I live in Ontario we’re it’s very cold and snowy in winter. In Ontario most people have there pool winterized by late October to Late May, We usually take out 12-18 inches of water below the skimmer, you’ll need to blow out the water in your pool system so it’s does freeze the pipes and damages the pool and you’ll need to plug the jets and skimmer and also put in anti freeze in the skimmer because when spring hits the water level will rise by a few inches at one point it can reach the skimmer and still the pool can freeze at night still, but don’t reopen your pool until the temperature is consistently above 20 degrees Celcius.
So is it safer to lower the pool below the jets and plug it with winter plugs, and then refill the pool until below the skimmer (bc I have an inground concrete with a solid cover)?? I heard that this isn’t as safe as blowing the returns out while under water and using winter plugs bc by looking at if there’s any air bubbles coming out, u can verify/confirm if u plugged it correctly? If u lower below the returns there’s no way to verify the winter plugs are put in correctly
If you have a high water table you can create liner float if you lower you water too low. A skimmer plate will block any water into the skimmer which can then allow you to drain the skimmer lines, fill with an antifreeze and gizmo. Also, if your winter cover is not a mesh one but one that sits on the water level you need to be careful how low you drain your pool. Like anything depending on your setup there can be multiple ways to do close a pool.
once you've lowered the water and blown your lines and plug up jets and skimmer (inground)etc...and install a safety mesh cover, should you raise the water level back up some to lessen the spring tension on safety cover from all the weight of snow/rain in northern climates..?...water is currently 18" below top and below skimmer/return jets...any advice..?
I live in northeast Ohio and have a fiberglass pool with sr smith micro treo light 12 in below normal water level. Manufacture says to lower below it and unscrew light from housing completely and make sure water level stays below the housing. I’d like to just remove light, just blow it out and plug it but can’t find a plug. Have you dealt with winterizing these lights?
It is, unless it's not. Sounds cryptic but that is the actual answer. You should drain to below the rerun lines to facilitate blowing out the pipes, unless there is a risk for the pool to lift out of the ground due to high water levels in the ground. The pool lifting is more of a concern than broken pipes from freezing in that sense. You can drain, winterize and refill the pool. Many do this just to protect the plaster as plaster should not be exposed to air for any extended periods of time. Pool companies know the area you live and should be able to talk to you about ground water table concerns, as well as examining how your pool was built to see if there is a french drain or sump well that was built into your pool for controlling ground water. Concrete pools are complicated and that is why you should never drain one without knowing the risks. www.swimmingpoolsteve.com/pages/winter-drain.html
Steve, I have an in ground pool and have been having issues with ground water and the pool liner begins to float. The liner is relatively new but now has numerous wrinkles in it. For this reason I have to keep the pool water level very high to counter act the ground water. I'm in Central New York and the pool does freeze over in the winter. Do you have any recommendations for me to help with my situation? Love your show!
I would be worried there is a leak in the liner. If this were my pool I would slip the liner out of the track and based on your description I should be able to see water behind the liner. I would reach down and test that water for chlorine and CYA to determine if it is ground water or leaked pool water. You could have a leak causing this, and it is not always easy to tell as the water level can remain more or less constant as the water is still there, just that a bunch if it is under the liner. If it is ground water then you should be exploring adding a well point in your pool area, though the effectiveness of this would depend on the soils your pool was backfilled with.
Great suggestions, it maybe you should say which area of the country of part of the world that needs to do that... In California where I am, there is no freezing condition, so there is no need to do so... Plus we still need to circulate. So I don't think this applies to everyone...
Changed the title to winterizing as opposed to "the winter" which should be more clear. West coast pools are similar to yours. They do not close or lower in the winter. You just run them all the time and maintain the chemicals as the weather never gets cold enough to freeze the moving water.
