Should I drop the water level below the skimmer when closing the pool?

[James Carter]

Heard a bunch of mixed stuff about this. Some people say you have to lower the water below the skimmer to avoid freeze damage, but others say you can just plug it and leave it. I’m in an area where winter gets cold, not crazy snow, but definitely below freezing. Trying not to mess this up. If you’ve done it before, what’s worked best for you?

 

[Mark Davis]

I’m in a similar climate and I just use a skimmer plug and blow out the lines. I’ve never lowered the water and haven’t had any freeze damage in years. As long as you winterize the plumbing properly and use a good cover, you should be fine. Lowering the water just feels like extra work unless you’re in extreme cold.

 

[Jake Roberts]

I always drain the water below the skimmer because it gives me peace of mind. It only takes a little extra time and I’d rather be safe than deal with cracked skimmer parts in spring. I still blow out the lines and use plugs too, but I like having that extra gap where water won’t freeze and expand.

 

[Ryan Brooks]

I went the plug route last year and it worked fine, but I made sure to blow out the lines really well and added antifreeze in the plumbing just to be safe. I think both ways work, it just depends how comfortable you are with the risk. If your winters aren’t brutal, plugs and good prep usually do the trick.

 

[Michael Williams]

I’m in a similar climate and I just use a skimmer plug and blow out the lines. I’ve never lowered the water and haven’t had any freeze damage in years. As long as you winterize the plumbing properly and use a good cover, you should be fine. Lowering the water just feels like extra work unless you’re in extreme cold.

If I go with what Mark Davis is saying, you don’t strictly have to drop the water below the skimmer as long as your winterizing is solid: blow the lines out fully, use the right plug/gizmo, and make sure there’s no water sitting in the skimmer/throat that can freeze and expand. But if your area regularly stays below freezing for days at a time, lowering the water just below the skimmer is a reasonable extra insurance step, not because it’s mandatory, but because it reduces the chance of leftover water cracking the vulnerable parts.