10 Essential Picks for Winterizing Your Backyard Pool

Watching the autumn leaves begin to fall means the swimming season is drawing to a close, but the work of protecting your backyard investment is just beginning. Properly closing your pool is the difference between a seamless, crystal-clear opening next spring and a costly, exhausting battle against algae and cracked plumbing. Having the right tools on hand simplifies this seasonal transition and shields your pool from the harshest winter elements.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Why Proper Winterization Saves Your Pool Next Spring

Leaving a pool vulnerable to freezing temperatures and organic debris is a recipe for catastrophic damage. Water expands by about nine percent when it freezes, creating immense pressure that can easily crack PVC pipes, rupture filtration tanks, and tear vinyl liners. A hasty or incomplete winterization process turns a minor chore now into a multi-thousand-dollar repair bill when the ground thaws.

Beyond mechanical protection, a disciplined winter shutdown preserves water chemistry and prevents severe biological growth. Algae thrives in stagnant, uncovered water as soon as temperatures rise slightly in early spring, turning your pool into an expensive swamp. By sealing the plumbing lines, balancing the chemicals, and securing a reliable physical barrier, you ensure that reopening next year requires minimal effort and expense.

Safety Cover – Loop-Loc Super Dense Mesh Cover

A pool cover does more than keep leaves out of your water; it serves as a critical safety barrier for children, pets, and local wildlife during the dark winter months. Standard tarp-style covers can collect heavy pools of water, creating a drowning hazard and risking a structural collapse under snow loads. A tension-secured safety cover spans the pool like a trampoline, keeping weight off the water line and preventing accidental falls.

The Loop-Loc Super Dense Mesh Cover sets the gold standard for this category by blending reliable drainage with superior debris filtration. It blocks almost all sunlight, which is crucial for starving algae of the light it needs to grow, while still allowing rain and melting snow to drain through safely. Built with polyester bonding thread and double-perimeter webbing, this cover can support immense weight without ripping or sagging.

Installing this cover requires drilling brass anchors into your concrete or wood pool deck, meaning there is an initial setup process. You must measure your pool precisely to ensure the tension straps align correctly with your deck anchors.

• Material: Super dense polypropylene mesh
• Break strength: Exceeds ASTM safety standards
• Best for: In-ground pools with concrete or wood decking

This cover is the ultimate choice for homeowners seeking peace of mind regarding safety and a clean spring opening. It is not ideal for those with limited deck space or above-ground pools, which require different fastening mechanisms.

Cover Pump – Little Giant APCP-1700 Pool Pump

Water accumulating on top of a solid pool cover creates massive weight that can pull anchors loose and destroy the cover material. This stagnant pool also attracts pests and creates a dangerous drowning hazard right in your backyard. A reliable cover pump automatically evacuates this liquid weight, preserving the structural integrity of your pool cover throughout the wet winter months.

The Little Giant APCP-1700 Pool Pump is built specifically to handle this harsh environment without constant monitoring. It features an integrated mechanical float switch that automatically activates the pump when water reaches two inches and shuts off when it drops to 1.5 inches. Pumping up to 1,700 gallons per hour, its wide, stable base prevents tipping, while the built-in intake screen resists clogging from leaves and twigs.

This pump requires a continuous electrical connection, meaning you will need a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cord plugged into a GFCI outlet. Always clean the intake screen periodically, as heavy leaf fall can choke the flow despite the pump’s debris-resistant design.

• Flow Rate: 1,700 GPH at 0 feet of head
• Power Cord: 25 feet, grounded
• Discharge: Standard 3/4-inch garden hose connection

This is a must-have tool for anyone using a solid winter cover or managing water levels on a tarp cover. It is unnecessary for pool owners who use a fully self-draining, high-tension mesh cover.

Winter Chemical Kit – In The Swim Deluxe Kit

Closing a pool with balanced water is only half the battle; those chemicals degrade over the long winter months, leaving the water vulnerable. A dedicated winter chemical kit slowly releases sanitizer, controls algae growth, and prevents mineral staining while the filtration system is powered down. Without this sustained chemical defense, you face a cloudy, green mess come spring.

