Intex Prism Pool Winter Closure Plugs

[eppajmo]

Hello, I have a 8 x 16“ Intex prism pool that I plan to leave up/cover this year when I close/winterize. I’d like to leave the water high in the pool and plug the inlets and outlets below the water level, but worry that the black plugs that came with the pool might not be sturdy enough to stay in place. Has anyone tried this type of plug with their Intex prism pool system? I’m in the Pacific Northwest.
Thanks

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome tp TFP! Yes, those plugs are one example that could be used to substitute the factory "hat" plugs. Shop online and you'll see a variety of shapes and sizes. The ones you posted are tapered, but there are also some are the same size (cylindrical) all the way which works well in some applications too.

 

[eppajmo]

Thank you!
I guess I thought about getting the tapered plugs since I’m not exactly sure what size the plug would need to be and I thought at least this way I could put this in as far as it could go and let it stick out the rest of the way (not sure if that’s the right thought process to have lol, maybe they have to be in all the way to really tighten in place?) I’m having trouble figuring out what size of those plugs I would need if it was not tapered.
I do have those black “hat” plugs that come with the Intex pools, do you think those would stay in place under the water just by themselves? I was worried if the water got cold enough for any ice to freeze on the top it could expand and then melt again and contract and maybe those would pop out (it doesn’t usually get that cold that long here but we have had occasional years with sub zero temps for a few days, I plan to put a large pool pillow in under the cover).
I may try the black hats, was just not sure if the wingnut screw plugs were considered more sturdy to stay put through the winter - honestly I’m not exactly sure how they work, does the wingnut when you tighten it expand the plug to stay in place better (and maybe they have to be in all the way to work?)
This is the first year I’m trying to leave ia pool up, last year I took it down and stored it and in the years before I had a shorter 12 foot pool I took down/stored every year - so so just trying to set up the best scenario I can think of

 

[Texas Splash]

do you think those would stay in place under the water just by themselves?

They "should", but I too would be more comfortable with an actual rubber (expandable) plug. Let's see what @Mdragger88 thinks.

 

[Mdragger88]

You’re supposed to take the jet ring off then put the hats in then screw the jet thing back on - this should keep them in place
They don’t just sit there