10 Essential Inground Pool Winterizing Gear Picks for Backyard Pools

As the autumn leaves begin to fall and the evening air turns crisp, the reality of seasonal pool care shifts from afternoon swims to winter preparation. Closing an inground pool is not just about keeping leaves out; it is a critical preservation process that protects a massive backyard investment from the destructive force of freezing water. Equipping yourself with the right tools ensures that opening day next spring is a celebration rather than a costly repair mission.

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Why Proper Inground Pool Winterization Matters

Water expands by about nine percent when it freezes, exerting immense pressure on whatever contains it. In an inground pool, this expansion can easily crack heavy-duty PVC pipes, rupture skimmer wells, and damage expensive underground plumbing. Skipping proper winterization steps virtually guarantees a spring filled with leak detection services and concrete demolition bills.

Beyond structural damage, leaving a pool improperly prepped over winter invites organic disaster. Stagnant, untreated water under a cheap cover becomes a breeding ground for algae, bacteria, and mosquito larvae as soon as the weather warms. A rigorous closing routine keeps the water clear, balanced, and ready for a painless reopening.

Safety is the final, and most crucial, piece of the winterization puzzle. An open or poorly secured pool is a year-round hazard for neighborhood pets, wandering wildlife, and curious children. The right gear transforms a hazardous backyard pit into a secure, dormant structure that resists the harshest winter elements.

Safety Cover – Meyco Lite Solid Safety Pool Cover

A safety cover keeps debris out of the pool while preventing accidental submersions during the off-season. Unlike standard tarp covers, a safety cover is anchored directly into the deck and tensioned to hold thousands of pounds of weight. This creates a secure, trampoline-like barrier over the pool footprint.

The Meyco Lite Solid Safety Pool Cover strikes the perfect balance between weight and strength. It blocks 95% of sunlight to prevent algae growth while remaining light enough for two people to install easily. The rugged 4,000-pound break strength material ensures that even if heavy snow piles up or an animal steps onto the cover, the barrier remains completely intact.

• Requirements: Requires brass anchors drilled directly into concrete, pavers, or wood decks.
• Sizing: Must be sized precisely to the pool’s coping-to-coping dimensions plus an overlap (typically 1 to 2 feet).
• Drainage: Includes a center drain panel to prevent water pooling on top, though it requires occasional clearing of fine silt.

This cover is ideal for pool owners who prioritize family safety and clean spring openings. It is not the right choice for temporary rental properties where drilling into the deck is prohibited. It is a premium, long-term safety investment designed for permanent homes.

Cover Pump – Little Giant APCP-1700 Pool Cover Pump

Water accumulation on solid covers must be actively managed to prevent the cover from collapsing or straining the anchor springs. A specialized cover pump automatically removes rainwater and melted snow. This prevents the weight from dragging the cover into the pool water below.

The Little Giant APCP-1700 is a workhorse that operates automatically, turning on when water reaches two inches and shutting off when the surface is clear. Its integrated float switch prevents the pump from running dry, saving the motor from burnout. It moves up to 1,700 gallons per hour, which quickly clears large pools even during torrential winter rainstorms.

• Stability: Equipped with a wide, stable base to prevent tipping on soft, uneven covers.
• Connection: Features a standard 3/4-inch garden hose connection for easy drainage setup.
• Maintenance: Needs periodic cleaning to remove pine needles or leaves that block the intake screen.

This pump is essential for anyone using solid safety covers or standard tarps that collect standing water. It is an unnecessary purchase for those with mesh safety covers that allow water to drain directly into the pool.

Skimmer Guard – Gizzmo Ultra Skimmer Freeze Protection

Skimmer wells are highly susceptible to cracking because they are trapped in concrete and hold water at the freeze line. A skimmer guard absorbs the expansion force of freezing water within the skimmer throat. Without it, expanding ice will crack the plastic housing, leading to a costly underground leak.

The Gizzmo Ultra is the standard for skimmer protection, utilizing a heavy-duty, blow-molded plastic tube designed to collapse inward under freezing pressure. This sacrifice protects the delicate plastic housing of the skimmer itself. It features a built-in 1.5-inch and 2-inch double thread at the bottom, allowing it to screw directly into the plumbing line to seal off the pipe.

• Sizing: Standard 12-inch size fits most common skimmers, but deep commercial skimmers require the 16-inch “Super” model.
• Installation: Teflon tape should be applied to the threads to ensure an airtight seal before screwing it in.
• Storage: Must be stored in a dry place during summer to prevent the threads from degrading in the sun.

