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Can You Leave An Intex Pool Up All Winter? Here’s The Answer

Intex pools are made of vinyl, which means they’re not as durable as in-ground gunite pools.

Some people prefer storing their Intex pools because they want to grow the grass or not maintain the water.

However, draining, drying, and removing an above-ground pool can be quite a hassle. So, can you keep it up throughout the year?

You can leave an Intex pool up all winter if you add chlorine, circulate the pump daily, and use a winter cover. Intex pools are designed to last through the winter, but you have to maintain the filtration system to prevent it from freezing. Run the pump during the coldest hours of the day or night.

In this article, I’ll discuss the two options you have for maintaining an Intex pool in the winter.

I’ll also provide you with step-by-step instructions to winterize the pool or store it in your garage or shed. Let’s get started!

What Do You Do With an Intex Pool in the Winter?

You can winterize an Intex pool with chemicals and a cover in the winter or store it in an airtight container.

Your Intex pool should have a circulation pump and filter to prevent algae from growing and stop the pipes from freezing. Those living in extremely cold climates should consider taking down their Intex pools in the winter.

Here are your two options:

  1. Winterize the pool with the above-ground pool chemicals it needs. Winterizing a pool consists of adding high concentrations of chemicals (at a safe level for the vinyl), covering the pool, and maintaining the filtration system. It’s much more common to winterize a metal-framed Intex pool than a traditional vinyl pool.
  2. Store the pool and all of the equipment until you’re ready to install it the following year. If you go this route, everything needs to be clean, dry, and stored in a room temperature container. Improper storage will undoubtedly damage the vinyl, plastic, and metal, causing you to have to replace the pool.

In the following sections, I’ll discuss the details of winterizing and storing an Intex swimming pool.

How Do You Winterize an Intex Vinyl Pool?

To winter an Intex pool, follow these instructions:

  • Pour chlorine and algaecide into the swimming pool. I recommend using HTH Super Algae Guard. You can double or triple the dose when winterizing the pool. This treatment gets rid of yellow, black, and green algae. One bottle is enough for several pool seasons. Most algaecides are used as preventative maintenance.
HTH Super Algae Guard | Swimming Pool Algaecide Cleanser
  • Balance the pH, alkalinity, and cyanuric acid. Use a pool test kit to check the water’s chemistry. An acidic swimming pool will slowly deteriorate the vinyl liner until it tears. Make sure the water is balanced once per month to know if you have to add any chemicals. Above-ground vinyl pools typically don’t have hardness issues.
  • Get a winterizing blanket with clips and pool winterizing pillows. I suggest using the blanket clips if you live in a windy climate or the pool blanket doesn’t come with a built-in drawstring. Your Intex pool should include a winterizing blanket with a pulling string to tighten it around the edges.
  • Circulate the pool’s water during the coldest part of the day. Frozen plumbing is one of the biggest threats to winterizing a swimming pool. It’s important to move the water rather than letting it settle and freeze the pipes; otherwise, they can crack. Frozen water is one of the main reasons your pump is making a loud noise.
  • Chlorinate and maintain the pool once every three to four weeks. Your covered, cold pool won’t need too much chlorine during the winter. There’s not enough pollen or heat to grow algae. However, it’s important to remove the small bacteria that land in the water by chlorinating it.

As you can see, winterizing your Intex pool is a straightforward process. We suggest gathering all of the supplies beforehand since you can successfully winterize the above-ground pool in less than an hour.

Don’t neglect the pool’s chemistry during the winter and spring, or it’ll get covered in algae and require a long-term, expensive clean-up.

How Do I Store My Intex Pool for the Winter?

To store your Intex pool in the winter, follow these steps:

  1. Drain and dry the pool. Your pool needs to dry before storing it, or it’ll grow algae and bacteria. The algae will stain and corrode the vinyl, which can break it apart. You can use towels to remove the excess water from the vinyl.
  2. Remove the cartridges or sand from the filter, then clean the inside of the tank. Cleaning the filter will prevent the cartridges and sand from crumbling. Storing soaked, dirty filters will lead to plumbing issues. You’ll have to get new hoses and possibly a brand-new pump.
  3. Disconnect all of the plumbing and let everything dry, including the pump. Intex pools usually have plenty of hose sections. Separate and dry each of the hoses, then place them in an airtight container or plastic trash bag. We suggest spraying the inside of the hoses with a garden hose to remove the dried chlorine.
  4. Fold the vinyl loosely and store it in an airtight container. Don’t squish or compress the vinyl. This mistake will crease the material, increasing the likelihood of tears and warped sections. Don’t let the vinyl get wet or store it in a humid location.
  5. Keep all of the pool equipment at room temperature. Your pool equipment can freeze and crack if it’s too cold. Keep it in a location you know won’t dip below freezing. Garages and sheds are excellent storage locations for Intex pool equipment during the winter.

Storing a wet or freezing Intex pool will lead to irreparable cracks, creases, and other problems. I recommend spraying the inside of the pool after emptying it and before it dries. This process removes residual algae and chemicals.

You can make your Intex pool last longer by draining, drying, and storing it properly.

Author

  • Jonah Ryan

    Jonah has worked for several years in the swimming pool industry installing and repairing equipment, treating pools with chemicals, and fixing damaged liners. He also has plumbing and electrical experience with air conditioning, ceiling fans, boilers, and more. When he's not writing for Temperature Master, he's usually writing for his own websites, LawnCareLessons.com and DIYByHand.com.

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Jonah Ryan

Jonah has worked for several years in the swimming pool industry installing and repairing equipment, treating pools with chemicals, and fixing damaged liners. He also has plumbing and electrical experience with air conditioning, ceiling fans, boilers, and more. When he’s not writing for Temperature Master, he’s usually writing for his own websites, LawnCareLessons.com and DIYByHand.com.

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