When temperatures dip to +10 C, you must take down any soft sided pools you have in use.
A soft sided pool is a general term for any above ground swimming pools with an exposed liner. They typically have a steel or PVC frame, and don’t require any permanent changes to your backyard to set up. Popular soft sided above ground pool brands include Bestway, INTEX, Summer Waves, Blue Wave, Funsicle, Sunneday, and JLeisure.
Even with a steel or PVC frame, your soft sided above ground pool is not intended to be left up during Winter and will be ruined by next Spring. Snow, ice, frost and cold temperatures will damage your soft sided pool regardless of brand. Leaving these pools up during the winter causes mold, brittleness, massive liner rips, and frame buckling that will ruin your pool and won't be covered by a manufacturer's warranty. Furthermore, if your soft sided pool is damaged over the Winter, any water left in the pool could leak out - flooding your backyard, and potentially your home!
However, there's no need to worry about a difficult Winterization process. Soft sided pools are designed for simple disassembly. In this guide, we'll go over the key steps to follow and other details you need to know when taking down a soft sided pool.
You will need to look at the owner's manual for your specific model.
Likely, you'll rely on a garden hose and a drainage valve. Most models (Bestway, Intex, etc.) of soft sided pools have a drain valve on the outside of the pool. You will need to remove the drain valve cap and attach your drain hose to the valve. Once the water is drained, put the drain valve cap back.
Important: Make sure the water will not drain into your basement.
Troubleshooting: If your drain valve is too high, deflate the top ring to discharge additional water or use a drain pump.
Remove all accessories from your pool. This includes the filter pump, chlorinator or ChemConnect dispenser, and anything else you may have added to your pool.
Clean your equipment and accessories and store them in a cool, dry place. Follow any individual item requirements.
Make sure the treated water is drained from your liner.
Before storing a soft sided pool, you need to wash the liner. Use a mild soap and water solution to remove dirt and residue. After cleaning and draining your liner, sprinkle it with talcum powder. The talcum powder will prevent sticking.
Make sure the liner is fully dry before folding it to prevent mold. Keep the liner in a cool, dry place between +5 C and +38 C.
Important: When air drying your pool do not leave it empty overnight. Leaving the drained pool outside for an extended period of time can damage your liner. This is crucial regardless of brand, whether you have an Intex, Bestway, or other pool.
Troubleshooting: If the liner sticks to the top rails during disassembly, use talcum powder and a wooden stick to help it come free. To prevent this in the future, apply talcum powder to the top rails before installation.
It's always easier to store your soft sided above ground pool properly than it is to deal with Winter damage. If you have additional queries check out our How-To Guides covering a wide range of information about taking care of your pool. If you have a solid above ground pool (the liner is not exposed) read The Ultimate Above Ground Pool Closing Checklist.
When it's time to set your pool up again, check out Pool Supplies Canada for all your chemical needs and Canada-wide free shipping on orders over $150.
Enter your postal code to check your area.
Read Our 8,000+ Verified Reviews