I live in Revelstoke Bc where we get a lot of snow and rain in the off season I have a concrete In ground pool and I drain it always to the edge of the bottom step by spring it is filled almost to the bottom of the skimmer mouth or up 2 rows of tile
That is very risky business. I built pools all over Whistler, Vancouver and the lower mainland as well as places like where you live. A concrete pool needs water in it to hold it balanced in the ground. A drained or partially drained concrete pool in an area getting lots of rain is a recipe for disaster to be sure. Further, you likely have a plaster pool and plaster should not be exposed to air. It needs water coverage to protect it from thermal expansion and contraction which will cause crazing and delaminations.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve Thanks for letting me know I’ve had my house for 2 years the first year I had a local pool company come down and winterize the pool for me as well show me how to operate the equipment etc. And obviously they told me to drain pool down to bottom step they gave me the wrong info on how to do it Especially The pool is older (1971) thanks again your videos are very helpful!!
I’m currently lowering my pool level. My returns are low which brings my pool to half full if I drop the water level past the returns. Is closing the pool half full ok?
Not all pools can be lowered this much. Maybe you can drain and refill or may e your pool needs to be winterized with the water level higher. You should consult a local pool professional familiar with the water tables in your area.
No it does not help except that I know you have a concrete pool. I would definitely not empty a concrete poolhalf way without consulting a professional.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve ok I fired the family friend who was going to help close the pool. Spoke to the father son team our local Leslie’s Pools recommended. He saw photos and said bring the water level back up to 4” under the skimmer line. Have both hoses going in the pool and it’s raining. If the price is good he will close tomorrow. He’s local too so that helps.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve thank you so much for your quick response. Your video was the most informative on RUclips. Some ppl have no business posting videos on pools here.
Nothing about tile damage when the ice forms and puts pressure on the tiles if the water level is up? You 100% do not need to drain a pool below the returns. In fact draining a pool that low would void any warranty with loop loc
This isn't totally true. I have an inground pool and the water is never lowered for closing. I live in Ontario too. They blow the lines from inside the pool shed and plug the returns in the water (two people do this. One inside the shed, the other at the return waiting for the bubbles to indicate there is no more water in the return line). They then use a Gizzo to plug the skimmer. I also have a safety cover. They have been doing this method for 20 years. I will be honest, when I first saw them do this, I was nervous but its pretty flawless and never had an issue.
It can definitely be done. It's normal for some pools which simply can not be drained at all,but it's more risk for the closing company and the pool owner. It's harder to get the lines fully cleared, and the one way duck plugs I am not completely convinced about yet. Also I can tell you the kids closing pools in ontario are all weeks / days away from going back to school, and are being put through a meat grinder of impossibly long days...closing 12 to 15 pools per day, six days per week. It is REALLY easy to get a closing crew with a worker or workers who do not give one rats ass about your pool. I am not judging your guys specifically since I don't even know who it is, but I know the Ontario pool closing season well enough to still periodically have nightmares feom the experience, so I think that counts lol!
@@Swimmingpoolsteve Maybe some of the companies that you know use kids, but the crew that come and close mine are men older than I am(over 40). They've been in the busniess a long time. I was skeptical because I had never heard of this method, but it works well and it does save a lot of time. It also saves on having to add water to the pool in the spring. Would I do it if I were on my own?, probably not, but these guys have it figured out and it works great.
Skimmer plug and bungee plugs, takes 15 min max. That said I always drain pools to below the jets as you mentioned. Step jets and the dreaded horrible totally beyond useless Aqua Genie still needs to be lowered. Man Aqua genies are total Garbo
![Lil Uzi Vert - Chill Bae [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D7F42F_JM3U/mqdefault.jpg)
I live in Ontario we’re it’s very cold and snowy in winter. In Ontario most people have there pool winterized by late October to Late May, We usually take out 12-18 inches of water below the skimmer, you’ll need to blow out the water in your pool system so it’s does freeze the pipes and damages the pool and you’ll need to plug the jets and skimmer and also put in anti freeze in the skimmer because when spring hits the water level will rise by a few inches at one point it can reach the skimmer and still the pool can freeze at night still, but don’t reopen your pool until the temperature is consistently above 20 degrees Celcius.
