Why a Skimmer Winterizing Plate and Return Plug are Essential

Preventing Ice Damage in Above Ground Pools

Above ground pools are built to handle harsh winter climates as long as they are winterized properly before freezing temperatures arrive. Many above ground pool owners assume damaged pools are the result of defective parts, when in reality, the cause is almost always improper winterization. When water is able to leave the inside of the pool and enter the skimmer and return fitting during freezing temperatures, freezing can cause ice expansion that places enormous stress on the pool wall. This expansion can lead to serious structural damage. This is why a skimmer winterizing plate and return plug are completely vital for protecting a pool through the winter months. A skimmer winterizing plate and a return plug are affordable and easy to install inside of the pool on the skimmer and return openings. These steps are critical for preventing ice damage.

Important Note: Installing the skimmer winterizing plate and winterizing return plug are the most crucial steps in winterizing an above ground pool. These components MUST be installed from the inside of the pool.

Understanding the Risks of Improper Winterization

When a skimmer winterizing plate and return plug are not installed, water enters the skimmer body and return fitting. If freezing temperatures occur, water can begin to freeze inside of the skimmer or return fitting. This ice can continue forming and eventually create one solid block of ice that connects from the inside of the pool and into the skimmer and return. Movement of this ice or ice expansion can lead to structural damage of the pool wall or pool components. Here’s how it happens: The temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, and water freezes inside the pool and inside the skimmer and return fitting (if a winter plate and plug were not used). This ice becomes connected as one solid mass. It can then expand and cause catastrophic damage to the pool wall. Additionally, the added weight of rain or snow on the winter cover can cause the entire block of ice to shift, damaging the pool beyond repair. An inexpensive skimmer winterizing plate and return plug can prevent both scenarios.

Installing a skimmer winterizing plate and a return plug is crucial for homeowners living in areas where freezing temperatures can possibly occur. This type of damage is the result of improper winterization, not low-quality pool components or materials:

Here is a link to purchase a Skimmer Winterizing Plate for your pool:

• https://www.thepoolfactory.com/collections/pool-closing-plate

Here is a link to purchase a Threaded Winterizing Plug for your pool:

• https://www.thepoolfactory.com/collections/pool-closing-plug

Installing a Skimmer Winterizing Plate is Simple

Most homeowners complete this installation in less than ten minutes with only a screwdriver.

What You'll Need:

• Phillips head screwdriver
• The skimmer winterizing plate and gasket
• The longer skimmer winterizing screws (included with Skimmer Winterizing Plate)

Viewing the Skimmer Winterizing Plate instructional video below makes the process immediately clear:

Helpful Guide to Install a Skimmer Winterizing Plate:

Helpful Guide to Install a Threaded Winterizing Plug:

Other Critical Winterizing Steps

To avoid water entering the skimmer or return throughout the winter, many homeowners believe that lowering the water level in their pool will solve their problem. This can also create unnecessary risk. Rain or snow weight on the winter cover can push the water up into the skimmer and return fitting, which can then freeze and cause damage. Also, when the water level is dropped too far, the winter cover is no longer supported from beneath. As snow and rainwater accumulate on top of the cover, added weight can pull the cover downward into the empty space. This pulls and creates tension on the pool wall. To ease the tension placed on the pool wall even further, use a cover pump to pump the excess water off the cover. Additionally, always make sure the cable used to secure the winter cover to the pool is not pulled too tight.

Another essential winterizing item worth mentioning is an Air Pillow, also known as an ice compensator. Air pillows help protect the pool from ice damage during freezing winter conditions.

Click here for more information: How To Winterize Your Swimming Pool With an Air Pillow

Ice Damage is Preventable

Ice damage to an above ground pool is preventable. The Pool Factory’s above ground pools are designed to last throughout tough winters when winterized properly. Although it is a very simple, inexpensive process, installing the skimmer winterizing plate and winterizing return plug are the most critical steps in winterizing a pool. They are always installed into the fitting from the inside of the pool (water side). When these openings are properly sealed, water cannot pass through the pool wall into the skimmer or return, eliminating the conditions that allow damaging ice to form. Taking these small and affordable steps can prevent irreparable damage that is not covered by above ground pool manufacturers' warranties.

Key Takeaways: Preventing Ice Damage in Above Ground Pools

• Ice damage is caused by improper winterization, not by defective pool parts.
• When water freezes inside the skimmer or return, it can form one solid mass of ice connected to the ice in the pool.
• Expansion or shifting of this ice places extreme stress on the pool wall, which can lead to structural damage.
• A skimmer winterizing plate and a threaded return plug prevent water from ever reaching these areas during the months that freezing temperatures occur.
• Both components must be installed from the INSIDE of the pool (water side).
• Installation is very simple and only requires the use of a screwdriver.
• Lowering the water level can create additional risks and is not recommended.
• Using a cover pump and an air pillow further reduces winter stress on the pool.
• Ice damage is preventable when proper winterizing steps are followed.
• Manufacturers' warranties do not cover damage caused by ice.