The arrival of winter is the start of winterizing for outdoor pools. Should the water level in a swimming pool be lowered? The answer is yes.

Why Lower the Water Level in a Pool?

During winter, if the outside temperatures are cold, the water can turn into ice. And, it’s a scientific fact that ice takes up more space than water.

Result: by applying pressure through its larger volume, ice will damage all the walls of the pool as well as its coating, and the piping, the filter circuit, etc.

To avoid any damage due to ice, it is advisable to empty the pipes of the swimming pool filtration system before winterizing the pool and to lower the water level in the pool to just under the skimmers. Therefore, the water will be drained from the filter system and pump. There is now no risk of freezing the pipes.

By How Much Should the Water Level Be Lowered

It is advisable to lower the water level just before or after a shock treatment with chlorine, and after having thoroughly cleaned the walls and the entire pool.

Lower the water level to about 15 centimeters or 6 inches below the outlet jets and the skimmers. Remember that winter rains can raise the water level. So don’t hesitate to lower it further. It is advisable to keep the water at the correct level throughout the winter.

After lowering the water level, you must drain all the pipes of the filtration system so that no water remains in these pipes.

Note: these recommendations are not applicable for swimming pools that have a rigid submerged cover. However, the water level should also be monitored so that the shutter is not driven higher than normal.