How to Close an Inflatable or Intex Pool for the Season The Right Way

Reviewed by a Certified Pool Technician (CPT)

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The Short Answer

To close an inflatable or Intex pool properly, clean it, balance the water chemistry, disconnect all equipment, and either cover or fully drain it based on your winter climate. The key threshold: below 41°F (5°C). If your winter temperatures regularly drop below that, drain, disassemble, and store your pool completely. Freezing water inside the liner, hoses, or pump can cause irreparable damage. For mild winters that stay above freezing, covering the pool with balanced chemistry is sufficient.

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The convenience of an inflatable or Intex pool is real: lightweight, easy to set up, and easy to move. But closing it for winter is the step that determines whether you open a perfectly usable pool next spring or deal with a cracked pump housing, a bleached or cracked liner, and waterlogged equipment that didn't make it through a freeze.

This guide covers both scenarios clearly: cold climate (full teardown) and mild climate (cover and balance) plus the questions that get pool owners in trouble: whether to fully drain, how to protect the pump and filter, what ruins liners in storage, and when to replace the filter cartridge before you put everything away.

Should You Drain an Intex Pool Completely for Winter?

The answer depends entirely on your expected winter temperatures, specifically nighttime lows.

Drain completely and disassemble if: Your area regularly sees temperatures below 41°F (5°C). Water expands when it freezes approximately 9% in volume. Ice inside the pool liner, pump housing, filter canister, or plumbing fittings will damage or destroy those components. There is no chemical treatment, cover, or insulation that adequately substitutes for draining when hard freezes are expected.

Cover without draining if: Your winter stays consistently above 41°F (5°C). In this case, balancing chemistry and using a tight-fitting cover is adequate. Some warm-climate pool owners leave their pools open year-round with regular maintenance.

The marginal zone: If your winter has occasional cold snaps a few nights below freezing surrounded by weeks of mild weather the safer choice is still to drain and disassemble. A single hard freeze is enough to crack a pump housing or split the seam on an inflatable liner.

Per manufacturer guidance for Intex pools: the brand recommends complete drainage and disassembly when nighttime temperatures are expected to fall to or below freezing, and specifically advises against operating the pump or filter in freezing conditions.

How to Close Your Inflatable or Intex Pool for a Cold Winter: In Eight Steps

⚠️ Draining Safety Note: Before draining your pool, check with your local water authority about regulations for draining chemically treated water. Many jurisdictions require that pool water test at or near neutral chlorine levels before draining, and some require water to be directed to a sanitary sewer rather than storm drains or onto landscaping. Never drain toward your home's foundation. Fines for improper discharge vary by municipality but can be significant.

Step 1: Clean Debris Before Draining

Skim all surface debris with a net and vacuum the bottom and sides before pulling the drain plug. This prevents debris from clogging the drain line during draining, a clog that can send water backing up or shooting in the wrong direction. A few extra minutes of cleaning before you drain saves a much bigger mess.

Step 2: Disconnect All Power Sources

Before touching any plumbing, electrical, or drainage connections: disconnect the pump, filter, and any other electrical equipment from power completely. This is non-negotiable mixing water movement with live electrical connections creates a shock hazard.

Remove and store accessories (ladder, skimmer, attachments) in a dry, protected location.

Step 3: Drain the Pool with a Plan

Know where the water is going before you open the valve. Confirm your local drainage regulations (see note above). Make sure the draining path avoids your foundation, any neighboring structures, and storm drains unless your municipality permits it.

Use the drain connector included with your Intex pool, attach a garden hose to direct water away from your property, and connect to the drain valve. The drain takes several hours stay nearby and check periodically to ensure the water is flowing where you intend.

Once the water level drops too low to reach the drain naturally, lift the side of the pool to direct remaining water toward the valve.

Step 4: Clean the Pool Walls

Once drained, wipe the liner walls with a soft cloth and a mild all-purpose cleaner. Rinse thoroughly. This removes sunscreen, body oils, mineral deposits, and algae residue that can stain or degrade the liner during storage. Don't use abrasive cleaners or stiff brushes; inflatable and Intex liners are not designed to handle abrasive contact.

Step 5: Disassemble the Frame (If Applicable)

For Intex metal-frame or prism-frame pools: consult your owner's manual for the correct disassembly sequence. Clean and dry all frame pieces thoroughly before storage. Moisture on metal frame components can cause corrosion and create issues during reassembly.

