is it ok to leave an in ground pool empty for the winter?

Answer 1

NEVER.
Depending on if this is a vinyl or concrete pool, I'll describe what WILL happen.
If this is a vinyl in ground, that's a death sentence for the liner. It'll shrink and go brittle in as little as a day for an older (4 or more years) liner. They don't stretch back, they snap. The walls of a vinyl in ground will buckle inwards. They require the force of water in the pool pushing out to counter the force of the ground and ground water pushing in. The pool bottom itself will heave and break if there is ANY water in the ground at all.
If this is a concrete inground, while theoretically, you could do it with a properly functioning hydrostatic valve in the main drain, there's no telling when that valve can either stick closed or the screen under it to become plugged up. That happens and the first bit of ground water higher than the level in the pool and you now have a concrete boat that WILL float out of the ground. They don't settle back, they don't come out of the ground level and the shell itself usually breaks. New pool time. If you live in a frost zone, it doesn't even need water in the ground for this to happen. When the ground beneath the pool freezes, the pool WILL shift.
If this is a marbalized finish on a concrete pool, the mabalite will develop spider web cracks as it dries. Not pleasant to look at and may actually allow water to get under the marbalite and cause spalding. The finish will pop off in silver dollar sized chunks
There are other associated risks, such as plumbing breaks at the walls and skimmers breaking right off the pool shell.
Keep at least enough water in a pool to cover the shallow end to a depth of 1 foot if you don't plan on properly closing the pool structure itself. Preferably, properly winterize EVERYTHING, including adding the cover and if you do it this way, have enough water in there to just below the return levels. Pool covers are sized to fit on your pool with that much water in. Less and the cover will fall in. Don't worry about the water freezing. It won't do anything to the structure of a properly built pool. Anyone that says it will or it's ok to leave empty, obviously doesn't live in a frost zone or own a pool.

Answer 2

NO!!!
If you leave the pool empty rain can get in and will sometimes "float" the pool. This will break water lines to and from the pump. Also do not leave the pool full unless you want to run the pump all winter while it is below freezing. Drain the pool to just under the water jets and have it winterized (A pool company will put in a environment friendly anti freeze in the lines). A cover is a great idea and will make start up much easier but it is not required

Answer 3

DEFINITELY NOT. ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN A CLIMATE WHERE BELOW FREEZING TEMPS. ARE REACHED REGULARLY. you want to only partially drain it, just below the jets, then flood the jets with RV antifreeze. If you completely drain it, and it should happen to freeze outside, your pool will literally lift up out of the ground, I've seen it happen before, people not listening to professionals,that'll do it all the time

Answer 4

Yes and it's smart to do in really cold winters because if the water freezes, it will crack the pools liner or cement.

Answer 5

Yes. And in addition to the water possibly freezing (which another pointed out), it will make it easier to clean up when you're ready to use it again.

Answer 6

Yes and also they should put a cover too

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

yes it is ok

Answer 9

yes, unless it is filled instead with rotting cow meat