- Mar 5, 2020
- 3,073
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- 66000
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- Chlorine
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- Astral Viron V35
There is one step that you might want to add to the beginning of your list (might sound trivial, but might require some planning):
Wake up...
Any risk in running pump in 10 degree weather without a heater?
- Thread starter AndyTN
- Start date
There is one step that you might want to add to the beginning of your list (might sound trivial, but might require some planning):
Wake up...
Now I'm your neighbor just another 30 miles to the South, and I did think you were doing this in case you lost power. That tape will not do so well without power- lol.
I'm just going to wing it. Water is 44 degrees. If we lose power I just open the pump list basket and most of my water typically will pull on through the filter and heater to the pool. I'd probably pull the plug from the filter and the heater and should be good.
We've only had the pool for 5 years so this is the coldest for us too, but shouldn't be bad. I'm just hoping we don't get the snow that has started to pop into the forecast for OK - now 12 inches or more along with their temps. It's gonna be a fun one.
I don't think your heat tape is bodacious enough for true redneck status. Take some inspiration from these pioneers. I think you should step up your game.
- Jul 17, 2019
- 3,721
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- 13000
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- Plaster
- Chlorine
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- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Wow, I'm certainly not worthy to be compared to those true redneck pioneers. I do like the idea of the fire pit in the pool and now I'm thinking of putting the mine on the tanning ledge (kidding.... for now).
I haven't been brave enough to venture out to my equipment pad this morning, but we did get freezing rain overnight, so I'm hoping my equipment looks better than the roads. I did check the weather and we will be almost a week below freezing, including getting down to zero one night.
I haven't been brave enough to venture out to my equipment pad this morning, but we did get freezing rain overnight, so I'm hoping my equipment looks better than the roads. I did check the weather and we will be almost a week below freezing, including getting down to zero one night.
- Nov 7, 2018
- 1,049
- Pool Size
- 14000
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- Plaster
- Chlorine
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- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Funny you mention Tucson. After our last ice storm that absolutely devastated our landscape (we lost about 30 mature trees) I told my wife I was over this and we are moving to Tucson. It's hard to destroy rocks, dirt, and sand.
I think I noticed the brown iron stains before the barrel sitting on a pallet.
This thread has been a wealth of information!! This is our pool’s first winter and I’d been searching for similar threads. We’ve wrapped our equipment pipes as best we can in insulation and will add blankets and a tarp to the equipment pad. We have a two scupper water feature wall that has run continuously the last few days due to the freeze protection feature, but I’m not sure how effective it will be if the temps truly get down to 0. Is there anything else we should do to protect those pipes? Add a blanket to the back wall since at least one pipe is pretty exposed? Is there anything we could do to that water feature wall if we lost power and the pump shut off?
mguzzy
Gold Supporter
It most certainly is. It never gets that cold around me.. This is eye opening and I would be freaking out. I was informed by another cold weather resident that if the pool water freezes over the ice mostly expands up and down.. and not so much side to side. Having never lived in that kind of weather I never knew that. (thanks for that tid-bit @Newdude ) Luckily I just have to do the blanket over the pool equipment bit and I wrap my citrus trees in Christmas lights. That seems to be enough for our freezes.
One additional question, and I'm sorry if its already been answered on previous pages. We are expecting some well below average temperatures in Houston and I'm a relatively new pool owner so this is a new experience.
I have two pumps, the primary pump for filtration and a secondary pump for water features (three sheer descents). I know my primary filter pump has freeze protection and will automatically run. I do not believe my secondary pump will do the same. Should I run the waterfall pump when temperatures are below freezing as well?
I have two pumps, the primary pump for filtration and a secondary pump for water features (three sheer descents). I know my primary filter pump has freeze protection and will automatically run. I do not believe my secondary pump will do the same. Should I run the waterfall pump when temperatures are below freezing as well?
- Nov 7, 2018
- 1,049
- Pool Size
- 14000
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- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
If it has not been winterized, then yes...you should run the other pumps as well.
Very few of us South of the Red River winterize our pools. I grew up in OK, and it is amazing how different the weather can be in OKC vs DFW most of the years. OKC sees much more snow and colder temps just 3 hours away. However it is the 5 to 10 year cold snap like we have coming that get those of us just a little to the South that don't winterize.
