An air pillow for winter pool covers is a strategic, inflatable cushion placed seamlessly under your winter pool cover to distribute pressure evenly. It acts as a reliable safeguard against expanding ice, preventing costly damage to your pool walls during freezing temperatures. This simple tool provides ultimate peace of mind all winter long.
Closing your pool for the season involves more than just balancing chemicals and throwing a tarp over the water. If you live in a region that experiences freezing temperatures, the physical expansion of ice poses a massive threat to your backyard investment. Understanding how a simple inflatable pillow prevents total structural failure is a vital part of seasonal pool ownership.
How Does a Winter Pool Air Pillow Work?
A winter pool air pillow works by creating a void in the center of the water surface. When water freezes, it naturally expands inward and outward. If your pool freezes solid without a pillow, that massive sheet of ice pushes directly against the walls of your pool. This crushing pressure can easily buckle steel walls, rip vinyl liners, and completely destroy your swimming pool.
By placing an air pillow in the center of the pool under the winter cover, the freezing water is forced to expand inward toward the soft cushion instead of outward toward the rigid walls. The pillow absorbs the pressure, keeping your pool structure perfectly safe. If you want to learn the complete process for protecting your equipment from the cold, read our expert resource on how to prepare my pool for winter.
Why You Need an Air Pillow for Above Ground Pools
In ground pools are naturally insulated by the earth surrounding them. The dirt and concrete help absorb the stress of expanding ice. Above ground pools do not have this luxury. Their exposed metal or resin walls take the full brunt of freezing temperatures and ice expansion.
Because of this exposure, an air pillow is an absolute necessity for above ground pool owners living in freezing climates. Without one, a harsh winter is almost guaranteed to cause structural failure. To learn more about protecting these specific types of pools year round, check out our ultimate guide to buying and maintaining above ground swimming pools.
How to Properly Inflate and Install Your Air Pillow
Installing an air pillow is a straightforward process, but making a simple mistake can render it completely useless. Follow these steps for perfect placement.
- Do Not Overinflate: This is the most common mistake pool owners make. Only inflate the pillow to about 60 to 70 percent capacity. The pillow needs room to compress when the ice squeezes it. If you inflate it completely tight, the pressure from the ice will instantly pop the seams.
- Secure the Pillow: A pillow floating aimlessly will eventually drift to the edge of the pool, leaving the center vulnerable. Use the grommets on the corners of the pillow to tie it securely to the sides of the pool, keeping it perfectly centered.
- Place the Cover: Once the pillow is secured, carefully pull your solid winter cover over the pool. The pillow will prop the cover up in the center like a tent. This provides the added benefit of keeping heavy rain and melting snow from pooling deeply in the middle of your cover.
For a full breakdown of the closing procedure, review our step by step guide on how to winterize a pool.
Combine Physical Protection with Chemical Protection
While the air pillow protects your pool physically from ice, you must also protect the water chemically from algae and bacteria. Closing a pool with dirty water guarantees you will open a green swamp months later.
Before securing your cover and air pillow, drop the DualPool 2-in-1 Pool Clarifier into your skimmer basket. DualPool continuously removes suspended solids, heavy metals, and algae feeding phosphates. By cleaning the water comprehensively before closing the pool, you drastically reduce the workload on your winterizing chemicals. To fully understand this off season secret, read the ultimate guide to winterizing your pool.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need an air pillow for an in ground pool? Generally, no. In ground pools are supported by the surrounding dirt and concrete framework, which easily absorbs the outward expansion of surface ice. Air pillows are primarily designed to protect the fragile, freestanding walls of above ground pools.
Why did my pool air pillow deflate during the winter? Deflation is usually caused by overinflating the pillow before installation. If the pillow is inflated to 100 percent capacity, the massive pressure of the expanding ice will pop the vinyl seams. Always leave the pillow slightly squishy to allow it to absorb the pressure safely.
Can I use inner tubes instead of a pool air pillow? No. Standard river tubes or tire inner tubes are not designed to withstand the crushing pressure of a solid sheet of ice. They will pop almost immediately. You should always use a specialized winter pool air pillow manufactured from cold resistant vinyl.