Would it have done damage to either the multiport or pump?
Here in Alabama I don't close the pool, just run the pump on the dozen or so nights the temps fall below 30 (well, sometimes a few more than that). When I covered the pool this year I put the multiport on Closed instead of leaving it on Filter, and when I went to turn the pump on two nights ago, on sheer auto pilot I flipped the pump switch and went to bed, turning it off before I went to work yesterday a.m.
Last night I went to do the same and noticed a leak coming from a horizontal pipe - I'm guessing that with the multiport closed during that cold night the water wasn't circulating in all the pump pipes; although no pipes are burst, there's definitely a leak. I turned the pump on, noticed the multiport was on closed, turned it off and then put it on filter and flipped the switch on again. It didn't sound quite right - gurgling noises (more than normal) coming from the multiport area, although the pump sounded ok, although doesn't it have to have a water source as a rule to maintain its integrity? The gurgling sounds coming from the multiport, I'm hoping, are because it wouldn't get total prime, presumably because of the leak - can see a large bubble at the top of the pump basket. Not the usual behavior if it's getting full prime. Because it only got to 28 or so that night, I'm sure there are no problems poolside such as with the skimmer.
So late last night, most concerned about the PVC that goes into the ground because if that pipe burst it could mean having to dig down to fix it, and as well as the skimmer, I propped my 30-year-old heat gun on something a foot away from that pipe, aiming for it where it met the ground, and the thing ran all night without any failure (that air is very hot). I also put the plug in the skimmer so worst case scenario I wouldn't lose a bunch of pool water and put a small sump pump in the skimmer which kept that water circulating all night; all other pipes are below ground so no worry there.
No catastrophes this morning, but we're in for another couple of nights of this cold, and we're going to have a lot of it again next week. It's never easy in my neck of the woods to get a pool repair person out so I'm going to see if my handyman can come over and cut and fix the PVC (which he is quite capable of doing). Of course, this is assuming the multiport and pump have not been damaged.
Once that's done, I'll flip the switch and if it gets prime, I'm hoping I'm good to go. I just replaced the multiport and pump two seasons ago and would be sick if either or both are ruined.
The high today is only 45 - is that warm enough to cut and replace the PVC that's cracked? I know the blue goop cures very quickly, but that may be based on a warmer temp. It's going to get to 60 Friday before another storm system/cold front moves in, so I'm thinking maybe I should just repeat what I did last night each night until then and tackle it then?
Yes, **thoroughly kicking myself** - maybe it's time I learned how to close my pool. Thanks for any input, esp. re: the multiport and pump.
Elsie
Here in Alabama I don't close the pool, just run the pump on the dozen or so nights the temps fall below 30 (well, sometimes a few more than that). When I covered the pool this year I put the multiport on Closed instead of leaving it on Filter, and when I went to turn the pump on two nights ago, on sheer auto pilot I flipped the pump switch and went to bed, turning it off before I went to work yesterday a.m.
Last night I went to do the same and noticed a leak coming from a horizontal pipe - I'm guessing that with the multiport closed during that cold night the water wasn't circulating in all the pump pipes; although no pipes are burst, there's definitely a leak. I turned the pump on, noticed the multiport was on closed, turned it off and then put it on filter and flipped the switch on again. It didn't sound quite right - gurgling noises (more than normal) coming from the multiport area, although the pump sounded ok, although doesn't it have to have a water source as a rule to maintain its integrity? The gurgling sounds coming from the multiport, I'm hoping, are because it wouldn't get total prime, presumably because of the leak - can see a large bubble at the top of the pump basket. Not the usual behavior if it's getting full prime. Because it only got to 28 or so that night, I'm sure there are no problems poolside such as with the skimmer.
So late last night, most concerned about the PVC that goes into the ground because if that pipe burst it could mean having to dig down to fix it, and as well as the skimmer, I propped my 30-year-old heat gun on something a foot away from that pipe, aiming for it where it met the ground, and the thing ran all night without any failure (that air is very hot). I also put the plug in the skimmer so worst case scenario I wouldn't lose a bunch of pool water and put a small sump pump in the skimmer which kept that water circulating all night; all other pipes are below ground so no worry there.
No catastrophes this morning, but we're in for another couple of nights of this cold, and we're going to have a lot of it again next week. It's never easy in my neck of the woods to get a pool repair person out so I'm going to see if my handyman can come over and cut and fix the PVC (which he is quite capable of doing). Of course, this is assuming the multiport and pump have not been damaged.
Once that's done, I'll flip the switch and if it gets prime, I'm hoping I'm good to go. I just replaced the multiport and pump two seasons ago and would be sick if either or both are ruined.
The high today is only 45 - is that warm enough to cut and replace the PVC that's cracked? I know the blue goop cures very quickly, but that may be based on a warmer temp. It's going to get to 60 Friday before another storm system/cold front moves in, so I'm thinking maybe I should just repeat what I did last night each night until then and tackle it then?
Yes, **thoroughly kicking myself** - maybe it's time I learned how to close my pool. Thanks for any input, esp. re: the multiport and pump.
Elsie