Intex Ultra XTR owners: Winterizing Cover

[Lucylocket74]

I was curious from Intex Ultra XTR owners do you use the cover that came with our pool for winterizing? Another thread mentioned just buying a regular tarp. This will be my first time winterizing our 16x32x52 as a new pool owner. I know there is a standard guide for AGP on the site but wanted more info from Intex owners since it’s a little quirkier than a standard AGP. Thank you!

 

[cowboycasey]

I have the 16 x 32 and I do not cover it, 5 years so far... Although this year I did buy a net for Halloween that I may use for the pool

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[CT-Steven]

I would say that it really depends where you live and the type of winters you may or may not experience. Here in new England, its 50/50. We can have nice mild winters or get buried in a blizzard. Were covering up and prepping for the blizzard as I want to be better safe than sorry. I'll be posting picture of the way I covered mine some time nest week as were closing this weekend.

 

[Lucylocket74]

I have the 16 x 32 and I do not cover it, 5 years so far... Although this year I did buy a net for Halloween that I may use for the pool

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Do you just keep adding chemicals throughout the winter season?

 

[cowboycasey]

I do not but I do check on it about Jan on a nice 50 degree day and bring back to SLAM level... It makes it easy and I never want to open to a green pool

 

[Woodstock1234]

I threw away the cover that came with the pool. It was impossible to put one and seemed too small. I have a tarp like solid cover (one size bigger than the 2 pool) that I will use to cover for the winter. I will not add chemicals through winter, but I am in IL and it will likely be frozen.

 

[Dadofthree74]

any kind of tarp? How do you secure it to the pool?

 

[charliej]

i have an intex XTR 22x52 and i always cover. we are in nw Arkansas and its usually not too bad her, but we never know. i just dont like dirt and junk in my pool. i bought a heavy duty pool cover this year that has the pulley thing to tighten, but in years past, they dont hold tight enough for a good strong wind, so i am taking the bleach bottles full of sand that i used to hold the ladder down (pluss many more) and going to hang them from the rivet on the cover. i bought a much larger size cover so it would hang down plenty. i was just going to buy a heavy duty tarp, but was having trouble finding one that was round and the correct size as i wanted it to hang down plenty. i will tie two round tire like floaties together then tie them to the pool rails to they will stay positioned in the middle under the cover. i have the blow up blue pillows that i bought a couple years ago, but they are a nuisance. you will still get water on top of cover, but you can syphon it off or get a small pump. the covers that come with the pool are only to keep debri out and not strong enough for anything at all. they rip really easy just putting them on. hope this helps. good luck.

 

[Woodstock1234]

any kind of tarp? How do you secure it to the pool?

I used pool wrap (like heavy duty saran wrap) and it seems like it will work great. The wind isn't able to get up under it.

 

[charliej]

I got my pool cover on this year and as I stated above, I ordered a larger one, but I didn’t realize it would be this larger. I may have goofed, but used it anyway. I was going to tie the bleach jugs from the sides, but I read they would rip out grommets. It was too long anyway, so I made do. Tied a few and jus sat a few on hang over cover edge. We have had a lot of wind this last week, so I can’t finish p like I want, I just quit. But as soon as it dies down, I will make it look a little more tidy. I didn’t get the pump cover done like neatly, but will address it also. Including photo. I don’t think this will blow off from normal type winds!!!

 

[87seph]

I have the 16 x 32 and I do not cover it, 5 years so far... Although this year I did buy a net for Halloween that I may use for the pool

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Cowboycasey, do you have a thread on how you winterize? Would appreciate learning about your process.

 

[cowboycasey]

I really do not have a thread but I can explain, also I have my pool plumbed like an in ground pool with 2 inch pipe, skimmer and 1.5 inch return and suction side..

I raise chlorine to SLAM level for my CYA
add bungee blow out plugs to skimmer, suction side cleaner and 2 returns Amazon.com : Aqua Group BP15 Multidirectional Bungee Blowout Plug : Garden & Outdoor

I just bought this and I may have to modify it to make it fit my pipes, they also have a 1.5 inch

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Disconnect pump and blow out suction side pipes from the pump side
Disconnect SWG and blow out 2 return side pipes
drain filter
drain pump
save all parts inside the pump basket

reconnect SWG and Pump

Some time in Jan on a nice 50 degree day with no ice in the pool I will raise my chlorine back to SLAM level just because.. then I do not worry about it till it gets to 50 degrees and I reopen in late Feb early Mar...

 

[Dadofthree74]

@cowboycasey In January is your pump connected to your pool when you add the chlorine.

we are in AR as well and I covered the pool and put everything in the garage.
my cover is not as long as @charliej. I wish it was.

 

[cowboycasey]

My pump is not connected in Jan, I use my pool brush to clean the bottom of the pool and move the chlorine around... takes about 15 minutes and Works great

 

[charliej]

@cowboycasey In January is your pump connected to your pool when you add the chlorine.

we are in AR as well and I covered the pool and put everything in the garage.
my cover is not as long as @charliej. I wish it was.

no. i dont plug it in until i get ready to open. i usually just test water and go from there. if i need liquid clorine, i dilute in buckets and put it in. usually, i dont have to add any.

 

[Michelle22]

i have an intex XTR 22x52 and i always cover. i bought a much larger size cover so it would hang down plenty. i was just going to buy a heavy duty tarp, but was having trouble finding one that was round and the correct size as i wanted it to hang down plenty.

Hi! What size cover did you end up getting? I also have the 22x52XTR and can't find a winter cover of the correct size. Thinking I will have to order a 24' and just deal with the extra.

 

[charliej]

Hi! What size cover did you end up getting? I also have the 22x52XTR and can't find a winter cover of the correct size. Thinking I will have to order a 24' and just deal with the extra.

You will probably laugh, but it is so big that it goes all the way to the ground all around the pool. I am not sue od the size and I’ve answered this so late that you probably have already done what you were going to do. My apologies. I wasn’t available for a couple weeks. I think I got the grizzly brand. I am thinking I got a 30 ft round forgetting that they already allowed extra. Now that all is about over with, I am very pleased with the size I got. We had some big winds this winter and no worries with it blowing around .

 

[Michelle22]

Thanks for the info, haha! I haven't gotten the cover yet...probably wont until later this year.