How do I winterize an above-ground pool?
In Virginia, take an above-ground pool down for winter: drain and dry the pump, filter and hoses, store them indoors, then drain the pool, dry the liner and fold it. A pool maker advises this wherever temperatures drop below 32 degrees F. A hard-sided pool can stay up under a fitted cover once the water is balanced and the power is off.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Wait for the right weather
Plan the closing before the first hard freeze, when nights are falling below 32°F.[1]
Step 2: Clean the pool
Skim, vacuum and brush the pool so the liner and water are clean before you drain.
Step 3: Switch off the power
Shut off the GFCI outlet and the circuit breaker that feed the pool, and shut off any water flow to it.[1]
Step 4: Drain the equipment
Clean and drain the pump, filter housing and hoses.[1]
Step 5: Remove accessories
Take off the skimmer and any strainer-connector accessories, and take out the ladder, then dry them.
Step 6: Drain the pool
Check local rules for where the water may go, then drain the pool completely.
Step 7: Dry the liner
Wipe the liner with a clean cloth so mold and mildew cannot grow.[1]
Step 8: Fold and store
Fold the liner evenly and store it, with the ladder, hoses and pump parts, indoors in a dry place between 32°F and 104°F.[1]
The short version
In Virginia, where winter nights regularly fall below freezing, the safest way to winterize an above-ground pool is to take it down for the season. The guide from one pool maker puts it this way: if you live in a region where the temperature drops below 32°F (0°C), the best option is to drain, pack up and store your pool.[1] Leaving a full pool up with a cover is possible with a hard-sided pool and proper chemistry, but a vinyl liner on a soft-sided or inflatable pool, and the pump, hoses and ladder on any pool, are what freezing weather damages.
The job is a weekend of ordinary yard work. Doing it before the first hard freeze can save a spring repair bill.
Why it matters
Freezing water expands and cracks what holds it. The EPA's pool guide says it is also important to drain water from equipment such as filters, pumps, heaters, and piping, as freezing water can cause cracks, which can later cause leaks.[2] A pump left full is the classic casualty, and one manufacturer states plainly that allowing the pump to freeze will void the warranty.[3]
Before you drain
Start with the water, because you are about to hand the pool its last clean-up of the year. Skim leaves, vacuum the floor and brush the walls. If you are keeping the water in a hard-sided pool for the winter, adjust the pH to the recommended range of 7.4 to 7.6,[1] then add shock and a winter algaecide following the product labels. If you are draining and storing the pool, balanced water matters much less, but a clean liner is easier to dry and fold.
Check with your county or city before you drain, and send the water where it will not flood a neighbour's yard or your own.
Drain, dry and store
Switch off the power first, then take the equipment apart. Clean and drain the pool pump, filter housing, and hoses.[1] Remove the skimmer or any accessory on the strainer connector, take out the ladder, and dry everything. The ladder, hoses, pool pump and pump parts should be kept indoors and stored in a dry area with temperatures between 0°C (32°F) and 40°C (104°F).[1] A labelled bin keeps the small parts together for spring. If you decide to put antifreeze in any plumbing you leave in place, the pump manufacturer's instruction is: "Use ONLY propylene glycol as antifreeze in your pool/spa system."[3]
Once the pool is empty, the liner has to be dry before it is folded. A thorough wipe down with a clean cloth will stop pesky mold or mildew growth that comes from water.[1] Fold it evenly, avoid hard creases, and store it in the original box or a large bag away from rodents.
If you leave the pool up
A hard-sided pool that stays filled needs a cover that fits and can be tightened all around the rim. Using air pillows and supports underneath can also help if you think there is a chance the cover will freeze to the water.[1] Lower the water only as far as the pool maker's manual says, and shut off the circuit feeding the pool: the GFCI outlet on the outlet body and the main circuit break switch to the outlet should be shut off.[1]
Stop and call a pro if
- The pool has a gas heater or a salt system. Heater shutdown starts with the gas valve and the electrical supply, and the manufacturer's procedure continues into removing panels and draining the heat exchanger.[4] That is a job for a licensed gas fitter or a pool technician.
- The pump has hard-wired power. Turn off the breaker and have an electrician or pool technician disconnect it; do not open a hard-wired motor yourself.
- You are tempted to blow out the plumbing with a compressor. Purging the system with compressed air can cause components to explode, with risk of severe injury or death.[3] Hayward allows only a low-pressure, high-volume blower, and a pool company will have one.
- Water collects around the base or under the liner. That points to a leak, which is a repair, not a winterizing task.
Getting help in Virginia
If your pool also has a sand filter, see how to backwash a sand filter before you drain it, and what a winterizing visit costs if you would rather hand it off. Whether to do it yourself or hire a pool company is a separate decision, and a torn cover is covered in how to repair a mesh pool cover. More pool help is in pool equipment repair answers and the pool equipment repair directory.
When you want a hand, describe the job and local pool companies will quote it.
Common questions
- When should I winterize an above-ground pool in Virginia?
- Before the first hard freeze, when overnight lows start falling below 32°F. A manufacturer's guide says that in a region where temperatures drop below 32°F (0°C), the best option is to drain, pack up and store the pool. In much of Virginia that means closing in October or November.
- Do I have to drain an above-ground pool for winter?
- In a freezing climate, draining a soft-sided or inflatable pool and storing it is the safest route, because the liner, pump and hoses are what ice damages. A hard-sided pool can stay filled under a well-fitted cover if you balance the water, but the pump, filter and hoses still need draining and indoor storage.
- Can I use antifreeze in the pool plumbing?
- Only the right kind. Hayward's manual says to use only propylene glycol as antifreeze in a pool and spa system, because other antifreezes are highly toxic and may damage plastic components. Many above-ground pools simply drain the hoses and store them, which avoids the question.
- What pH should the water be before closing?
- If you are leaving water in the pool, adjust it to the recommended range of 7.4 to 7.6, the range one pool maker's guide gives, then add shock and a winter algaecide following the product labels.
- Is it safe to blow the lines out with a shop compressor?
- No. Hayward's manual warns that purging the system with compressed air can cause components to explode, with risk of severe injury or death, and allows only a low-pressure, high-volume blower. Leave air purging to a pool company.
Sources
- [1] Winterizing Your Above Ground Pool (manufacturer guide), Funsicle. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [2] Pool Water Efficiency: Jump Into Savings, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [3] Super Pump Series Owner's Manual (ISSPSERIES), Hayward Pool Products. Checked October 27, 2026.
- [4] Gas-Fired Pool and Spa Heater Installation and Operation Manual, Raypak. Checked October 27, 2026.
Want a pro to handle it?
Describe the job once. Licensed local businesses send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
Get a quote for Pool Equipment