The onset of cold weather is accompanied not only by the expectation of the New Year, great preparations, and warm family evenings. With the onset of the cold season, the Intex pool owners should know how to winterize an Intex above ground pool.
Many Intex pool owners probably already know that Intex above-ground pools cannot be used at freezing temperatures, as frost can damage the pool.
On the other hand, you can spend whole gallons of water to clean and drain your pool, collect it and wait for the onset of the swimming season. However, this does not mean that this is the only way out.
Contents
- 1 What does it mean to Winterize an Intex Pool?
- 2 Why it’s Important to Winterize an Above Ground Pool?
- 3 What Tools or Chemicals you will Need?
- 4 Intex Above Ground Pool Warm Area Winterizing
- 5 How to winterize an Intex above ground pool?
- 5.1 1. Cleaning The Pool
- 5.2 2. Check Water Chemistry
- 5.3 3. Unplug The Power Sources
- 5.4 4. Remove The Accessories
- 5.5 5. Attach The Hose and Connecting Drain Connector
- 5.6 6. Drain the Pool
- 5.7 7. Dry the Pool
- 5.8 8. Clear Pump Hoses and Filters
- 5.9 9. Winterize Intex Pool Accessories
- 5.10 10. Fold Your Intex Pool for Storage
- 6 FAQ
- 6.1 Can you leave Intex pools up all winter?
- 6.2 How do I store my Intex pool for the winter?
- 6.3 How do you winterize an Intex Easy Set pool?
- 6.4 How do you winterize an above-ground vinyl pool?
- 6.5 Can I leave my above-ground pool empty for the winter?
- 6.6 Why Should I Close My Inflatable or Intex Pool?
What does it mean to Winterize an Intex Pool?
The winterizing of an above-ground pool is understood as the removal of all components of the devices from its composition, as well as the drying of pipes from pool water.
If you do not winterize an Intex pool and treat this issue negligently, then you risk becoming the owner of a damaged swimming pool or a pool with germs or algae growing in it. It will lead to spending extra money from your budget.
Why it’s Important to Winterize an Above Ground Pool?
Intex pools are popular among pool owners because they are light in weight. It allows you to install them without much difficulty.
But a significant disadvantage of such pools is that they are unstable to cold, frost, and even more ice. Intex pools are not suitable for freezing temperatures or extreme winter conditions.
The contact of the pool lining with ice can damage it so that you will forever lose your favorite Intex pool and will be deprived of the pleasure of swimming next season. Well, or you will have to spend a large amount of money to buy a new pool.
It is for this reason that we recommend winterizing an Intex pool.
What Tools or Chemicals you will Need?
Of course, before you start to winterize an Intex pool, you should prepare the necessary tools. They will include different tools for different types of weather.
For Cold Climate:
For Warm Climate:
Intex Above Ground Pool Warm Area Winterizing
Below are tips for pool winterizing if the owner lives in warmer climates.
1. Balance the pool water
If you are a resident of a warm climate country and decided to cover the pool with an above-ground pool cover, then check the pool’s chemistry and its installation.
| Alkalinity | between 100 and 150 ppm |
| pH | between 7.4 and 7.6 |
| Calcium levels | between 200 and 400 ppm |
| Chloride levels | between 1.5 and 3 ppm |
Pool stores sell winterization kits that include all the chemicals you need to add to your pool for winter.
2. Add Winterizing Chemicals
Make sure your water is clean and add all chemicals needed for the winterizing process, along with extra shock and algaecide, to keep the water chemistry in a good place. Also, check it from time to time during winter. Let them circulate for a day.
3. Remove The Appliances
Please turn off the pump and filter, remove the hoses, clean them all as thoroughly as possible, then place them in a dry and safe place. Also, check the instruction manual to see do you need to and how to close your inlet and outlet valves or plug in the inlet and outlet fitting to the inside of the pool wall.
4. Cover The Pool
Before you do this, you’ll want to place a pool pillow in the center of the water. The pillow will absorb the pressure if there Is any chance of freezing. Remember not to overinflate your pool pillow – only fill to about fifty percent. It will keep it from popping. Then it’s time to place your cover.
Well, now you can start covering your pool with an Intex pool cover. Note that you need to cover the pool so that the leaves and dirt really cannot get inside. Also, remember that this pool cover will not save your children and animals from falling there. So it would help if you thought about a more strong winter pool cover.
How to winterize an Intex above ground pool?
Now let’s move on to the process of pool winterizing step by step for cold climate.
1. Cleaning The Pool
And the first step will be to clean the swimming pool. Without this step, you risk damaging the filters or the pool pump. Use a skimmer to collect all the dirt from the pool water surface and vacuum the pool bottom and walls.
