Skip the full drain-down. Just cover and run the pump occasionally.

You don’t need to drain the pool completely in a mild climate. Freezing isn’t the threat — stagnation and algae are.

Keep the water level where it is. Balance the chemicals (shock it, add algaecide). Throw on a good winter cover that blocks sunlight. Then run the pump a few hours every few days just to circulate. That’s enough to keep things clear until spring.

Don’t bother with draining, antifreeze, or blowing out lines unless you regularly get hard freezes. In a mild winter, that’s wasted effort. Mild winters are actually easier on pools — don’t overcomplicate it.