The winter is an excellent time for many people to buy a trampoline and enjoy the snowy, cold months. But once the snow starts falling and the temperature drops below freezing, you need to take extra precautions when storing your family’s favorite toy.
If you live in an area where the winters are cold and snowy, you may be wondering how to winterize a trampoline. There are many ways to do this, so you must think about your needs before deciding on a plan of action.
Some people choose to remove their trampoline during these months, while others cover theirs with a tarp or take other precautions. It would be best if you researched what will work best for your situation before making any decisions.
Here are some critical tips on how to winterize a trampoline so you can continue enjoying it all year long!
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What is Winterization?
Winterization is a process that takes place when storing your trampoline for the winter season. It involves bringing down the tension of springs and removing padding is made from foam or other materials at risk of freezing and breaking.
Also, it makes sure all slats are in good condition before putting on coverings to protect against snow, moisture, and dirt. The process of winterizing your trampoline is not complicated once you know what to do.
You will need a few supplies before getting started: heavy-duty tarp or an old blanket for covering the springs; a ladder (or step stool) for reaching over the top of the frame; weather-resistant coverings such as plastic or vinyl tarps, old blankets; and some bungee cords.
Since winterizing your trampoline will take a few hours to complete, the process is best done on a day where you can spend time outside in the cold!
Is Trampoline Winter Care the Same as Winterization?
No, winterizing your trampoline is different from the care you provide for it in the warmer months when outside temperatures are higher. For example, ensuring that all springs are correctly tightened before placing on coverings to protect against snow and moisture during storage can help reduce bounce; if done too tightly, there’s an increased risk of breaking a spring.
Another distinction is that while winterizing involves removing padding from the frame and springs, care during warmer months includes adding a layer of padding on top.
And while some trampolines come with weather-resistant coverings to protect against snow and moisture, you’ll need to buy additional protection for your trampoline if it doesn’t have them already.
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Can We Leave Our Trampoline Out During Winter?
No, it’s not recommended to leave the trampoline out during winter. If your model doesn’t have a weather-resistant covering or you’re in an area where snow and heavy rain are expected, store your trampoline indoors so that springs don’t rust and pads stay dry.
If you live in a climate with mild winters or you’re willing to buy a weather-resistant covering for your trampoline, it may be safe enough to leave outdoors. But if the frame or springs are exposed, and there’s a high risk of snow accumulation, then the best option is still storing your trampoline indoors.
How To Winterize A Trampoline?
Clean The Trampoline Properly
The first step is to clean the trampoline properly. To do this, hose off all dirt and debris from the frame top with cold water. Then use a sponge or soft scrub brush to remove any stubborn stains on springs or foam padding that isn’t weather-resistant.
Wipe down metal parts of your trampoline using a damp cloth. If you find rust spots, scrub them with a wire brush until they are gone and rinse off the metal parts once again with cold water.
Finally, wipe down all of your coverings to remove dirt or debris that might be left behind (especially if this is a new trampoline). This will ensure that there’s nothing on top of the coverings that could damage them.
Take Off The Frame Mats Or Pads
Next, take off the frame mats or pads. You can either remove these entirely and store them away for the winter (if you have room), use bungee cords to tie things together, or roll up your coverings on top of them so that they stay in place.
If you’re storing this part of the trampoline indoors, make sure you have enough room to store the parts or purchase a large storage container.
If you’re storing these on top of your coverings, make sure they are tied down tightly so that they don’t fall off during transport and cause damage to other items in your house (or at least rolling them up will reduce some risk).
You want to cover up the springs on your trampoline. To do this, lay a heavy-duty tarp or old blanket over the top of them and use bungee cords to hold it in place (so that it doesn’t blow away).
If you’re storing this inside for the winter, make sure there are enough mats so that you can cover all of the springs.
Take Off Enclosure Netting
If your trampoline has an enclosure netting on all four sides, you’ll need to take this off as well. You can either remove the entire netting and store it away for winter, or you can cover the top and bottom like a tarp or old blanket.
If your netting has some holes in it, then it would be best to remove this for winter (especially if these are available as extras). This will protect against any potential damage from animals trying to get inside during the colder months.
The best way to store your trampoline during the winter is by taking off all of the paddings and storing them on top of frame mats or pads inside. This will protect against rusting, keep weather-resistant coverings in good condition, and provide protection from moisture that would otherwise build up underneath if left outside.
This should be done just before the coldest winter months and should be a top priority for those who live in an area with harsh winters.
Remove Jumping Pad
If you have a jumping pad, remove this from the trampoline and store it in your designated indoor storage area or outdoors if it is weather-resistant. The jump mat will help provide protection against dirt that might otherwise build up on top of the padding during the winter months.
