Haven't been on in a couple days but I mention this for anyone. Careful draining the pool when it is frozen with any significant ice thickness. The surface is a big block of ice and lowering the water level could put a tremendous strain on the stairs and even the skimmer if the ice is frozen into the opening. I have periodically had to drain mine during the winter with ice many inches think, in fact I've had 17" of ice once. The skimmer opening has a foam block in it to keep the ice out and I use a backup pump and a stream of water to clear ice from around the return opening plugs and cut the block over the stairs loose from the main ice block. I've now got a large block of ice, free floating, and not catching on anything. To give me access to liquid water for the pump suction line I partially sink a couple 5 gallon pails in places. I use a 5 gallon pail with an inner bucket loaded with crushed stone to sink the big one. Obviously cover it to keep out rain and snow. Pull out the inner pail and then pull out the 5 gallon and you have an ice fishing hole. If the big one is frozen in just pour some warm water in and wait a few minutes and it will come out.
Hope all went well with no damage and please let us know what happened.
Happy Turkey Day.
Al