I have a ~16ft x 32ft in ground vinyl pool and I live in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada where temperatures reach -40C = -40F in the winter.
Because of these impressively low numbers I drain the pool below the skimmer and below the return lines (have to drop the water level ~3ft to do this). I assume this is the best way to winterize a pool where there is significant deep freezing.
The pool stays winterized for ~6months of the year and develops a pretty impressive 6-12 inch thick layer of ice across the whole pool. When it starts to get nice though, half the pool gets significantly more sun and thus the ice melts and there is a quite massive ice block that is floating on the water. Because the water is lowered the wind does not significantly move the ice, but there are numerous times where the ice does gain some speed and hits the vinyl edges.
This gives me palpitations thinking about the poor liner and developing a significant tear or puncture.
My question is what should I do about this when it is above freezing and I want to open the pool?
1) Sit and wait for it to fully melt the 'natural' way and hope that the wind does not move the ice fast enough to cause damage. This takes a good month or so based on past experience. (low risk, long exposure time)
2) Pick a warm day and break up the ice, being extra cautious about the liner. I also did this one year, and it took 2-3 days of breaking up ice, moving large pieces to sunny areas, etc. (high risk, short exposure time)
3) Wait until the edges have thawed, then fill the pool up with water to speed the thawing, +/- turn on the pump to get a current. (I have never done this, but just tossing another idea out there).
What do you think would be the best as all the options clearly have their downsides?
Any other ideas?
Any things I can do for next winter? I am thinking of using my old solar cover to line the edges to provide a little extra protection.... but it might just be placebo.
Thanks for any thoughts / advice!
Because of these impressively low numbers I drain the pool below the skimmer and below the return lines (have to drop the water level ~3ft to do this). I assume this is the best way to winterize a pool where there is significant deep freezing.
The pool stays winterized for ~6months of the year and develops a pretty impressive 6-12 inch thick layer of ice across the whole pool. When it starts to get nice though, half the pool gets significantly more sun and thus the ice melts and there is a quite massive ice block that is floating on the water. Because the water is lowered the wind does not significantly move the ice, but there are numerous times where the ice does gain some speed and hits the vinyl edges.
This gives me palpitations thinking about the poor liner and developing a significant tear or puncture.
My question is what should I do about this when it is above freezing and I want to open the pool?
1) Sit and wait for it to fully melt the 'natural' way and hope that the wind does not move the ice fast enough to cause damage. This takes a good month or so based on past experience. (low risk, long exposure time)
2) Pick a warm day and break up the ice, being extra cautious about the liner. I also did this one year, and it took 2-3 days of breaking up ice, moving large pieces to sunny areas, etc. (high risk, short exposure time)
3) Wait until the edges have thawed, then fill the pool up with water to speed the thawing, +/- turn on the pump to get a current. (I have never done this, but just tossing another idea out there).
What do you think would be the best as all the options clearly have their downsides?
Any other ideas?
Any things I can do for next winter? I am thinking of using my old solar cover to line the edges to provide a little extra protection.... but it might just be placebo.
Thanks for any thoughts / advice!
