Drain for winter?

[dorkblast]

Hello I have an above ground intex pool. It's the ultra XTR Model.

I have already drained the pool completely but now I'm reading that is not the smart thing to do for winter. Should I refill it?

My original plan was to drain all the way and use a cover. Why would this be an issue?

 

[Newdude]

Hey DB and Welcome !!!

Without the water your pool is a parachute waiting for a big enough breeze. A cover will not help that, and will collapse into the pool from only a couple inches of rain or snow with no pool water to support it.

Fill it up, or take it apart and store it for next year.

 

[isee]

You don't need to fill it up all the way, if I remember correctly the water only needs to be below the lowest intake or return in the pool. I'm in Iowa and I'm leaving my XTR up all through the winter. We've been getting into the -20 to -30s (F) lately over winter too. I got a 4x8 ft pool pillow to tie into the middle so water gets pushed to the outside of the pool around the cover instead of naturally congregating in the center. Some folks say this is easier on your pool frame when it rains, snows, or the snow melts since the weight of the water isn't pulling down on the cover which is on your frame. Even if that's not true it's still easier to get excessive water off the cover with a pump if the water is only along the outer perimeter.