Winterizing Above Ground Pool

(White Marsh)

I have a 21 foot round above ground pool w/ deck around it and Pentair clean & clear plus filter attached by PVC piping, not flexible hose - piping runs from skimmer to flexible PVC pipe to pump to PVC piping to filter to flexible PVC hose to PVC pipe to return, Do I need to add anti-freeze to the pipes? I am in Maryland.



Hi. Ideally you should have shut off valves near the skimmer and return. That would allow you to disconnect the filter and bring it into storage for the winter. The next best thing would be to block the water from inside the skimmer and return and then drain the filter system so that it can sit empty of water.

Another option would be to ask around your town, pool stores and neighbors, and see what they recommend. Most of my life has been spent in climates where we do not freeze, so I don't have first hand knowledge, just what I have read.

My brother in law in New York tops the pool off with water, blocks the skimmer and return, removes the filter equipment and covers the pool for the winter. This is also the most common procedure I have read about in the online pool forums.