Winterize vs Draining

End-of-Season Care for Above Ground Pools

Above ground pools are not built the same as in-ground pools—but they’ve come a long way over the years. Modern above ground pools are made with thicker, sturdier materials and are designed to handle much more than their earlier counterparts.

As summer ends, pool owners typically face two options:

1. Drain & Store

2. Winterize & Cover

Understanding Your Pool’s Durability

Today’s vinyl above ground pools are far more resilient than you might expect. While in-ground pools made of concrete or fiberglass can crack when frozen, vinyl-lined pools offer more flexibility. If water inside the pool freezes, vinyl has the elasticity to expand and shift with the ice, reducing the risk of damage. Concrete and fiberglass don’t have that give.

However, this durability only applies to the pool itself, not the pump or equipment. Your pump, hoses, filters, and other accessories must be stored properly during the off-season to prevent cracking or freezing damage.

Before You Decide: Drain & Store vs. Winterize

Here are key factors to consider for each option:

Time Commitment

Winterizing takes a couple of days.
Draining and storing also takes a couple of days.

Maintenance

Draining requires fully cleaning, rinsing, drying, and folding the liner for storage.
Winterizing involves adding winter chemicals, securing a cover, and removing or storing external equipment.

Storage Requirements

Draining requires ample, clean storage space for the liner and frame.
Winterizing allows you to leave the pool up, saving space and effort.

Warranty Concerns

Some pool warranties do not cover damage if the pool is left out in temperatures below 41°F (5°C). Always read your manual or warranty agreement before deciding.

Important Note About Vinyl Liners

Once a vinyl liner has been filled with water and exposed to sun, chemicals, and changing temperatures, it will not return to its original shape. Over time, UV rays and chlorine degrade the vinyl, making it brittle when dry—even if you clean and rinse it thoroughly before storage.

This is one of the biggest reasons many pool owners choose to winterize rather than drain. A stretched liner often won’t reset properly after being folded or stored, leading to wrinkles, sagging, or a poor fit when reassembled.

Fiberglass pools should never be drained.
Steel-wall pools rely on the water’s weight to maintain their structure. Draining can lead to collapsed or warped walls.

What Most Pool Owners Recommend

If your pool is designed for either option (store or winterize), most experienced pool owners recommend:

Winterize and leave it up.

It’s often easier, safer for the liner, and avoids the hassle of reshaping and reassembling in the spring.

Freezing Temps...Now what?

Prepare & Check the Weather

Whether you're winterizing your pool or draining and storing it, set aside at least a couple of days to do it right. While it may feel like a chore now, proper end-of-season care saves you time, money, and frustration when spring rolls around.

Before you begin, always check the weather.
Both options require dry, calm conditions to complete the process safely and effectively. Avoid rushing or working during rain, wind, or freezing temps.

When to Close Your Pool

There’s no single “right” date to close your pool—it depends on your climate, lifestyle, and schedule. But here are some common signs it's time:

When daytime temperatures consistently drop into the low 60s°F
When school starts and pool use naturally winds down
After a holiday like Labor Day (a popular seasonal marker)
When you realize no one’s used the pool in a couple of weeks
When you finally have the time to do it properly

Tip: Don’t wait too long—leaves, rain, and cold snaps can complicate the process.

FREEZING TEMPS...WHAT TO DO NEXT

FACT: Moving water does freeze, just slower.

FACT: Water expands when it freezes.

FACT: Metal (like hollow sand filter tanks) conduct heat and freeze FASTER.

FACT: It is common to lose power in cold weather.

FACT: Most Pump warranties will void if pump is run in freezing temperatures.

Unless you are planning a polar bear plunge party, there is no reason for the pump to run when temperatures are freezing.

This is all in the assumption that the pool and pump have NOT been winterized. This is for all pool equipment, not just pumps, skimmers and fountains. Pump motors were not designed for freezing temperatures. The biggest problem is cracking. To prevent cracking, release the pressure to allow for frozen water expansion and allow for water to move when it thaws.

ABOUT TO FREEZE

First, plug pool inlets. If you can’t find the plugs, put the pump on something that is elevated higher than the water (ladder, trampoline, stool, etc.). Gravity will keep the water from coming out of the hoses. Use a zip tie or rubber band or something to keep the ends of the hoses facing up to prevent them from moving.

Unplug pump, drain water, and bring it inside a garage, shed, basement etc.

If you can't move it, plug pool or turn plungers to stop water from entering hoses. Unplug the pump, drain water and leave lid and or valve open. Wrap it in towels, sheets or something to protect the motor from the cold, the way you would wrap a pipe.

PUMP FROZEN STOPPED WORKING OR FROZEN STILL WORKING

Unplug the pump, drain water and leave lid and or valve open.

If the valves are frozen shut, put a washcloth in warm water and put it over the valve for a few seconds. This should thaw it out enough to unplug or twist valve off. DO NOT POUR HOT WATER OVER IT TO THAW! THIS WILL CRACK PUMP!

If you can't move it, wrap it in towels, sheets or something to protect the motor from the cold, the way you would wrap a pipe. Do not thaw or attempt to thaw it out, the best way to unfreeze it is to let it thaw naturally. If possible, elevate the pool hoses (with end open) so that if water is in hoses, it has room to expand, but will not drain out of the pool.

Once temps go up and the pump is thawed, look in and out throughout the pump to check for cracks or visual damages. If there are no visual damages, hook the pump back up and turn it on to see if it still works.

FROZEN WATER FROM CRACKED PUMP

If you see the pump is frozen and you see ice forming on the outside or around the valves, follow the same steps as above. It may be a crack, or it may be nothing. There is no way to tell until it thaws. Better safe than sorry wrap it up to insulate it from any further damages. The only thing you can do is let it thaw naturally to check for damage.

FROZEN POOL WATER

The pool water will be fine. Vinyl lined pools have more give if water expands or ice. The material is not as rigid as concrete, resin, or fiberglass for example. However, if you have the urge to take an ice pick to the top of the ice, don’t! When ice melts, it will melt slower and from the outside in, likely not to form any sharp points. If you break the ice, the sharp points can puncture the liner. Let the water thaw naturally. And you don't want to turn pump/skimmer on until pool is completely thawed.