Your Pool Filter for 8 Hours (And Shock Again If Needed) …
- More Water Testing and Adjust Pool Chemicals.
Will baking soda clear a green pool?
Baking Soda and Green, Blue, or Yellow Algae
You’ll need to use an algaecide to kill the algae and superchlorinate your pool to clear the water. After this treatment, test your pH and alkalinity and add baking soda to raise alkalinity to at least 100 ppm and pH to between 7.2 and 7.8.
Will algae grow in cold pool water?
Much like the veggies in your garden, when the water is cold algae won’t grow. Algae is not happy if the water is below 50 degrees. The winter kit chemicals dissipate after a few weeks, but they help keep your chemicals balanced and the pool clear until your water turns into a popsicle.
Can I swim in a green pool?
What’s important for you to know: You shouldn’t swim in a pool that’s green until you test the chemical levels, like the officials in Rio did before the diving event began. It’s the balance of things like chlorine, pH, and alkalinity in a pool that keeps it sterilized.
Why did my pool turn green overnight?
The most common reason pool water turns green is due to algae growing in the water. Algae can grow rapidly, particularly in hot weather, which is why it can surprise you overnight during the warmer months. This generally comes down to an imbalance or lack of chlorine in the water.
How do I make my pool water blue?
How do I turn my green pool blue?
- Shock the pool with chlorine every day until all the green is gone (possibly 3 to 4 days).
- Run the filter 24 hours a day and backwash every day until the green and then cloudiness is gone (usually up to 7 days, sometimes as long as 2 weeks depending on the filter).
