If you already know your above ground pool is getting a new liner next spring, it’s tempting to skip closing the pool this fall, or even drain it now. Don’t. Close the pool as usual, with the water in. You can go lighter on a few steps, but the ones that protect the wall, plumbing and equipment still matter. Here’s what to do, what to skip, and how to get ready for liner day.

Step 1
Why not just drain it now?

An above ground pool is built to hold water, and the water holds the pool in shape. Empty it for the winter and:

• The wall and frame lose support, and winter wind and snow can push on an empty wall.
• Cold makes vinyl brittle, so the old liner can crack and shrink.
• Ground water from rain and snowmelt can lift the floor and wash out the base, which means more repair work before the new liner goes in.

The right time to drain is the day the new liner goes in. Read more in How Long Can You Leave a Pool Empty?

Step 2
Steps you can’t skip

Your pump, filter, hoses, skimmer and return are usually reused with the new liner, so protect them like any other winter.

1. Lower the water below the return, but don’t drain it.
2. Blow out the lines with a shop vac and plug the return and skimmer so water can’t freeze inside them. Add pool or RV antifreeze where your lines need it.
3. Drain the pump and filter and store them indoors if you can.
4. Float an air pillow under the cover to take pressure off the wall.
5. Cover the pool with a solid winter cover, snugged down all the way around.

Full steps are in Winterizing an Above Ground Pool in New England.

Step 3
Where you can save

Since the water will be drained in the spring, you don’t need to fine-tune it now:

• Skip the deep clean. A quick skim to get the leaves out is enough.
• Keep the chemicals simple. A basic winterizing kit is plenty. No need to chase perfect balance.
• Don’t patch the old liner unless it’s losing a lot of water before you close.

Step 4
Measure and photograph before you close

Fall, with the water still clear, is the easiest time to gather what we need for your new liner:

• Measure the pool and note the wall height. Use our liner measurement worksheet.
• Check how your liner attaches: overlap, beaded, J-Hook or Uni-Bead. See 6 Pool Liner Attachments for Above Ground Pools.
• Take photos of the liner, the top of the wall, the uprights and any rust, and send them with your estimate request.

If the photos show a rusted-through wall or rotted frame, a new liner may not be the right fix. See 7 Signs Your Above Ground Pool Liner Needs Replacing and Pool Replacement.

Step 5
Over the winter

• Pump water and snowmelt off the cover with a cover pump, so the weight doesn’t pull on the wall.
• Check the water level now and then. An old liner may keep leaking. If the water drops a lot, let us know when you book.
• Book your liner early. The spring schedule fills fast. See Why Winter Is the Best Time to Book a Liner Replacement.

Step 6
In the spring

Don’t open the pool or buy opening chemicals. On install day, the old water is drained, the old liner comes out, the base is repaired, and the new liner goes in and starts filling, all in one day. Once it’s full, you open the pool with fresh water. See Pool Liner Replacement Day and 5 Successful Steps to a Perfect Pool Liner Replacement.