The In The Swim Deluxe Kit simplifies this process by bundling precisely matched chemicals into a single package. It includes a time-released winter chemical floater to continuously sanitize the water, a non-chlorine winter shock, a powerful algaecide, and a metal sequestrant to prevent copper and iron staining on pool surfaces. This combination ensures that the water remains clear and stable even when temperatures fluctuate.

To get the best results, you must run your pool pump for several hours after adding these chemicals to ensure complete dispersion before draining water below the skimmer line. Always choose a kit sized for your pool’s actual gallon capacity rather than guessing, as under-treating can lead to spring algae blooms.

• Treatment Capacity: Options for pools up to 10k, 20k, or 35k gallons
• Included Items: Chlorine-free shock, algaecide, stain away, and winterizing floater
• Compatibility: Safe for vinyl, plaster, and fiberglass pools

This kit is perfect for pool owners who want a straightforward, pre-measured chemical regimen that guarantees protection. It is less suitable for owners of extremely large custom pools who prefer tailoring individual bulk chemicals to precise laboratory-tested water parameters.

Pool Air Pillow – Robelle Ice Equalizer Pillow

When water freezes in an above-ground pool, it expands outward, exerting tremendous pressure on the steel walls and vinyl liner. An air pillow placed under the cover acts as an ice equalizer, compressing under the weight of the ice to absorb the expansion forces. By redirecting the pressure inward toward the pillow rather than outward toward the pool structure, it prevents catastrophic wall blowouts.

The Robelle Ice Equalizer Pillow is engineered to withstand the extreme squeezing forces of solid ice sheets. Made from heavy-duty, puncture-resistant vinyl, it features reinforced seams that prevent the air from escaping under high pressure. Its reliable air valve is designed to stay sealed even when temperatures plummet well below freezing.

A common mistake is inflating the pillow to its maximum capacity, which causes it to pop under pressure; instead, inflate it to only about 60 to 80 percent of its capacity. You will need to tie ropes to the pillow’s corner grommets to center it in the pool before pulling the cover over it.

• Material: Heavy-duty, cold-resistant vinyl
• Sizing: Available in 4’x4′, 4’x8′, and 4’x15′ dimensions
• Attachment: Reinforced corner grommets

This is an essential insurance policy for any above-ground pool owner living in cold climates where hard freezes are common. It is not necessary for in-ground pools where the surrounding earth supports the pool walls against freezing water.

Expansion Plug – Swimline Winterizing Plug

Even after you blow the water out of your pool lines, any residual moisture or incoming rainwater can seep back in and freeze. Standard threaded caps can leak over time, allowing water to enter the pipes where it will expand and crack the underground PVC plumbing. Expansion plugs provide a watertight, pressurized seal inside the pipe openings, keeping the lines dry and protected all winter.

The Swimline Winterizing Plug features premium-grade rubber that remains flexible in sub-zero temperatures, ensuring a tight seal despite freezing and thawing cycles. The non-corrosive stainless steel bolt and wingnut assembly allows you to tighten the plug easily by hand, expanding the rubber sleeve to fit the exact contours of the pipe. This simple, mechanical design prevents slipping or air leaks under pressure.

You must verify your pipe diameters before purchasing, as return jets are typically 1.5 inches while cleaner lines or drains may require different sizes. Lubricating the rubber slightly with silicone-based pool lube can make insertion easier and improve the seal, but never use petroleum-based lubricants which degrade rubber.

• Material: Industrial-grade rubber with stainless steel hardware
• Size Options: Range from #1 (0.75″) to #12 (2″)
• Corrosion Resistance: Saltwater and chemical resistant

This plug is a reliable choice for any pool owner seeking to secure their return lines, main drains, and cleaner lines. It is not ideal for threaded pipe outlets that are specifically designed for O-ring sealed threaded winter plugs.

Skimmer Guard – Gizzmo Ultra Skimmer Bottle

The pool skimmer is one of the most vulnerable components during winter because water naturally collects inside its narrow plastic housing. If this water freezes, the outward pressure will easily crack the skimmer wall, requiring a destructive and expensive excavation of the pool deck to replace it. A skimmer guard acts as a sacrificial compression chamber, collapsing under ice pressure to save the skimmer itself.

