I've read quite a bit and gotten a lot of great info from here about winterizing our pool. But I have a few questions (we'd like to leave it out during the winter but want to do it right so as to avoid damage).
Climate = Iowa, so can get very cold in the winter
Pool = a 3800 gallon AGP, Intex 14' x 48" (no inflatable ring around the top)
From what I've read, if we do it right, this type of pool can be left up during the winter. Correct?
I've read the steps on Pool School about how to get the water and equipment ready. Only questions about that so far are:
On Pool School's Closing topic, it says "Drain water to 6" below lowest return/skimmer opening and hoses/fittings removed."
The pool has an opening that is about a foot or so beneath the pool top which is where the pump sends water back into the pool, and an opening that is about two feet beneath the pool top which is the where the pump takes in water. By "lowest return/skimmer opening" does that mean 6" beneath the top opening? Or something else?
I've read a bit about ice possibly ripping the liner or the pool wall. Is this a problem in my sort of climate? Would putting some closed 20-30 gallon plastic jugs half-filled with water into the pool water help? We've done that with outdoor pond before. Not sure if the same would work here.
Climate = Iowa, so can get very cold in the winter
Pool = a 3800 gallon AGP, Intex 14' x 48" (no inflatable ring around the top)
From what I've read, if we do it right, this type of pool can be left up during the winter. Correct?
I've read the steps on Pool School about how to get the water and equipment ready. Only questions about that so far are:
On Pool School's Closing topic, it says "Drain water to 6" below lowest return/skimmer opening and hoses/fittings removed."
The pool has an opening that is about a foot or so beneath the pool top which is where the pump sends water back into the pool, and an opening that is about two feet beneath the pool top which is the where the pump takes in water. By "lowest return/skimmer opening" does that mean 6" beneath the top opening? Or something else?
I've read a bit about ice possibly ripping the liner or the pool wall. Is this a problem in my sort of climate? Would putting some closed 20-30 gallon plastic jugs half-filled with water into the pool water help? We've done that with outdoor pond before. Not sure if the same would work here.