Step 6: Dry the Liner Completely

This is one of the most important steps and one of the most commonly rushed. A liner stored with any residual moisture will develop mold, mildew, and potentially permanent odor damage. Allow the liner to air dry in a shaded area (not direct sun, which can dry and crack it unevenly). Once dry, sprinkle talcum powder or cornstarch lightly across the liner before folding this absorbs any remaining moisture and prevents the liner from sticking to itself.

Per Intex manufacturer storage recommendation: Store the liner in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight and extreme temperature fluctuations. Avoid storage in areas that experience freezing temperatures, as a partially damp liner can still be damaged by cold.

Step 7: Fold and Store the Liner Correctly

Fold with a partner it's much easier to keep the liner clean and wrinkle-free with two people. Fold in half lengthwise, then fold each side inward toward the center, and then fold the long ends to meet in the middle until you have a compact, manageable package. Fit it back into its original packaging if you have it; a large plastic storage container with a lid works well if you don't.

Step 8: Store All Equipment Indoors

Pump, filter, filter cartridge, hoses, and all accessories should be stored indoors not in an unheated shed or garage in a climate that freezes. Any water remaining inside a pump housing, filter canister, or hose can freeze and expand, cracking the housing. Let all equipment air-dry completely before boxing it up. See the filter cartridge section below before making the decision to store or replace.

How to Close Your Inflatable or Intex Pool for a Mild Winter: In Seven Steps

Step 1: Inspect the Inflation

Check all inflatable chambers for proper inflation before closing. Soft or partially deflated chambers allow the pool walls to flex under cover weight or weather stress, which can cause stress cracks at the seams over months of non-use.

Step 2: Clean the Pool Thoroughly

Skim surface debris, vacuum the walls and floor, and brush all surfaces. Remove organic matter before adding closing chemicals, every leaf, insect, or body of algae left in the water will consume your closing chemical treatment and reduce its longevity.

Step 3: Balance the Water Chemistry

Target ranges for winter closing chemistry:

Balance alkalinity first, then pH, then chlorine. Properly balanced water resists algae growth and prevents the corrosive conditions that can degrade an inflatable liner over months of cover storage.

Step 4: Shock and Add Algaecide

Shock the pool at dusk at a standard maintenance dose. The shock treatment provides a sanitizer bank that will last through the first weeks of closed storage. After the shock has worked and chlorine levels are back in the 1–3 ppm range, add algaecide per treatment label dosing. This provides a preventive barrier against algae establishing during the closed period.

Step 5: Disconnect and Store the Pump and Filter

Even in mild climates, the pump and filter should be disconnected, drained, dried, and stored indoors for the winter. Cold nights, even those above freezing, can cause condensation and slow corrosion inside pump housings and filter media. See the section below on freeze protection for equipment.

Step 6: Install the Winter Cover

Place a pool pillow (an inflated air pillow) in the center of the pool before covering. The pillow supports the center of the cover against the weight of rainwater or wet debris, preventing the cover from sagging and being pulled into the pool by accumulated weight. Secure the cover tightly.

Monitor the cover periodically through winter. A cover pump keeps standing water off the cover surface, preventing weight accumulation and the debris load that comes with pooling water. Browse our cover pump collection for submersible options designed for this purpose.

Step 7: Perform Periodic Winter Checks

On mild days (above 65°F), test the water chemistry through an access point in the cover. Chlorine depletes over weeks even in closed, cold water if levels fall below 1 ppm, open briefly to add maintenance chlorine before re-covering.

How to Protect Your Pool Pump and Filter from Freeze Damage

In cold climates: drain every drop of water from the pump housing, filter canister, and hose connections before storage. Any water remaining in these components will freeze and can split the housing or crack the filter canister. Use compressed air to blow residual water out of hoses if needed.

In mild climates: even if you're not draining the pool, bring the pump and filter indoors. Outdoor storage even in a shed exposes them to temperature cycles that cause condensation and corrosion. A pump stored in a dry indoor location arrives at pool opening in much better condition than one that spent winter outdoors.

Signs freeze damage occurred: pump housing is cracked or split; filter canister has visible fractures; pump won't prime properly when reopened due to air gaps from cracked fittings. Any of these means the component needs replacement before the next season.

For guidance on what to check when reopening the pool next spring, see how to run your pool pump efficiently.

Common Mistakes That Ruin Inflatable Pool Liners During Storage

Folding a damp liner. The most common cause of mold, mildew, and off-season damage. The liner must be completely dry, not just surface-dry, but fully air-dried in a shaded area before folding and storage.

Skipping talcum powder or cornstarch. Without a moisture-absorbing layer between folds, any residual humidity in the storage environment can cause the liner to stick to itself at fold lines. Over months, this creates crease damage that won't flex back properly.