This is a must-have tool for inground pool owners in regions that experience deep, sustained ground freezes. It is less critical in mild, subtropical climates where pool water never freezes over.

Expansion Plug – Hayward SP1022C Rubber Plug

Once water is blown out of the return lines, they must be sealed airtight. Expansion plugs expand inside the pipe opening to block water from seeping back in and freezing. They are the final line of defense for your underground plumbing lines.

The Hayward SP1022C utilizes a high-grade heavy-duty industrial rubber sleeve surrounding a non-corrosive nylon bolt and wing nut. As the wing nut is tightened, the rubber expands uniformly to create a hermetic seal that resists high backpressure. Unlike cheap generic plugs, these do not rot, crack, or slip loose under pressure over a long winter.

• Sizes: Available in multiple sizes, with the 1.5-inch (Size 9) being the standard for most inground return jets.
• Usage: Requires manual tightening; overtightening can damage plastic return threads, so snug hand-tightening is best.
• Longevity: Check the rubber yearly for dry rot or cracking before reusing.

This is a foundational winterizing tool for any pool owner blowing out plumbing lines. It requires careful matching to your pool’s specific return line diameter to ensure a proper fit.

Cyclone Blower – Cyclone Pro Commercial Bypass Blower

To prevent pipe bursts, all water must be evacuated from the underground plumbing lines. A high-volume bypass blower forces water out of the lines so they can be sealed dry. Trying to do this with a standard shop vacuum often fails due to a lack of backpressure.

The Cyclone Pro Commercial Bypass Blower is the undisputed champion of the blowout process, offering a 3-horsepower motor that creates massive volume and pressure. Unlike standard shop vacs, this blower easily clears lines under feet of water, including deep main drains. The bypass motor design keeps the unit cool even when operating against heavy backpressure.

• Power: Requires a dedicated 15-amp or 20-amp electrical outlet to handle the initial startup surge.
• Accessories: Comes with a flexible, reinforced hose and a quick-connect fitting for easy attachment to skimmers or return lines.
• Caution: It is loud and powerful, requiring careful handling to avoid blowing out weak joints in older plumbing.

This is perfect for DIY pool owners who want to stop paying pool companies hundreds of dollars every autumn. It is not necessary if you live in a climate where lines do not need to be blown out.

Winterizing Kit – In The Swim Ultimate Winter Pool Kit

A winterizing kit keeps pool chemistry balanced and prevents algae blooms, scale buildup, and staining during the off-season. It treats the water continuously throughout the cold months. This ensures that you do not open a dark green swamp in the spring.

The In The Swim Ultimate Winter Pool Kit takes the guesswork out of chemical prep by combining a powerful non-chlorine shock, slow-release winterizer, metal preventer, and a unique winter floating sanitizer. This combination keeps the pool clean without damaging vinyl liners or plaster finishes over months of contact. The time-release float ensures active ingredients remain functional even as water temperatures fluctuate.

• Sizing: Kits are sized by pool volume, typically supporting pools up to 10,000, 20,000, or 35,000 gallons.
• Timing: Must be added to the pool after the water has cooled below 60°F for maximum effectiveness.
• Circulation: Water should be circulated thoroughly for several hours after adding chemicals before lowering the water level.

This is ideal for any pool owner wanting a convenient, pre-measured chemical regimen. Advanced chemistry hobbyists may prefer to buy individual bulk chemicals, but this kit saves valuable time.

Water Bag – Swimline Double Chamber Water Tube

For pools using standard winter tarps instead of safety covers, water bags are placed around the perimeter to weigh down the cover edges. This prevents winter winds from lifting the cover and blowing debris underneath. They are a simple, effective way to secure a non-anchored cover.

The Swimline Double Chamber Water Tube is built with heavy-gauge vinyl and features a dual-chamber design that prevents rolling. If one chamber suffers a puncture, the other remains filled, keeping the cover weighted down. The extra-wide valves allow for rapid filling with a standard garden hose without leaks or spills.

• Sizing: Available in 8-foot and 10-foot lengths to accommodate different pool shapes.
• Filling: Only fill the chambers to about 70% capacity to allow room for the water to expand when it freezes into solid ice.
• Protection: Subject to punctures from sharp deck debris, so sweeping the area before placement is crucial.

These are essential for solid tarp users who do not have a safety cover anchor system installed on their deck. They are completely unnecessary for safety cover owners.

Skimmer Cover – Aquador 1090 Skimmer Faceplate Cover

To winterize a pool without draining it below the skimmer mouth, a snap-on cover seals off the skimmer faceplate. This keeps water inside the pool while keeping the skimmer dry. It saves water and prevents the liner from wrinkling due to low water levels.

