What happens if you don't winterize your 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.

Is winterizing a pool necessary?

You will want to close your pool properly over the winter to prevent freezes from damaging expensive pool equipment. Surface freezes can also tear through vinyl liners as a result of ice expansion. A second reason to winterize your pool is because most people completely stop maintenance over the winter.

Do you have to winterize an inground pool?

It all depends on where you live. Homes in sunny Southern California or Arizona probably won't have to close at all. But if you live where it gets frigid, your pool will need to be winterized before temperatures dip to 32 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent water from freezing.

Is it bad if your pool freezes?

While a thin layer of ice is unlikely to damage your pool, if you live in an area with continuous below-freezing temperatures, we highly recommend you winterize and close your pool at the end of swimming season. Keeping your pool open all year long is also an option.

Can I leave my pool full in the 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.

What Happens If I Don't Winterize My Pool?

How much water should I leave in my pool for winter?

Drain the water down to no more than 6 inches from the bottom of the skimmer if you plan to use a standard floating winter cover. Use your pool filter, switched to the "Drain" setting, to empty the pool water.

How much water should I keep in my pool 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.

How cold does it have to be for pool pipes to 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.

How cold does it have to be for a pool to freeze?

A chlorinated swimming pool freezes at around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the same temperature as non-chlorinated water.

Can you leave a pool closed all summer?

A pool isn't designed to be stagnant during the warm months of the year, and pool covers deteriorate faster in strong summer sunlight. Leaving the pool closed all summer is a guaranteed way to end up with a green, smelly mess and permanent stains or damage to the pool surfaces.

Can you leave above ground pool up all year?

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.

How do I keep my above ground pool from freezing in the winter?

Should I keep my pool pump running in winter?

As long as necessary. The point of running your pool pump in the winter is to keep your water moving, which prevents it from freezing should temperatures get too low. So ideally, run your pump (and keep it running) whenever temperatures start getting close to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the freezing point of water.

How do you keep pool pipes from freezing without power?

Without Power

Open the air relief valve on your pool's filter. Remove the drain plugs from the front and rear headers of your pool heater. If you have a heat pump, remove those drain plugs too. Remove the lid and drain plugs from your pump.

Do I need to put antifreeze in my pool lines?

First off, should you use antifreeze as part of the pool closing process? The answer is — it's not necessary if you properly blew out the lines. That task gets water out of the pipes so they don't freeze during winter. But if you properly winterized your pool, there should be no need to add antifreeze.

Should I run my pool heater in the winter?

Keeping Your Pool Heated

However, since weather can be unpredictable, if you plan to keep your pool open during the colder months, you must keep your water heated well above freezing temperatures. Don't run the risk of ruptured pipes or allowing the cold to cause more expensive damage.

Should a winter pool cover touch water?

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.

Should I shock pool before closing?

Shocking kills any bacteria that might linger in your pool during the winter. We recommend shocking a few days before you close the pool. If that is not possible, make sure to shock the pool the night before you close it for winter.

What month should I close my pool?

Freezing temperatures

September and October are a good time to close the pool because the weather is ideal. It's still warm to be outside, enjoying the sun, even if you hate to say goodbye to summer. But once those temperatures start dropping significantly, you're going to kick yourself for not closing the pool sooner.

What causes an above-ground pool to collapse?

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.

Will a pool collapse without water?

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.

Can an above ground pool freeze?

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.

How many years do above ground pools last?

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.