So is it safer to lower the pool below the jets and plug it with winter plugs, and then refill the pool until below the skimmer (bc I have an inground concrete with a solid cover)??
I heard that this isn’t as safe as blowing the returns out while under water and using winter plugs bc by looking at if there’s any air bubbles coming out, u can verify/confirm if u plugged it correctly?
If u lower below the returns there’s no way to verify the winter plugs are put in correctly
Hi thank you for the video. I am new to the pool system. I have a question do I need to put pool Chemical on a saltwater in ground pool?
Good advice. Thanks for explaining 👍
If you have a high water table you can create liner float if you lower you water too low.
A skimmer plate will block any water into the skimmer which can then allow you to drain the skimmer lines, fill with an antifreeze and gizmo. Also, if your winter cover is not a mesh one but one that sits on the water level you need to be careful how low you drain your pool. Like anything depending on your setup there can be multiple ways to do close a pool.
Great info. Thanks for commenting.
once you've lowered the water and blown your lines and plug up jets and skimmer (inground)etc...and install a safety mesh cover, should you raise the water level back up some to lessen the spring tension on safety cover from all the weight of snow/rain in northern climates..?...water is currently 18" below top and below skimmer/return jets...any advice..?
Do I close the jet valve while I’m filling my pool?
I live in northeast Ohio and have a fiberglass pool with sr smith micro treo light 12 in below normal water level. Manufacture says to lower below it and unscrew light from housing completely and make sure water level stays below the housing. I’d like to just remove light, just blow it out and plug it but can’t find a plug. Have you dealt with winterizing these lights?
Is it ok to drain below return lines even in a Gunite pool?
It is, unless it's not. Sounds cryptic but that is the actual answer. You should drain to below the rerun lines to facilitate blowing out the pipes, unless there is a risk for the pool to lift out of the ground due to high water levels in the ground. The pool lifting is more of a concern than broken pipes from freezing in that sense. You can drain, winterize and refill the pool. Many do this just to protect the plaster as plaster should not be exposed to air for any extended periods of time. Pool companies know the area you live and should be able to talk to you about ground water table concerns, as well as examining how your pool was built to see if there is a french drain or sump well that was built into your pool for controlling ground water. Concrete pools are complicated and that is why you should never drain one without knowing the risks. www.swimmingpoolsteve.com/pages/winter-drain.html
What are ur thoughts on duck plugs?
Steve, I have an in ground pool and have been having issues with ground water and the pool liner begins to float. The liner is relatively new but now has numerous wrinkles in it. For this reason I have to keep the pool water level very high to counter act the ground water. I'm in Central New York and the pool does freeze over in the winter. Do you have any recommendations for me to help with my situation? Love your show!
I would be worried there is a leak in the liner. If this were my pool I would slip the liner out of the track and based on your description I should be able to see water behind the liner. I would reach down and test that water for chlorine and CYA to determine if it is ground water or leaked pool water. You could have a leak causing this, and it is not always easy to tell as the water level can remain more or less constant as the water is still there, just that a bunch if it is under the liner. If it is ground water then you should be exploring adding a well point in your pool area, though the effectiveness of this would depend on the soils your pool was backfilled with.
Can't i just lower our gunite pool about 12" below the tiles over winter?
Great suggestions, it maybe you should say which area of the country of part of the world that needs to do that... In California where I am, there is no freezing condition, so there is no need to do so... Plus we still need to circulate. So I don't think this applies to everyone...
Changed the title to winterizing as opposed to "the winter" which should be more clear. West coast pools are similar to yours. They do not close or lower in the winter. You just run them all the time and maintain the chemicals as the weather never gets cold enough to freeze the moving water.
What if you use a blowout gizzmo?
