We live in Pennsylvania. Our AGP freezes every winter. We have wedding cake steps which we lift out and store under the pool deck when we close in October. The pool is now in its 10th season. We drilled 2" holes into the sides of the steps to facilitate water circulation. When I brush the pool using the Wall Whale brush I make it a point to push water against the steps to give it some extra circulation. We do get algae where the bottom of the steps rests on the floor of the pool but that easily remedied by lifting the steps up and brushing the area.