The Gizzmo Ultra Skimmer Bottle is a rugged, hollow plastic tube designed to screw directly into the threaded hole at the bottom of the skimmer. The Ultra model is specifically built to handle high-volume skimmers and features a built-in blow-through tube, allowing you to clear the plumbing lines with air without removing the guard. Its thick plastic walls are engineered to compress without rupturing, absorbing the devastating expansion of freezing ice.

Always wrap the threads of the Gizzmo with Teflon tape before screwing it in to ensure a watertight seal and prevent it from binding in the threads. Make sure to choose the correct model size, as standard skimmers use a 1.5-inch thread, while heavy-duty commercial or modern residential lines may require a 2-inch thread.

• Thread Sizes: 1.5-inch or 2-inch tapered threads
• Length: 16 inches for deep skimmers
• Feature: Integrated blowout channel

This is the industry-standard choice for in-ground pools located in freezing climates where the pool water level is kept near or below the skimmer mouth. It is redundant if you use a faceplate-blocking cover system that keeps water out of the skimmer entirely.

Pool Antifreeze – Splash Pool RV Antifreeze

Even after using air to blow out your pool’s underground plumbing, small pockets of water can settle in low-lying elbows and pipes. If this residual water freezes, it can easily burst the PVC pipe joints buried deep beneath your yard. Adding specialized pool antifreeze to these cleared lines acts as a secondary shield, preventing any remaining water from freezing solid.

The Splash Pool RV Antifreeze is formulated with high-purity, non-toxic propylene glycol, making it completely safe for both pool equipment and the environment. Unlike automotive alternatives, this formula will not damage vinyl pool liners, degrade plastic PVC pipes, or leave toxic chemical residues that could harm swimmers next spring. It remains fluid at temperatures as low as -50°F, providing a generous safety margin during extreme cold snaps.

You must pour this antifreeze directly into the lines after they have been blown out and plugged, using a funnel to guide the liquid into the skimmer or return openings. Keep in mind that pool antifreeze is designed to protect pipes, but it should never be added directly to the open pool water, as it is meant to remain concentrated inside the closed plumbing system.

• Chemical Base: Non-toxic propylene glycol
• Temperature Rating: Safe down to -50 degrees Fahrenheit
• Safety: Eco-friendly and safe for municipal water discharge

This product is highly recommended for in-ground pool owners in northern regions where the ground freezes solid for months. It is not necessary for pool owners in southern climates where winter temperatures rarely drop below freezing.

Leaf Net Cover – Blue Wave In-Ground Net Cover

Decaying leaves on top of a winter cover quickly rot into a heavy, acidic sludge that is incredibly messy to clean up in the spring. If you have a safety cover or a solid tarp, this wet organic matter can clog drainage paths or weigh down the fabric, making opening day a nightmare. A leaf net cover sits on top of your primary cover to catch falling leaves, allowing you to peel them off in one swift motion before winter sets in.

The Blue Wave In-Ground Net Cover is constructed from exceptionally durable, UV-resistant polyethylene mesh that handles the weight of wet leaves without tearing. It features a generous four-foot overlap, ensuring complete coverage over the edges of your pool and preventing wind from blowing debris underneath. The lightweight design allows two people to easily slide the leaf-laden net off the pool without spilling debris back into the water.

This net is meant to be used specifically during the autumn leaf-fall period and must be removed before the first heavy snowfall. Leaving a leaf net on all winter under a heavy snow load can cause the mesh to freeze to your main cover, making it impossible to remove and potentially damaging both covers.

• Material: Woven polyethylene mesh
• Overlap: 4 feet of extra material beyond pool size
• Fasteners: Includes heavy-duty loops for water tubes or weights

This is a game-changing tool for pool owners surrounded by deciduous trees like oaks or maples who dread the autumn cleanup. It is not necessary for pools in open desert areas or landscapes dominated by evergreen trees that do not shed leaves all at once.