If you already have snow on your trampoline, you should remove it as soon as possible. This will allow the padding to dry out and prevent any damage from frost or snow build-up that could occur if left in place for too long.
Ensure all of the straps are tightened before storing so they don’t come loose while indoors; this is also a good time to tighten any screws, bolts, or springs that might have come loose throughout your jumping.
Buy A Weather Cover For Your Trampoline
Trampolines are best stored during winter if they have a weather cover. This will prevent moisture build-up from snow or rain and protect against any objects that might fall on the trampoline (such as tree branches).
If you don’t already have one of these, then it would be worth investing in one to keep your product in good condition for when the warm weather returns.
You want to have a cover that is rated at least three seasons by American standards (or six months), so you’ll need one that can withstand freezing temperatures and winds up to 20 miles per hour.
This should only be done if your trampoline has been covered with a heavy-duty tarp or old blanket with bungee cords to hold it in place. If you have a trampoline stored indoors, this should be done before the winter season arrives to avoid exposing your product to any potential damage from outside weather conditions.
If you live in an area where winters aren’t too harsh (or storing your trampoline outside), this can be done at the end of winter to protect against any potential damage from snow or ice build-up.
Planning For High Wind Conditions
If you live in an area where high winds are common, it’s worth planning for this when storing your trampoline. This is done by using a weather cover and placing bungee cords at the base of the enclosure netting to keep it secure (this also has the benefit of protecting against any objects that might fall on top).
This can be done at the start of winter or towards the end, depending on your climate conditions. Trampoline anchors should be used to secure the trampoline and should not be installed if you store it outside.
This will help prevent damage from high winds, which might otherwise tear away at these anchors and cause your product to fly away with them. All of the attachments that came with your jumping mat or pad, as well as any other accessories such as helmets, knee pads, or elbow pads, should be removed and stored indoors if possible.
Suppose you’re not sure what to do with any of these items. In that case, it might be worth investing in a designated storage area where they will all fit neatly inside so that everything is easily accessible when the time comes for jumping again.
In Worst Case, You Can Take Off Mat and Springs
If your trampoline has been left outside for an extended period, then the mat and springs are likely to freeze. If this is the case, it’s worth knowing that you could remove these parts in a worst-case scenario and store them indoors until spring, when they can be reinstalled easily with no risk of damage.
You could also wrap the mat in a tarp and bungee cord it to something heavy so that it’s not exposed to snow or ice build-up. If you are storing your jumper indoors, this might be worth considering if there is any chance of freezing weather coming into play during winter; otherwise, make sure everything is covered with either a heavy-duty tarp and old blanket bungee cord so that it’s not exposed.
Safety Tips to Jump on Trampoline in Winter
Take Out Snow From Trampoline
If you plan to jump in winter, it is essential to first take the snow out of your trampoline. This will protect the springs and mat from any potential water damage caused by melting ice or snow build-up on these parts over time.
It’s a good idea to invest in a tarp that you can place down inside the enclosure netting if you’re planning to jump on your trampoline when it’s cold outside. This will offer better protection against any potential snow or ice build-up that could otherwise cause damage over time.
Mandatory Supervision
If you allow your kids to jump on your trampoline in winter, someone must always supervise them. This will ensure they are not exposed to unnecessary risks, such as getting their hands or feet stuck between the springs or coming into contact with iced-over parts of the mat and jumping surface.
Check Weather Conditions
If you plan to jump on your trampoline, then it’s worth checking the weather forecast beforehand. In case the forecast predicts snow or ice, it might be worth waiting until conditions improve before jumping.
If you have a weather cover, canopy, and trampoline anchors already in place for your jumper, then these can help protect against any potential damage from high winds as well as heavy rain if they are coming into play too.
Final Words
If you’re looking for a way to keep your kids active and entertained this winter, look no further than your backyard. A trampoline is a perfect tool for physical activity in any weather condition. Don’t let cold or snow ruin all of that fun by forgetting to prepare it properly!
Read our tips below on how to winterize a trampoline so you can spend more time playing with your family instead of fixing equipment when temperatures drop. Do you have helpful tips about other types of outdoor play equipment?
We’d love to hear what has worked best for keeping children occupied during the colder months at home, school, etc. Please share them in the comments section below.
Jeffery Ryan never believed in giving up. For over 10 years, he’s devoted his time to the sport of jumping and it has paid off tremendously for him with two medals. He has used quite a lot in his own trampoline jumping experience, which adds him in the perfect position to guide others and give his own accurate knowledge about trampolines. He keeps testing and researching new innovative ideas and techniques on trampolines in his own backyard. On weekends he can be found fishing and greeting different trampoline jumpers and attending conferences on the latest and well-known trampolines.