2. Check Water Chemistry
Test your pool chemistry levels to ensure you are not draining water containing very low pH or very high chlorine levels. Think about where you will drain the pool and be aware of any laws regarding pool water discharge.
3. Unplug The Power Sources
We all know what a bad combination of water and electricity leads to. We are saying this so that you do not forget to remove any power sources from the pool.
4. Remove The Accessories
All pool accessories that you have stored inside the Intex pool in a warmer climate should be removed from it to avoid damage from low temperatures.
5. Attach The Hose and Connecting Drain Connector
Take the drain connector, and follow the instruction manual to attach the hose. Check the drain plug on the inside of the pool to make sure it’s plugged in. Take the second end of the hose and move away from any structure so it doesn’t mess with a foundation.
After you’ve placed the free end of the hose away, where the water should go, remove the cap from the drain valve, check again if the hose is in the proper place, and once you’re confident it won’t flood, push the drain into the valve.
It will get the water going. Also, make sure the connector is tight enough, so it doesn’t separate as it drains.
6. Drain the Pool
To drain the Intex pool, you will have to wait a certain amount of time – maybe even a few days. At this time, you can observe whether the connector is attached correctly and the hose is in its place.
With all water out, remove the drain connector and the garden hose, and put the inside drain plug and the outside drain valve cap back in their place.
Use only mild cleansers because aggressive cleaners can damage the pool’s lining.
Then you will need, do a thorough cleaning of the liner. Clean the pool wall and bottom by taking a mild cleaner and a soft cloth. To get rid of any contamination, use a commercial cleaner designed specifically for your type of Intex Pool liner.
7. Dry the Pool
Then it would be best if you waited for the pool to be completely dry in the air. Even if a bit of moisture remains on the pool walls of the Intex pool, it can still lead to the sticking of the vinyl walls and the development of algae. If you don’t want to wait long, you can thoroughly dry the pool with towels.
To ensure that the pool is dry, you can try talc or corn starch because these two substances absorb all the moisture.
You will be calm because microorganisms will not develop in your pool, and vinyl liners and walls will not stick to each other.
8. Clear Pump Hoses and Filters
For your pool to function well next season, you will also need to take care of the health of the pump hoses and pool filter. To carry out their winterizing, it will be necessary to clean them properly, make them completely dry and store them in a warm place.
Well, if this is not done, the freezing temperatures will have a drastic effect on the pump, filter as well as pipes, making it unfit and unhygienic for use.
Replace your filter cartridge, so that you will have a clean one once the new pool season starts.
If you have a sand filter, you want to be even more careful, as it can be difficult to drain all the water. For this reason, we recommend you bring the sand filter inside during cold temperatures.
9. Winterize Intex Pool Accessories
To properly winterize your swimming pool accessories, such as a ladder, a vacuum cleaner, etc., it is necessary to clean them with special disinfectants, dry them thoroughly, and store them in a clean, dry place.
If you do not follow all the safety precautions prescribed above, you risk becoming the owner of a pool contaminated with infections next season.
10. Fold Your Intex Pool for Storage
After you have rid of your Intex pools of water, you will need to clean them and fold them.
There are several basic rules here. Each Intex pool model has its type of folding. To find out how to properly fold an Intex pool, consult your owner’s manual.
Also, when folding, wrinkles and creases should not be allowed to form to avoid damage to the liner.
After you have folded the insert correctly, be sure to carefully disassemble the frame – clean and dry the frame, as well as accessories.
If you do all these manipulations correctly, then next year, your Intex pool will be as good as new next summer.
FAQ
Can you leave Intex pools up all winter?
It is not possible in a very harsh winter. Still, if your country’s winter is not very cold, you can maintain it with the help of winterizing chemicals and removing all applications
How do I store my Intex pool for the winter?
Keep your pool in a warm and dry place to ensure its safety and protection from microorganisms.
How do you winterize an Intex Easy Set pool?
In a hard winter, you will need to assemble the pool and store it in a warm, dry, clean place. At warm temperatures in winter, you should use the winterizing chemicals and remove all the applications like ladders, and then use Intex pool covers to cover it.
How do you winterize an above-ground vinyl pool?
Perform all the same manipulations as with traditional pools. Remember that vinyl must be treated even more carefully to damage the material.
Can I leave my above-ground pool empty for the winter?
No, you can not leave the pool empty, because in this case, it will be very susceptible to damage, while the pool water provides uniform pressure distribution and resistance to bad weather.
Why Should I Close My Inflatable or Intex Pool?
Intex pools are partially inflatable, so closing it at the right time can save you from having to buy a new one. If you keep your pool open for too long, your pool lining can easily rupture due to low temperatures, so it is recommended to have your pool closed for winter when the temperature drops below 41°F (5°C).