There are some other good threads here from years past that get very detailed and scientific about water that flows and is in a pool and how cold it has to get outside before that moving water really freezes. I'll have to search for them. Written by the expert @mas985.
Bottom line if you haven't winterized in TX, keep the water moving. If you lose power then prepare to open drain plugs and for the most part we should be good. My water is still 40 degrees and it has been below freezing already for about 36 hours. I know it will continue to drop some, but it will be slowly as the bottom of the pool is supported by earth that is 6 to 7 ft deep and warmer. Keep it flowing and there are very few problems.
There are some other good threads here from years past that get very detailed and scientific about water that flows and is in a pool and how cold it has to get outside before that moving water really freezes. I'll have to search for them. Written by the expert @mas985.
Bottom line if you haven't winterized in TX, keep the water moving. If you lose power then prepare to open drain plugs and for the most part we should be good. My water is still 40 degrees and it has been below freezing already for about 36 hours. I know it will continue to drop some, but it will be slowly as the bottom of the pool is supported by earth that is 6 to 7 ft deep and warmer. Keep it flowing and there are very few problems.
Without reading all of it, looks like this is one of the threads. Enough good info to make most of us normal people just nod in agreement. The Physics of Freezing and Freeze Protection
- Nov 7, 2018
- 1,049
- Pool Size
- 14000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
A week ago, our water temp was at 42 degrees. We are on day 5 of temperatures that have not gotten out of the 20s and we are about to have a 4-5 day period of single digit and below zero weather and the pool temp is now 34 degrees. Some of the issue is that our pool is relatively shallow; at it's deepest point, it is about 5 feet. I don't think it will remain above freezing, so that's the conundrum I am facing.
If I drain, I am not worried about the equipment...it can be drained and is adequately covered and warmed. I am more concerned about the pipes below the decking.
I am debating whether to risk using the heater to warm the water (understanding the risk due to corrosion that is well explained in other threads), let the pump keep on keeping on, or draining the pad and hoping for the best in regards to the underground piping. I am leaning towards using the heater since if it failed, that would be cheaper than having to dig up a bunch of decking to find a busted pipe.
I think the 10+ years of not winterizing will be coming to an end next season.
That is the difference between OKC and DFW that I speak of. I have two relatives in the Choctaw area, one winterizes and one doesn't.
If my water were to ever be in danger of dropping below 30 my heater is my backup option to see if I couldn't at least keep it from dropping further. Help me understand the corrosion issue you speak of with the heater? We have a built in spa/hot tub. There are times we may heat it a few times a week. Every time it is heated, the heater works 45 minutes to an hour solid getting it to the desired temp and then comes on every 10 minutes or so to keep it heated. We've done this for 5 years. Our water flows through the heater at all times (pool builder did not route around it for non-use) so I'm trying to understand if you think there is something about a few days of a lot more use would cause this corrosion or maybe something big I've missed from the beginning?
I'm firmly on the ground of your last statement too, having to replace a heater or any component on the pad will be much cheaper than having to do any pipe or concrete work if there were freezing water issues elsewhere.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,522
- Pool Size
- 6000
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- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
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- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
From Pentair:
OPERATING THIS HEATER CONTINUOUSLY AT WATER TEMPERATURE BELOW 68° F. WILL CAUSE HARMFUL
CONDENSATION AND WILL DAMAGE THE HEATER AND VOID THE WARRANTY. Do not use the heater to protect
pools or spas from freezing if the final maintenance temperature desired is below 68° F., as this will cause condensation
related problems.
Sorry for another newb post, but I didn’t see it addressed in the linked thread or by searching. I wasn’t as worried about the actual pool until I read @HeyEng’s post and our deepest point is only 5 feet also.
I bought a solar cover this summer while we were waiting on the build. Would it be helpful at all in trapping the heat inside the pool during our anticipated multi-day freeze?
I bought a solar cover this summer while we were waiting on the build. Would it be helpful at all in trapping the heat inside the pool during our anticipated multi-day freeze?
I think that it was always a distant thought for a lot of you, but suddenly it’s an actual concern so it changes the equation. Now that you will have lived it, you’ll have a solid contingency plan going forward. You can winterize every year while it’s warmer out, or just react the once every few years it may happen again.
- Nov 7, 2018
- 1,049
- Pool Size
- 14000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus