Do I really need to lower the water below the skimmer for winter?

[Freddie]

First time closing my pool myself and I keep seeing mixed advice online. Some say drain below the skimmer, others say you can leave it higher if you use a gizmo. Which way is actually safer?

 

[Isabella]

First time closing my pool myself and I keep seeing mixed advice online. Some say drain below the skimmer, others say you can leave it higher if you use a gizmo. Which way is actually safer?

I always lower mine a few inches below the skimmer. That way if we get a ton of rain or snow melt it doesn’t overflow into the lines.

 

[Zephyr]

First time closing my pool myself and I keep seeing mixed advice online. Some say drain below the skimmer, others say you can leave it higher if you use a gizmo. Which way is actually safer?

I just use a skimmer gizmo and leave the water level up. Been doing it that way for years without problems, but I do make sure to blow out and plug all the lines.

 

[George Kelly]

A factor that doesn’t always get mentioned is the type of winter you usually have. If your area gets heavy freeze-thaw cycles, lowering the level gives you a little insurance because you’re reducing how much water can expand around the skimmer. In milder climates, keeping it higher with a gizmo is usually fine since the risk of ice pressure is lower. So the “safer” route really depends on your weather more than a single rule everyone should follow.

 

[Jacob Foster]

For me, I usually lower the water a few inches below the skimmer just to be safe. It gives extra protection in case of heavy freezes or unexpected rain, less chance of ice or overflow damaging the skimmer.

That said, if you live somewhere mild and use a proper skimmer gizmo, leaving it closer to normal level is fine too. It really comes down to how much winter weather your pool has to deal with and how hands-on you want to be when opening it next season.

 

[John Harrison]

Freddie, it really comes down to your local winter conditions. If you get freezes or heavy rain, lowering the water a few inches below the skimmer is the safer route, it prevents ice from damaging the skimmer and reduces overflow into the lines.

In milder climates, leaving the water up with a skimmer gizmo works fine, as long as you’ve blown out and plugged the lines properly. Basically, lowering it is extra insurance, but not always mandatory if your winters aren’t harsh.

 

[Liam Brooks]

I used to wonder the same thing my first couple of seasons. What I’ve learned is that it’s less about one “right” method and more about knowing your setup. If your pool sits in a spot that collects a lot of rain or snow runoff, dropping the water a few inches really helps avoid overflow. But if your cover fits tight and you’ve got a gizmo in place, you can safely leave it higher and save a bit of work refilling later.

Personally, I lower mine just below the skimmer because it gives me peace of mind through the colder months, especially when temps dip unexpectedly.

 

[Michael Williams]

What’s safest depends on how hard and how long your freezes are. If you get deep, sustained freezes, I usually drop the water a few inches below the skimmer opening so ice expansion isn’t pushing on the skimmer area, but the real key is the skimmer line being fully cleared, blown out, and sealed so no water is trapped. In milder winters you can often keep the level higher as long as the line is truly empty and plugged, and I wouldn’t drain excessively low either since that can create other headaches with rain and spring startup.

 

[Henry Graham]

I asked the same thing my first season because the advice online makes it sound like there’s only one correct way. After a few winters I realized the bigger issue isn’t the exact water level, it’s whether the skimmer line is actually empty before freezing weather hits.

What I usually do is lower the water a few inches below the skimmer just to keep the opening out of the ice line. Then I blow the skimmer line until it’s just air and seal it so water can’t creep back in. Once that plumbing is dry, the chance of freeze damage drops a lot.

I also try not to drain too far because winter precipitation can change things quickly. One year I lowered the water quite a bit and by spring the level had dropped even more, which left the skimmer area exposed and made opening a little more work. Keeping it only slightly below the skimmer seems to strike a good balance.

Another thing I watch during closing is circulation and filtration before shutting everything down. I like to run the pump long enough that the filter pressure stays stable and the water is completely clear before covering. Starting winter with clean water usually matters more than the exact inch where the water line sits.

 

[Katherine Morgan]

I went down the same rabbit hole the first time I closed mine. The internet makes it sound like if the water isn’t at the exact right height something terrible will happen. After a few seasons I realized the skimmer line itself is the bigger concern, not the exact water level.

What I usually do now is drop the water just slightly below the skimmer opening so ice can’t form right inside the throat. Then I blow the skimmer line until it’s basically just air coming through and thread the gizmo in while the air is still moving. That helps make sure no little pocket of water sits in the pipe. If that line is dry, the freeze risk drops a lot.

One thing I learned the hard way is not to drain too far. A couple winters ago I lowered it quite a bit and then we had a dry, windy winter. By spring the level had fallen even more and the pump had to work harder to prime during opening. Since then I keep it only a few inches below the skimmer and let the cover handle the rest.

I also run the system a bit longer before closing so the water is really clear and the filter pressure is steady before everything gets shut down. Starting winter with clean water seems to make spring startup way smoother than obsessing over the exact inch of water level. Anyone else notice their water level drop more than expected over winter?

 

[nroberts]

Depends on your climate honestly. If you get hard freezes below about 20F then yes absolutely lower it below the skimmer AND blow out the lines. Water expands when it freezes and a frozen skimmer can crack the whole assembly. Ive seen $2000 repair bills from people who didnt lower the water.

If youre in a mild climate that barely freezes you can probably get away with mid-skimmer but its cheap insurance to lower it a few inches. Takes 20 minutes with a submersible pump.