Above-Ground Pool Care: Setup, Water, Ladders and Storage

Applies to: Above-ground and portable pools: metal-frame, inflatable-ring (fast-set), steel-wall and small inflatable pools, with cartridge or sand filter pumps and optional plug-in chlorinators. Examples come from Bestway's support pages; your own model's manual comes first.

Know what kind of pool you have

CPSC notes that portable pools range from tiny blow-up pools to larger designs holding thousands of gallons. Hayward's heater manual describes a storable pool as one that can be taken apart for storage and put back together.^[3][4]

Instructions differ by model, even within one brand. For example, Bestway says its Hydrium pools have no drain valve, while other Bestway models do. Keep your owner's manual and follow it over any general advice.^[5]

Check that add-on equipment suits your pool. Hayward's heater manual, for example, says not to use its heaters with storable pools.^[4]

Start with level, solid ground

• Bestway says almost any completely flat, solid, level surface can work. The ground must be stable enough to hold the weight of the water.^[1]
• Bestway says not to set up on driveways, decks, platforms, gravel or asphalt, and not to use sand for leveling because it can shift under the pool.^[1]
• Bestway says that if the pool bulges on one side, it is not on level ground, which places undue stress on the seams. It says to empty the pool and move it to a level site.^[1]
• Bestway says its pools are designed to sit above ground, not buried.^[1]
• Bestway says to fill until the wall stands straight and the water reaches the welding line, and warns that overfilling could make the pool collapse.^[1]

Filter pumps: match, maintain, unplug

Bestway says to size the filtration system to your pool's water capacity, and to check that a pump's flow rate suits any new pool before using it there.^[1]

• Cartridge filter pumps: Bestway says a cartridge can be rinsed with a garden hose and reused, but should be replaced if it stays dirty and discolored.^[6]
• Sand filter pumps: on Bestway's sand filters, a gauge reading in the red means the sand is full of debris and needs a backwash. Backwashing lowers the water level, so the pool may need topping up.^[6]
• Bestway says to purge air from its Flowclear filter pumps before first use and after any maintenance.^[6]
• Bestway's FAQ says not to use the pool while its sand filter pump is running. Check what your own manual says.^[6]

Water care for a smaller pool

Bestway says a filter pump alone cannot keep water hygienic; chemical products are still needed. CDC recommends a pH of 7.0 to 7.8 and at least 1 ppm chlorine in pools, or at least 2 ppm if you use cyanuric acid, a chlorine stabilizer. CDC recommends testing chlorine and pH at least twice a day, and says to follow your test maker's directions.^[2][6]

Bestway warns that overusing chemicals can damage its PVC liners, and says to follow the suggested quantity and use a chemical floater. Dose only as the product label directs for your pool's volume.^[6][7]

Ladders, climbing and barriers

• CPSC says to cover larger portable pools and put access ladders away when adults are not present.^[3]
• Hayward's heater manual warns not to let children use or climb on heaters, pumps or filters, and says these components must be positioned so children cannot use them to get into the pool.^[4]
• CPSC recommends fencing portable pools and installing door alarms on doors leading to the pool area.^[3]
• Bestway says never to jump or dive into its pools.^[1]

Small inflatable pools

CPSC says to empty and put away smaller portable pools after every use. See our inflatable pool safety page for more.^[3]

Draining and storing a seasonal pool

Bestway strongly recommends taking its above-ground pools down for winter, because ice and snow can collapse them, and recommends doing so when temperatures fall below 45°F (8°C). Its manual for APX 365 and related models describes a different path: Polar-Shield year-round weather defense lets the pool stay up in winter without completely emptying it, with winterizing steps for APX 365 pools only. Follow your own model's manual.^[6][11]

1. Drain where the water can go safely, following your manual. Bestway says to put the hose end in an area where the water can be safely drained. Check local rules first: EPA WaterSense says to check local regulations on pool water discharge, and in Southern Nevada, failing to discharge pool drainage into a public sanitary sewer, if available, counts as water waste.^[5][12][13]
2. Clean with a mild soap solution and rinse well, per Bestway.^[5]
3. Dry it completely before storing.^[5]
4. Fold and store as your manual says. Bestway, for example, says to fold its liners only above 50°F (10°C), and to store pools away from chemicals, rodents and children.^[5][6]

When to call for help