Best above ground pool installation pros near Plains, MT

Sometimes, homeowners choose to install their pool on concrete, foam tiles, or patio pavers. Leveled dirt is also fine, as long as it’s not sod or grass. Regardless, you’ll need to install sand as a buffer to prevent your liner from tearing. Some pool installers also use a protective foam pool pad.

When you’re winterizing your pool, you need to drain some of the water to prevent cracking and warping from ice. Nonetheless, you should never drain all of the water. Ideally, you’ll lower the water level to anywhere from four to six inches below the skimmer. This will protect the structural integrity of the walls, help prevent your pool liner from warping, and reduce damage from debris.

You can avoid pool collapse—known as pool pop in an inground pool—if you follow the instructions on how to drain your pool safely. Wait for a temperate, dry day and slowly remove the water with a sump pump, hose, or the attached drains and hydrostatic plugs.

The time it takes for a pool heater to heat a pool can range from eight to 48 hours, with an average of about 12 hours for the initial heating. For a more specific example, an average-sized 15,000-gallon pool may take six to 10 hours to heat up by 10 degrees. The exact duration depends on several factors, including the pool's size, the type and size of the heater, the starting water temperature, and the outside air temperature. It may take some trial and error to determine the precise time your specific pool takes to reach a desired temperature.