I've talked to different pool owners and pool stores, and there is no consistent answer. Slightly more than half say to add, the rest say it is unnecessary. We do get freezing conditions up here, so I'm inclined to think it is additional insurance, although now I'm not so convinced anymore.
Pool Closing - To Add Anti-Freeze Or Not?
- Thread starter jjtsl
- Start date
I think the answer to your question is... that there is no one right answer. I think a good number of people on this forum add antifreeze, but some just blow out their return lines and plug them.
Welcome to TFP!
Welcome to TFP!
Welcome to TFP!!
Here's my take on antifreeze for winterizing.
1) IF you blow ALL the water out of the line, you don't NEED antifreeze. (Air contracts when it gets to freezing temps
)
2) If the lines run BELOW the frost line, you can blow MOST of the water out of the line and not NEED antifreeze - as long as there is nowhere in the frost line that might be full of 'puddled' water.
3) If you're not sure if you've met the conditions in 1 and 2 Add enough antifreeze to protect the pipes!!
$12 - 20 is a small investment to protect your pipes - if they have to be replaced you're looking at hundreds (probably at least $1000) to find the leak and repair the pipe, and possibly jackhammer some of the deck and replace that (which will FOREVER show as a patch 
IMO - if the lines are blown correctly and fully, you won't need the antifreeze, but I'd rather not take the chance of not having it in there
Again, welcome here - and have a great winter (with no pipe damage
)
Here's my take on antifreeze for winterizing.
1) IF you blow ALL the water out of the line, you don't NEED antifreeze. (Air contracts when it gets to freezing temps
)2) If the lines run BELOW the frost line, you can blow MOST of the water out of the line and not NEED antifreeze - as long as there is nowhere in the frost line that might be full of 'puddled' water.
3) If you're not sure if you've met the conditions in 1 and 2 Add enough antifreeze to protect the pipes!!
$12 - 20 is a small investment to protect your pipes - if they have to be replaced you're looking at hundreds (probably at least $1000) to find the leak and repair the pipe, and possibly jackhammer some of the deck and replace that (which will FOREVER show as a patch IMO - if the lines are blown correctly and fully, you won't need the antifreeze, but I'd rather not take the chance of not having it in there
Again, welcome here - and have a great winter (with no pipe damage
)