How to Fill a Waterbase Basketball Hoop with Antifreeze

Use antifreeze in your basketball hoop base to keep it from cracking in the winter.

Basketball hoops with water-filled bases allow you to move them out of the way for vehicle space, as opposed to their permanently cemented counterparts. In the winter, if you still want to use your water-filled basketball hoop, you will need to take a few preventative measures to keep the base from freezing and cracking.

Things You'll Need

• Two gallons non-toxic RV anti-freeze

Instructions

1. Open the fill cap in the base of the basketball hoop. This should be a large, plastic screw-on cap.

2. Fill the base with two gallons of non-toxic RV antifreeze. This type of antifreeze will still keep the base from cracking and freezing in the winter, but is much safer for animals in case they ingest it.

3. Top off the rest of the base with tap water, leaving a few inches of dead space at the very top to allow the water to expand in case there is a small amount of freezing.

4. Replace the filler cap and carefully position the portable basketball hoop in its desired location.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have to empty the antifreeze/water from the base of the basketball hoop, pour it into a container and take it to a certified recycling facility for proper disposal. Do not pour this liquid in the sewer or on your lawn, as it could interfere with the groundwater.

• According to Half Court Sports, bases made of polyethylene plastic do not require antifreeze.

• Keep the antifreeze away from pets and other animals. This chemical tastes sweet to them, but can be deadly if swallowed.

References

• Basketball Hoop Buying Guide: Water versus Sand for Basketball Bases
• Half Court Sports: FAQ