Freeze Protection for Pool Equipment

It’s OK for the water to freeze across the pool surface, but if you have unwinterized pool equipment, and water freezes inside of your pump, filter or heater – you can have an expensive freeze damage repair on your hands.

The solution to pool equipment freeze damage is prevention.

PREVENTING FREEZE DAMAGE

There are three ways to prevent pool equipment freeze damage:

1. Winterize your pool equipment and plumbing.
2. Keep pump(s) running with all valves open.
3. Install Freeze Protection equipment.

Pool Winterization

A partial winterization can be done by just draining the pump, filter, heater, and other aboveground equipment. Just remove the drain plugs (before it freezes). Pool Antifreeze can be poured or funneled into pipes that contain water. Complete winterizing involves blowing the water out of the equipment and pipes and then plugging the pipes at the pool, to keep water out.

Keep Pool Pumps Running

If you are in a normally mild climate, pay attention when the news reports a freeze warning, and then remove your timer clock ‘OFF’ dog, to run the pump 24/7 until the weather warms up. As long as water is moving through all the pipes, it won’t freeze.

Rather than running the pump(s) non-stop until spring, you could visit weather.com, and set up text alerts, and choose a temperature, and receive alerts when the temp in your area drops to 37 degrees, for example.

Install Freeze Protection Equipment

Freeze protection works with a sensor that measures the outside air temperature and turns on the pool pump when the low threshold is reached. More advanced pool controllers can also open any closed valves, and turn on other pumps, like booster pumps or waterfall pumps.

WINTER POWER FAILURE

If the power fails during a winter snow storm, the pool pumps will shut off, unless you have a home generator to take over.

If this happens to your un-winterized pool, don’t walk – RUN to your pool equipment pad, and unscrew the two drain plugs on your pump and heater, and the single filter drain plug. Open the filter air bleeder, and any closed pool line valves. Shut the power off the breaker, so the pump won’t turn on without water inside. When power is restored, replace the plugs, prime the pump, and start it up.

FROZEN POOL EQUIPMENT

If you missed the chance to do any of these things above, and your pool equipment is frozen solid – here’s what to do.

1. Shut off all power at the breaker
2. Place heavy woolen blankets over the equipment
3. Safely place a small space heater inside the ‘tent’
4. Monitor closely until thawed, Inspect closely for cracks
5. If repair is needed, drain equipment until repaired

If you have any questions about how you can start freeze prevention, call The Blue Lagoons