Storing in a garage that freezes. A damp liner stored in an unheated space that drops below freezing can sustain cold damage even if the liner itself doesn't hold water. Store in an environment that stays consistently above freezing.

Storing near lawn chemicals, fertilizers, or petroleum products. Inflatable PVC liners are vulnerable to off-gassing damage from chemicals stored nearby. Keep them in a clean, dry area away from chemical storage.

Folding under direct sun. Folding a PVC liner in direct sunlight concentrates heat at fold lines and accelerates brittleness. Always fold in shade.

Not inspecting before storage. Any small puncture or seam stress that goes unaddressed before storage will have months to spread. A quick visual inspection and patch before putting the liner away is far easier than opening day repairs.

When Should You Replace Your Filter Cartridge Before Closing the Pool?

The end of the season is the right time to evaluate whether your filter cartridge has another year of service life not the beginning of next season when you've already committed to opening.

Replace the filter cartridge before storage if:

• The cartridge has visible tears, holes, or degraded filter media

• It has been used for a full season and doesn't clean to a white color after rinsing

• It has visible algae staining that doesn't wash out (this indicates the media has degraded and harbors biofilm)

• The filter has been used to filter through an algae treatment algae-loaded media is rarely fully cleaned by rinsing alone

You can store and reuse if:

• The cartridge is less than one season old

• It rinses clean and the media is intact and structurally sound

• There's no staining or odor after cleaning

When in doubt, replace. A filter cartridge costs $10–$30 depending on your Intex model size. Starting next season with fresh media means peak filtration efficiency from the first day. For sand filter owners: follow your sand filter's backwash and storage procedure see how to backwash your pool filter the easy way for guidance.

Do You Need a Pool Cover Pump for Winter Maintenance?

For mild-climate pool owners leaving the pool covered: yes, a cover pump makes a meaningful difference.

Rain and snowmelt accumulate on top of the pool cover through winter. Left unmanaged, this standing water creates several problems:

• The weight of accumulated water can collapse the cover into the pool, bringing all that debris with it

• Standing water on a cover breeds mosquitoes and attracts wildlife

• A heavily loaded cover is harder to remove cleanly at pool opening

A submersible automatic cover pump turns on when water exceeds a set level and pumps it away from the cover without any manual effort. Browse our cover pump collection for options rated for the water volume your pool cover area can accumulate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to drain an Intex pool for winter?

If temperatures in your area regularly fall below 41°F (5°C), yes, drain completely and disassemble. Freezing water inside the liner, pump housing, or filter will damage those components. In areas that stay above freezing, covering with balanced chemistry is sufficient.

How do I protect my Intex pool pump from freezing?

Disconnect the pump from power, drain all water from the housing, let it air-dry completely, and store it indoors in a space that won't freeze. Any water remaining inside a pump housing can freeze and crack the casing.

Can I leave an Intex pool up all winter?

Only in climates where temperatures never fall below 41°F (5°C). In cold climates, leaving an inflatable or Intex pool up risks liner damage, pump damage, and hose damage from ice expansion.

How do I fold an Intex pool liner for storage?

Let the liner dry completely first. Sprinkle talcum powder or cornstarch across the surface. Fold in half lengthwise, then fold each side inward toward the center, then fold the long ends to meet in the middle into a compact package. Store in the original box or a large sealed storage container in a dry, non-freezing location.

When should I replace my Intex filter cartridge?

At the end of every season, inspect the cartridge after rinsing. Replace if you see tears, degraded media, persistent staining from algae, or if the cartridge has already completed a full season of use. Starting each season with a new cartridge delivers better filtration from day one.

Do I need a pool cover pump?

For mild-climate pools left covered through winter, a cover pump is strongly recommended. It prevents heavy water accumulation on the cover that can collapse it into the pool, bringing debris and extra cleanup into your spring opening.

What is the correct closing chemistry for a mild-winter Intex pool?

Target pH 7.4–7.6, total alkalinity 80–120 ppm, free chlorine 1–3 ppm, and calcium hardness 175–250 ppm for inflatable liners. Shock at dusk before covering, and add algaecide after chlorine returns to the 1–3 ppm range.

This article was reviewed by a Certified Pool Technician (CPT). The 41°F (5°C) threshold for full pool disassembly reflects manufacturer guidelines for Intex and comparable inflatable pool products. Draining regulations vary by municipality, always check with your local water authority before draining chemically treated pool water. Follow all local codes for discharge location and chemical levels.