As we type this, we are heading rapidly through the autumn towards winter, with the associated changes in outdoor conditions. You might have already ceased using your own swimming pool at this time of year, and carried out certain “winterisation” measures, such as putting a winter cover on the pool and adding vital chemicals to the water. Indeed, while we’re on the subject of the water in your swimming pool, it is worth us addressing the question of whether you are supposed to leave the water in your pool over the winter, or instead drain it.

 If you have already done some research into this question online, you are likely to have come across advice indicating that some level of draining of the water in your pool is probably a sensible move for the winter period (presuming, of course, that you won’t be using the pool for swimming during this time). However, the exact answer to the question of whether you should be leaving water in your swimming pool, or instead take it out, will depend on certain other factors, such as the type of pool you have. So, as a leading online store for swimming pool supplies here at Pool Warehouse, we decided to take a look at this topic in greater detail.

 Taking all of the water out of your swimming pool for the winter may be a bad idea

 To give a quick answer to the question we posed above: although this won’t be the case for every single swimming pool, the chances are that it will be fine for you to leave some water in your pool for the colder months. There are various reasons why we give this advice. Firstly, it’s worth bearing in mind that water isn’t only useful to have in your pool when you are swimming in it. That’s because it can also act as a protective layer over the winter, helping to keep the pool liner clean and prevent it from being damaged by the likes of harsh weather and debris. By contrast, if you were to take every last drop of water out of your pool for the winter period, this could leave the pool liner vulnerable to drying out, shrinking, and cracking. Even if you were to place a winter cover on top of your empty pool, there could still be a risk of some debris getting into the pool and causing damage to the liner. And of course, this doesn’t even touch on the matter of how wasteful it is to get rid of all the water from your pool, only to have to refill it again once the spring rolls back around. For the sake of helping the environment and saving you some money too, it could be a good idea to keep your pool – if not quite full – at least full of water to a certain degree.

 So, how much water should be left in your pool when it is winterised? 

Again, we would emphasise that the exact situation can change from one swimming pool to the next, depending on certain factors like the specific type of pool. So, we would urge you to treat what we’re saying here as more general advice, rather than tips that will definitely apply to your own pool. Still, as a “rule of thumb”, if you are closing an in-ground pool for the winter (or a hard-sided above-ground pool), it will probably be a wise move to reduce the water level to just below the skimmers. This will mean that even if any additional water gets into the pool during the winter (the obvious source being rainfall), there will be minimal risk of the pool overflowing, but you will still get the aforementioned benefits of keeping water in your pool for the colder months. If the above applies to you, it is crucial not to reduce the water level too much, especially where the water table is high, as there could be a risk of structural damage being caused to the pool shell. 

On the other hand, your swimming pool might be an above-ground pool, in which case, a slightly different situation applies. It may be easier with this type of pool to simply empty it entirely and neatly pack it away for the winter, storing it in a dry place. This will help ensure no unwanted algae develop in the pool due to excess moisture.

 Make our store your number one destination for swimming pool supplies!

 Hopefully, all the above will have helped you feel more knowledgeable in relation to whether water should be left in your swimming pool over the winter. This, in turn, will assist your efforts to make more informed decisions on the winterisation of your pool for the months immediately ahead. This time of year, when you might not be so distracted and busy with actually using your pool, could be an excellent moment to browse an online store like Pool Warehouse.

Pick up some essential swimming pool supplies right now, during this relatively quiet time, and you can better help ensure you are well prepared for when brighter and drier conditions return. With orders of more than £100 for stock items (except pool covers) able to be delivered for free to UK mainland addresses (although we would advise you to consult our delivery page for the latest and most complete information), Pool Warehouse really can be your dependable, go-to source of swimming pool supplies.