Line Blowout Pump – Cyclone Pro Line Blower

Water trapped in underground plumbing lines will inevitably freeze, expand, and rupture your pipes, leading to underground leaks that are incredibly costly to locate and repair. A standard shop vacuum often lacks the continuous backpressure required to push water out of deep plumbing lines, particularly from the main drain at the bottom of the pool. A dedicated line blowout blower delivers the high-volume, low-pressure air needed to completely purge the entire plumbing system.

The Cyclone Pro Line Blower is the undisputed champion for this task, powered by a robust 3-horsepower bypass motor that handles extreme backpressure without overheating. Its durable, impact-resistant plastic casing protects the motor from accidental drops on pool decks, and the built-in thermal protection keeps the unit safe during prolonged use. This professional-grade machine creates a massive volume of air, making it easy to clear multiple lines simultaneously.

Operating this blower requires a solid understanding of your pool’s valve plumbing layout to ensure you blow out each line systematically from the equipment pad. The high-draw motor requires a dedicated 15-amp or 20-amp circuit to prevent tripping household breakers during startup.

• Motor Power: 3.0 HP bypass motor
• Airflow: 130 CFM at open flow
• Hose Connection: Quick-disconnect fittings included

This is an essential investment for any in-ground pool owner who wants to take full control of their winterization process and save on annual professional closing fees. It is overkill for above-ground pool owners, who can simply drain their short, accessible hoses.

Skimmer Cover – Aquador Skimmer Closure System

Draining your pool water below the skimmer mouth for winter can put unnecessary stress on your pool liner, causing it to dry out, shrink, or shift. A skimmer faceplate cover seals the skimmer opening from the pool side, allowing you to keep your water level high while keeping the skimmer dry. This simple barrier eliminates the need to drain thousands of gallons of water and helps maintain hydrostatic balance in the pool.

The Aquador Skimmer Closure System uses a patented snap-on plastic lid that creates a completely watertight seal over the skimmer mouth. To use it, you replace your existing skimmer faceplate with the Aquador faceplate during your next liner change or pool opening, which then allows you to simply snap the winter cover on in seconds every autumn. Made from heavy-duty, UV-stabilized plastic, the lid resists cracking and remains pliable in freezing temperatures.

You must match the Aquador model precisely to your specific skimmer brand and model (such as Hayward or Hydrotools) to ensure the screw holes align perfectly during the initial faceplate installation. Always store the plastic snap-on lid in a climate-controlled area during the summer to prevent warping or sun damage when it is not in use.

• Compatibility: Models available for Hayward 1091, 1084, and standard wide-mouth skimmers
• Material: UV-resistant plastic
• Seal Type: Molded snap-on gasket

This system is highly recommended for above-ground and vinyl-liner in-ground pool owners who want to avoid draining water below the skimmer level. It is not suitable for pools with concrete, plaster, or tile skimmers that do not utilize screw-on faceplates.

How to Monitor Your Pool Throughout the Off-Season

Winterizing your pool is not a “set-it-and-forget-it” task; ongoing monitoring is essential to prevent costly surprises when spring arrives. You should inspect your pool cover at least once a month, especially after major windstorms or heavy winter precipitation, to ensure all anchors remain secure and tension straps are intact. Check that the cover is not sagging into the water, which can indicate a drop in the pool’s water level due to a hidden leak.

Water level management under the cover is critical, as a slow leak can leave your cover unsupported and cause a structural collapse under snow loads. For pools utilizing solid covers, ensure your cover pump is free of ice and operating correctly to drain accumulated water. Additionally, peek under the cover during mid-winter thaws to verify that your water level remains at the recommended winter height, which is typically just below the skimmer.

Finally, keep an eye on water chemistry if you experience unseasonably warm winter thaws. If the outdoor temperature rises above 60 degrees Fahrenheit for several consecutive days, algae can begin to grow even under a cover. Adding a small dose of liquid chlorine or winter algaecide directly under the edge of the cover during these warm spells will keep the water clear and save you from a major cleanup effort in the spring.

Taking the time to winterize your pool with the right gear protects your investment and ensures a stress-free spring. By selecting durable, purpose-built tools, you can confidently face the coldest months of the year. When the warm weather returns, your clean, damage-free pool will be ready for another season of fun on the water.