I live in Revelstoke Bc where we get a lot of snow and rain in the off season I have a concrete In ground pool and I drain it always to the edge of the bottom step by spring it is filled almost to the bottom of the skimmer mouth or up 2 rows of tile
That is very risky business. I built pools all over Whistler, Vancouver and the lower mainland as well as places like where you live. A concrete pool needs water in it to hold it balanced in the ground. A drained or partially drained concrete pool in an area getting lots of rain is a recipe for disaster to be sure. Further, you likely have a plaster pool and plaster should not be exposed to air. It needs water coverage to protect it from thermal expansion and contraction which will cause crazing and delaminations.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve Thanks for letting me know I’ve had my house for 2 years the first year I had a local pool company come down and winterize the pool for me as well show me how to operate the equipment etc. And obviously they told me to drain pool down to bottom step they gave me the wrong info on how to do it Especially The pool is older (1971) thanks again your videos are very helpful!!
Can I winterize my pool but still leave my hot tub open
I’m currently lowering my pool level. My returns are low which brings my pool to half full if I drop the water level past the returns. Is closing the pool half full ok?
Not all pools can be lowered this much. Maybe you can drain and refill or may e your pool needs to be winterized with the water level higher. You should consult a local pool professional familiar with the water tables in your area.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve it was redone with diamond brite two years ago. Does this help?
No it does not help except that I know you have a concrete pool. I would definitely not empty a concrete poolhalf way without consulting a professional.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve ok I fired the family friend who was going to help close the pool. Spoke to the father son team our local Leslie’s Pools recommended. He saw photos and said bring the water level back up to 4” under the skimmer line. Have both hoses going in the pool and it’s raining. If the price is good he will close tomorrow. He’s local too so that helps.
@@Swimmingpoolsteve thank you so much for your quick response. Your video was the most informative on RUclips. Some ppl have no business posting videos on pools here.
Hey man heads up I use a shimmer plate and blow out skimmer all of the time
how do you install a gizzmo in the skimmer if you do not lower the water level in the pool below the mouth of the skimmer?
you are the best.
cheers
Nothing about tile damage when the ice forms and puts pressure on the tiles if the water level is up? You 100% do not need to drain a pool below the returns. In fact draining a pool that low would void any warranty with loop loc
This isn't totally true. I have an inground pool and the water is never lowered for closing. I live in Ontario too. They blow the lines from inside the pool shed and plug the returns in the water (two people do this. One inside the shed, the other at the return waiting for the bubbles to indicate there is no more water in the return line). They then use a Gizzo to plug the skimmer. I also have a safety cover. They have been doing this method for 20 years. I will be honest, when I first saw them do this, I was nervous but its pretty flawless and never had an issue.
It can definitely be done. It's normal for some pools which simply can not be drained at all,but it's more risk for the closing company and the pool owner. It's harder to get the lines fully cleared, and the one way duck plugs I am not completely convinced about yet. Also I can tell you the kids closing pools in ontario are all weeks / days away from going back to school, and are being put through a meat grinder of impossibly long days...closing 12 to 15 pools per day, six days per week. It is REALLY easy to get a closing crew with a worker or workers who do not give one rats ass about your pool. I am not judging your guys specifically since I don't even know who it is, but I know the Ontario pool closing season well enough to still periodically have nightmares feom the experience, so I think that counts lol!
@@Swimmingpoolsteve Maybe some of the companies that you know use kids, but the crew that come and close mine are men older than I am(over 40). They've been in the busniess a long time. I was skeptical because I had never heard of this method, but it works well and it does save a lot of time. It also saves on having to add water to the pool in the spring. Would I do it if I were on my own?, probably not, but these guys have it figured out and it works great.
Skimmer plug and bungee plugs, takes 15 min max. That said I always drain pools to below the jets as you mentioned.
Step jets and the dreaded horrible totally beyond useless Aqua Genie still needs to be lowered.
Man Aqua genies are total Garbo
I live in Austin, TX, winterizing is leaving the pool running.