A pool owner has sparked criticism after revealing the consequences of choosing not to have his pool professionally winterized.
The post, shared by u/Strongest-There-Is on February 2 in the r/pools subreddit, has amassed 1,700 upvotes and hundreds of comments from users reacting to the icy disaster in his backyard.
Titled: “Update: I’m the guy who didn’t want to professionally winterize,” the post features an image of what appears to be a frozen pool surrounded by piles of snow. The scene resembles more of an accidental ice rink than a functioning swimming pool.
In the caption, the poster asked: “How do you think it’s going so far?” before explaining that while his “kid and new puppy really like it,” and he personally prefers the look of the uncovered pool, he does not like “what I expect to be about $25,000 in repairs. We’ll see.”
What Happens When a Pool Isn’t Properly Winterized?
In an article for The Spruce, Kamron Sanders, a home improvement expert, and Ralph Tarulli, a pools and construction expert, explained: “In areas with colder weather, pools have to be closed in the winter. Water is removed from the lines and pool equipment to prevent freezing. During this time, the pump doesn’t run, which prevents the water from properly circulating. If not properly winterized, pools can become a haven for algae, bacteria, calcification, and other problems.”
They note that “properly winterizing your in-ground pool is a crucial step in maintaining it and ensuring it lasts for years to come.”
Winterizing needs also vary by location. “Depending on where the pool is you might not have to winterize your pool and be able to use it year round,” the experts said, adding this is more common in southern states where temperatures rarely drop near freezing.
For pool owners unsure about whether winterization is necessary, the experts advise paying close attention to weather patterns. Sanders and Tarulli said: “The best way to determine this is to notice if the temperature ever gets close to freezing or below 50 degrees… Remember, the point of closing a pool is to protect it from freezing. If there is no risk of freezing then the pool can be used year round.”
But timing matters, too. “Believe it or not, it is possible to winterize your pool too early,” they said. The experts recommend waiting until temperatures consistently stay below 60 to 65°F to avoid algae growth—yet warn that waiting too long risks severe equipment damage due to freezing.
‘Very Poor Decision’
The thread quickly filled with comments from viewers baffled by the decision to leave the pool open heading into freezing temperatures.
One user, U/tosandes, remarked dryly: “Definitely looks winterized!”
Another, U/hijinks, added: “the $500-600 to winterize it seems cheap right about now huh?”
Others reacted with sharper disbelief. U/sgorneau asked: “What the hell? What led to this very poor decision?”
U/cat_daddylambo wrote: “Honestly I’m proud of you for facing the music on this. But DAWG what a f****.”*
Some comments poked fun at potential solutions.
U/UrineHere suggested: “Probably just needs to SLAM it.” U/corradizo countered: “Pool gonna need more than a SLAM.”
Meanwhile, U/ZeroDesert91 quipped: “On the upside you can train to be a figure skater!”
Their reactions reflect what experts warn can happen when a pool is not properly shut down before winter.
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.
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