The Aquador 1090 features a patented snap-on lid that creates an instant water-tight seal over the skimmer opening without requiring tool-assisted removal of the faceplate. This allows you to keep the pool water level high over winter, which provides critical counter-pressure against shifting frozen ground. The durable plastic faceplate replaces your existing pool skimmer plate permanently, allowing the winter cover to simply snap on and off annually.

• Compatibility: Must match your specific skimmer brand and model (the 1090 fits standard Hayward SP1090/1091 skimmers).
• Installation: Ensure the mounting screws are tightened uniformly during initial installation to prevent slow leaks behind the gasket.
• Storage: Store the snap-on lid indoors during the summer to prevent UV damage to the sealing lip.

This is perfect for vinyl liner pool owners who want to maintain high water levels during winter to prevent liner shifting or floating. It is not necessary if you prefer to drain your pool below the skimmer mouth every year.

Pool Antifreeze – Splash RV and Marine Antifreeze

Even after blowing out lines, small pockets of water can accumulate via condensation or slow leaks. Adding non-toxic pool antifreeze prevents this remaining water from freezing and bursting the pipes. It is cheap insurance for underground plumbing.

Splash RV and Marine Antifreeze is a propylene glycol-based formula that is completely non-toxic and safe for pool plumbing systems. Unlike automotive antifreeze, which contains highly toxic ethylene glycol, this formula is safe to flush directly into the pool during spring opening. It provides burst protection down to -50°F, ensuring peace of mind during the deepest winter cold snaps.

• Quantity: Sold in 1-gallon jugs; most average pools require 1 to 3 gallons depending on plumbing layout.
• Application: Must be poured directly into plumbing lines using a funnel after they have been blown out and plugged.
• Concentration: Do not dilute with water, as dilution significantly raises the freezing point of the liquid.

This is highly recommended for pool owners in northern climates with extensive underground plumbing runs. It is unnecessary for southern pools that do not experience deep soil freezes.

Leaf Net – Robelle Heavy-Duty Inground Leaf Net Cover

Falling autumn leaves can accumulate on top of a winter cover, decaying into a heavy, smelly muck that is difficult to clear in the spring. A leaf net sits on top of the main cover and is pulled off once the trees are bare. This leaves the main cover clean and dry for the rest of the winter.

The Robelle Heavy-Duty Leaf Net features an extra-tight woven mesh that catches even the smallest leaves while letting rainwater pass through effortlessly. It is designed with an extra 4 feet of overlap, ensuring it can drape comfortably over the pool’s winter cover without slipping. The heavy-duty binding and reinforced grommets allow you to pull a massive load of wet leaves off the pool without tearing the net.

• Sizing: Sized according to pool dimensions; always buy a size that matches or slightly exceeds your main winter cover.
• Timing: Must be installed over the main cover before the autumn leaves begin to drop.
• Removal: Requires two people to lift and walk the loaded net off the pool once the trees are completely bare.

This is a massive time-saver for pool owners surrounded by deciduous trees. It is a redundant purchase for those with barren, open backyards with no nearby foliage.

How to Store Your Summer Pool Equipment Safely

Winterizing does not end at the pool edge; your summer equipment requires meticulous care to survive the off-season. Pumps, filters, and heaters must be completely drained of water, as any residual liquid will freeze and crack their internal manifolds. Remove all drain plugs from the pump housing, filter tank, and heater header, and store these small plugs in the pump basket so they do not get lost.

Salt cells and chemical feeders should be disconnected, cleaned of scale with a mild acid solution, and stored indoors. Leaving these sensitive electronic and plastic components exposed to freezing temperatures and damp weather accelerates wear and leads to premature failure. Store O-rings in a sealed bag with a light coat of silicone lubricant to keep them pliable for the spring.

Finally, roll up and store all cleaning hoses, vacuum heads, and pool toys in a dry, rodent-proof location. Mice love to chew on vinyl hoses and plastics during the winter, which can turn a perfectly good pool cleaner into trash by spring. A heavy-duty plastic storage bin keeps everything clean, dry, and ready for immediate deployment when warm weather returns.

Conclusion

Closing your inground pool with high-quality, task-specific gear is the single best investment you can make in your backyard recreation space. By systematically protecting your plumbing, skimmers, and pool surface, you ensure a stress-free spring opening that gets you back in the water without delay. Take the time to do it right this autumn, and enjoy peace of mind through every winter storm.