Do I need to drain below skimmer before winter?

[Freddie]

First year actually closing my own pool instead of paying a company and I’m confused. Some guides say drain below the skimmer line before plugging everything, others say it’s fine to leave the water level where it is as long as you use a skimmer cover. Which one is correct? Don’t want to mess this up and crack something over the winter.

 

[Isabella]

First year actually closing my own pool instead of paying a company and I’m confused. Some guides say drain below the skimmer line before plugging everything, others say it’s fine to leave the water level where it is as long as you use a skimmer cover. Which one is correct? Don’t want to mess this up and crack something over the winter.

I always drain mine a few inches below the skimmer line just to be safe. It makes it easier to blow out the lines too. Leaving it full with a skimmer cover can work, but if you get heavy freezes in your area I’d go the traditional route.

 

[Zephyr]

First year actually closing my own pool instead of paying a company and I’m confused. Some guides say drain below the skimmer line before plugging everything, others say it’s fine to leave the water level where it is as long as you use a skimmer cover. Which one is correct? Don’t want to mess this up and crack something over the winter.

I leave mine filled and just use a skimmer plate cover and have never had a problem. Honestly it depends on your winter temps. If your pool is in a mild climate you don’t really need to lower the water at all.

 

[Ethan Wells]

I’ve learned over the years that there really isn’t a single “one size fits all” rule here, it comes down to your climate and how comfortable you are with risk. In colder regions where you know you’ll be dealing with long hard freezes, lowering the water a few inches below the skimmer is the safer bet. It gives you extra room so ice expansion won’t push directly into the skimmer housing or plumbing. That little bit of draining now can save you from cracked parts or expensive repairs later.

On the other hand, if you’re in an area that only gets light freezes, using a skimmer cover or plate can work fine. A lot of people in milder climates close without lowering the water at all, as long as everything’s properly winterized and plugged.

What I usually suggest for first-time closings is to play it safe the first year: drop the water level a bit and see how it goes. Once you’ve gone through a winter and have a feel for your pool and climate, you can decide if you want to simplify the process in future seasons.

 

[Megan Lawson]

I’ve seen both methods work, but it really depends on your climate and how much of a margin of safety you want. Lowering the water below the skimmer is the more conservative route and takes the pressure off the skimmer housing if things freeze solid. If you’re somewhere that only sees light freezes, a skimmer plate or gizmo can do the job without draining as much.

Personally, I’d say for your first year, drop the water level a bit just to get peace of mind, then after a season or two, you’ll know whether you can get away with the simpler approach.

 

[Robert Smith]

Both can be correct, it depends on your climate.

• Cold/freezing winters: Lower the water a few inches below the skimmer. It’s the safer option and makes blowing out lines easier.
• Mild winters: You can leave the water at normal level if you use a proper skimmer plate/gizmo and winterize the lines well.

For a first-time DIY close, I’d play it safe and drop it slightly below the skimmer. Once you see how your pool handles winter, you can decide if you want to leave it higher in future years.

 

[Diego Rodriguez]

First year actually closing my own pool instead of paying a company and I’m confused. Some guides say drain below the skimmer line before plugging everything, others say it’s fine to leave the water level where it is as long as you use a skimmer cover. Which one is correct? Don’t want to mess this up and crack something over the winter.

Both are technically used, but the safest first time move is lowering the water a few inches below the skimmer before plugging lines because it removes freeze pressure completely, and after doing that I usually finish with aquadoc pool closer winterizing kit, aquadoc chlorine tablets or algaecide, aquadoc phosphate remover, aquadoc stain and scale control, clean filters with aquadoc pool filter cleaner, protect the cover with aquadoc cover protector, and do a quick check using aquadoc pool and spa test strips or the eagle ray digital kit so nothing surprises me in spring.

 

[Alma Weber]

If this is your first time closing it yourself, I’d personally go with the safer route like Ethan Wells suggested. My first year I lowered the water a few inches below the skimmer just to give extra room in case ice expanded. For me it added a margin of error, especially since I wasn’t fully confident that every line was perfectly cleared. After getting through one winter without issues, I felt more comfortable adjusting the setup based on my local weather.