Steps In Above Ground Pool When Winterizing

by Phil
(New Jersey)

I have wedding cake type steps in my above ground pool. They are quite large and I was wondering if I can leave them in for the winter without causing damage to the pool?

I will still put a cover on with clips and use the right chemicals. I just don't know about leaving the steps in.

PLEASE help me out.

Thank you for your time. I can be emailed at phil at lighthouseapartment.com




Hi Phil. I would leave the steps in. Removing and reinstalling wedding cake steps could easily damage the liner; it is not worth the risk. There is nothing wrong with leaving them in for the winter.

The only thing would be working around the hand rail. If that poses a real problem it might be best to take them out, very carefully.

You are right to use the pool cover and be sure and not let the water sit in your skimmer over the winter. Freezing water in a skimmer can cause some pretty serious pool damage. You either need to lower the water below the skimmer or get a skimmer guard. The skimmer guard is preferable, but either way works.

Skimmer Guard