Storing and Winterizing Your Basketball Hoop
It is important to know how to store your portable basketball goal and its accessories throughout the winter season. If you are wanting to let the basketball goal hibernate for the winter, or even if you want to play on it throughout the cold months. we have the solutions for you. Read our tips below on how to winterize your basketball goal and products.
Portable basketball hoops
During the warmer months, you may be using water to stabilize your portable basketball goal. If you are doing this, you will need to drain the base of the basketball goal during the winter. Instead of completely draining the base, we recommend that 75% of the water should remain and allow for 25% expansion. As the water expands, it will freeze. You can also consider replacing the water in the base with sand too. Make sure to keep your portable basketball hoop away from the street and curbs to avoid contact with plows during snow removal.
If you do not plan on playing on your portable basketball goal during the winter, we recommend placing your portable goal under cover by placing the goal in a shielded area to keep free of damage, whether that be — a garage, barn, carport, shed or other storage area. If storing the portable goal in a building isn’t possible for you, cover the whole goal with a tarp secured with bungee cords. You should also use the height actuator and lower the rim height down to 7.5’ to prevent the basketball goal from getting damaged from any severe high winds.
Basketball Hoop Accessories
If you have a basketball pole pad on your basketball hoop, bring it indoors for the winter. If you leave your basketball hoop out in the open for the winter, you can cover the hoop and net with a trash bag and secure the bag with duct tape. If you are not going to play on your basketball goal during the winter months, you should remove the basketball net. Before storing the net, double check that it is completely dry first. During severe weather, we recommend removing your Solar LED Hoop Lights from your Goalrilla system to avoid flying debris, hail, or any other extreme weather. The basketball court and hoop accessories are just as important as the hoop itself and need to be properly handled with care as well.
For additional tips on maintaining your basketball hoop equipment, read our blog here!
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Lifetime Blog: Basketball Hoop FAQs During Winter Months
Last week, 49 of 50 states in America had snow on the ground in at least some part of the state. Florida was the only state to escape the big snow storms hitting the rest of the country.
With cold temperatures upon us, there are many questions that come up about winterizing basketball systems and what steps should be taken to ensure your system is ready for next spring. Here are some FAQs that will hopefully shed some light on questions you may have concerning your basketball hoop.
Q: Should I use antifreeze in a Lifetime portable base during the winter months?
A: No, antifreeze is not necessary. Lifetime bases are made out of high-density polyethylene plastic that is flexible enough to expand with the water when it freezes.
Q: What other maintenance is required to weatherize my basketball system?
A: Lifetime’s basketball systems are built specifically to withstand all types of weather. All of our parts are designed to handle both cold and hot temperatures, so there really isn’t much maintenance needed to prepare your system for weather changes. However, it is usually a good idea to take down the nylon net when the system is not being used so it does not deteriorate over time.
Q: What routine maintenance is suggested to get my basketball hoop ready for play again in the spring?
A: Even though our systems are built to withstand harsh weather conditions, there are a few things we suggest doing in the spring to ensure optimal performance.
Make sure to check the water level in your portable base and fill it to capacity.
Check and replace the nylon net if worn or damaged.
Though not required, it is usually a good idea to spray lubricant on pivot points
or moving parts for optimal performance.
Q: Is it better to use sand or water in my portable base?
A: Lifetime uses water in our bases to test the performance of the basketball systems. We ensure the systems can handle up to 40 mph winds without tipping over. However, sand is also a good option, and each one has pros and cons.
Sand: Is about 45% denser than water, making it more difficult to tip the system over. This is good if you slam-dunk a lot, but bad if you regularly move the portable system around. Sand is more expensive and difficult to put in the base, but sand does not evaporate like water.
Water: Is cheaper and usually takes less effort to obtain. However, water can also evaporate over time, making it necessary to check the water level in a base regularly.
Tips for Filling a Portable Basketball Hoop
Looking to bring the excitement of the basketball court to your home? Portable basketball hoops can be a great option for playing a pickup game with friends or a round of HORSE with your family.
But once you find the right portable hoop and get it home, don't forget the most important step: filling the base. It’s crucial to properly fill the base to help increase the hoop’s stability during play, as well as in windy weather.
There are two common ways to fill a basketball hoop: with water and with sand. The owner's manual you receive with your hoop will let you know how much to use of either. You can also use a base gel that mixes with water to become solid.
Filling A Basketball Hoop With Water
Adding water to the base is as simple as hooking a hose to the base hole. This is a cheaper and easier option than sand. If you plan on moving the hoop around a lot, water is a good choice since you can easily empty it from the base.
There are a few things you can do to help with stability and keep the base strong over time when using water:
Adding a small amount of bleach to the water can help avoid the growth of algae in the base.
If you live in an area with cold winters, the water in the base could freeze and expand. This can cause the base to crack. To avoid this, add a small amount of nontoxic antifreeze. You can also empty the base and store it indoors during colder months.
Water can evaporate and leave the hoop less stable, so checking the water level regularly is key.
Examine the base for any leaks over time. This can help to keep it upright for your next pickup game.
Filling A Basketball Hoop With Sand
Sand is denser than water, and it weighs more per gallon, so it can help increase stability. But while it may make for a more stable hoop, sand can also make hoops difficult to move.
Another drawback to sand is that it can be hard to add — especially if wet — and even harder to get out of the base of your hoop.
Many hoop owners choose "play sand," like the kind used to fill kids’ sandboxes, to fill the base since it can be smoother and more even. Using a funnel while filling the base can help decrease the chances of spilling sand.
Filling A Basketball Hoop With Base Gel
A third option for your hoop is a special gel designed to stabilize bases. Made of absorbent polymer, you will mix the gel with water. This mixture can become the equivalent weight of several bags of sand. Designed to be both mold-resistant and freeze-thaw durable, base gel can last several years. Once firm, it can also resist small holes or cracks that can cause leaks.
No matter what you use to fill your base, it’s always a good idea to have two adults move the portable hoop if needed. Also, it’s advised not to use weights, bags of cement or bricks to hold the hoop down.
Now that you know what to do to keep your portable hoop firmly on the ground, it’s time for tip-off. With a solid base for your hoop, you’ll be able to focus on hitting a long-range three or guarding against uncle Joe’s legendary jump shot during your next family pickup game.
