Hello, I'm a new IG pool owner in NJ where we've been having below freezing temperatures at night AND daytime for a couple of weeks now with finally a break from freezing temps this week. Our pool is covered with a polycarb structure and we've been running the filter 24/7 during this time as well as heating the pool to 90F when we want to swim in it. The pool water gets down to the lowest of 65F in between heating/pool use. We also have freeze protect mode set at 34F.
In deciding whether we want to keep the pool open in future winters, we need information about when pipes freeze and burst to ascertain the risks we want to take in exchange for being able to swim in NJ winters.
More specifically, if our filtration system breaks or loses power:
1. First, is there any risk of below ground pipes freezing?
2. Is the risk more for the exposed pipes connecting to the equipment (vs underground pipes) that could be resolved if we build a shed over it or put foam around the exposed pipes, etc. ? I think the information referenced above about time to freeze refers to pipes located above ground, perhaps that at the equipment? My pipe is PVC and 2".
In deciding whether to keep our pool open for future winters in NJ, the main risk is should our filter stop running due to it breaking or losing power, will we have enough time to fix it before the pipes could freeze and burst. I know no one knows the exact answer of when this could happen b/c there are multiple variables as referenced above.
However, I'm just wondering if I have ENOUGH time to fix the motor BEFORE pipes burst. If the pipes could freeze in a matter of a few hours, then maybe we should close our pool during the NJ winter months of Dec-Feb. since we won't have time to repair before the damage occurs (like when it stops running in the middle of the night unbeknownst to us)
If it takes like 20-30 hours for the pipes to freeze, then I can keep our pool open during the long freezing temps of NJ winters and minimize our risk by buying an extra motor to have on hand and possibly putting our filter on backup on our whole house generator (don't know if I can yet depending on how much power it uses)
I appreciate any thoughts on this. Thanks.
Phuong in NJ
16" x 33' concrete wall vinyl liner IG pool, Jandy CL340 cartridge filter, Jandy 2.0 HP pump, Jandy JXi260 natural gas heater
In deciding whether we want to keep the pool open in future winters, we need information about when pipes freeze and burst to ascertain the risks we want to take in exchange for being able to swim in NJ winters.
More specifically, if our filtration system breaks or loses power:
1. First, is there any risk of below ground pipes freezing?
2. Is the risk more for the exposed pipes connecting to the equipment (vs underground pipes) that could be resolved if we build a shed over it or put foam around the exposed pipes, etc. ? I think the information referenced above about time to freeze refers to pipes located above ground, perhaps that at the equipment? My pipe is PVC and 2".
In deciding whether to keep our pool open for future winters in NJ, the main risk is should our filter stop running due to it breaking or losing power, will we have enough time to fix it before the pipes could freeze and burst. I know no one knows the exact answer of when this could happen b/c there are multiple variables as referenced above.
However, I'm just wondering if I have ENOUGH time to fix the motor BEFORE pipes burst. If the pipes could freeze in a matter of a few hours, then maybe we should close our pool during the NJ winter months of Dec-Feb. since we won't have time to repair before the damage occurs (like when it stops running in the middle of the night unbeknownst to us)
If it takes like 20-30 hours for the pipes to freeze, then I can keep our pool open during the long freezing temps of NJ winters and minimize our risk by buying an extra motor to have on hand and possibly putting our filter on backup on our whole house generator (don't know if I can yet depending on how much power it uses)
I appreciate any thoughts on this. Thanks.
Phuong in NJ
16" x 33' concrete wall vinyl liner IG pool, Jandy CL340 cartridge filter, Jandy 2.0 HP pump, Jandy JXi260 natural gas heater