Help Needed - Freeze Protect Failed and Above Ground Lines are Frozen.

[hookem76]

So we've had some cold temps below freezing in Central Texas over the couple of days. I've been below freezing for about 48 hours. Lowest temp was about 25 F. I wasn't too worried because I knew the freeze protect on my hayward system would kick on and I'd be ok. I was able to get out there today to check on the pool and I was horrified when I saw the pump was not running. I was able to open the pump basket and it had some ice in it. I was able to get rid of all that. I also disconnected the salt cell and was able to see the the lines to and from the salt cell were blocked with ice. Shoot.

So far I've tried to pour warm water over the exposed pipes and use my wife's Dyson hair dryer (don't tell her) to try to thaw them out. Not much luck. For now I've covered the exposed pipes with some blankets and started the pump back up. Freeze Protect is now enabled. The water from the intake lines to the pump seem to be thawed. The pump is running but it's not moving any water through the filter. I bet that filter is frozen solid on the inside. The side effect of this is that the pump is producing a lot of heat and thawing out all of the lines from the intake to the pump. And producing some ambient heat under the blankets that seems to be helping. But those pipes are HOT to the touch.

Any ideas how to recover from this before the REALLY cold weather hits on Sunday/Monday? I think I'm going to have to open the canister filter and pull out the 4 cartridges and thaw all that out. Problem is I can't do that until tomorrow morning. Worried about leaving the pump running with as much heat as it is producing tonight.

Update: Seems the intense heat was because I had the pump partially covered with a blanket. I've left it uncovered for the last 20 minutes are so and it's no longer HOT to the touch.

 

[Newdude]

Any ideas how to recover from this before the REALLY cold weather hits on Sunday/Monday? I think I'm going to have to open the canister filter and pull out the 4 cartridges and thaw all that out

You can open it all up and run it empty. It won't be solid ice. Take the partially frozen cartridges, any ice, and anything else removable out. It won't filter while its running like that but thats of no concern at the moment.

Update: Seems the intense heat was because I had the pump partially covered with a blanket. I've left it uncovered for the last 20 minutes are so and it's no longer HOT to the touch

Hopefully that was it !!


Also, 6 year belated welcome !!!!

 

[hookem76]

Thanks!! Been here for awhile. This forum is so good seems like all my questions are answered with a simple search. Finally had to reach out for some quick advice. I’ll pull those cartridges out tomorrow. Got everything pretty well insulated now so hopefully Itll thaw tomorrow and I’ll be back in business before the deep freeze that’s on it’s way.

 

[Newdude]

I'm going to guess that the cartridges have some moderate ice on them and thats restricting your flow.

 

[PaigeMark]

Any ideas how to recover from this before the REALLY cold weather hits on Sunday/Monday? I think I'm going to have to open the canister filter and pull out the 4 cartridges and thaw all that out. Problem is I can't do that until tomorrow morning. Worried about leaving the pump running with as much heat as it is producing tonight.

If all else fails, we tried the hair dryer route when our pipes started to ice up after a system failure earlier this week but a local pool guy told us to go rent one of those construction sized kerosene heaters. We staged it far enough away from the equipment to warm it but not melt the pipes and rotated it around the side yard while we poured hot water on any ice we could see. I took our filter cartridges into the warm garage in an empty trash can to thaw during this time. It took some time but we were able to clear all of the pipes. Just a HUGE caution that major damage can be done with these heaters if they are too close to PVC. Our side yard was nice and toasty for a few hours, though.

 

[HeyEng]

If all else fails, we tried the hair dryer route when our pipes started to ice up after a system failure earlier this week but a local pool guy told us to go rent one of those construction sized kerosene heaters. We staged it far enough away from the equipment to warm it but not melt the pipes and rotated it around the side yard while we poured hot water on any ice we could see. I took our filter cartridges into the warm garage in an empty trash can to thaw during this time. It took some time but we were able to clear all of the pipes. Just a HUGE caution that major damage can be done with these heaters if they are too close to PVC. Our side yard was nice and toasty for a few hours, though.

That's a good idea. I would love to have one of the ground heaters I used to use in the Air Force. It had a big 12" hose that could get REALLY FREAKIN warm and did an awesome job of warming up a cold soaked airplane. I can only guess that one like that would cost many thousands of dollars, though.

 

[bigsapper]

2yo pool and it looks like my freeze protection failed.
It comes on with auto, but it won't turn on in service mode. >:

I'm out of town. :O
Can I give a shout out to my pool company that is heading over to take care of business?

 

[PaigeMark]

Can I give a shout out to my pool company that is heading over to take care of business?

Give them a high five for me. Our guy said “It’s too cold, go rent a heater.” I’m thankful for the advice he gave, though...and he was right. It is too cold.

 

[mknauss]

It comes on with auto, but it won't turn on in service mode. >:

It better not turn on in Service mode. All systems are locked out. You can only operate the pump at its control pad.

 

[bigsapper]

Yeah just figured that out.

The previous issue as well as just now, is the temp sensor is going out of calibration. Right now, the sensor is reading 40* and it's actually 25*.

Turned on the pump, at the pump, and will leave it there through the weekend, at least.

 

[HermanTX]

Yeah just figured that out.

The previous issue as well as just now, is the temp sensor is going out of calibration. Right now, the sensor is reading 40* and it's actually 25*.

Turned on the pump, at the pump, and will leave it there through the weekend, at least.

If you do not want to rely on your freeze protection then just reprogram your pump and water feature to run at whatever times you wish. That is what I did because I put a huge tarp over my equipment pad and the pump motors would keep temperature under the tarp a little warmer. So I did not want my freeze protection to turn off, so I just set new programs for pool mode, spa mode and water feature. I did not worry about my booster pump for cleaner as water naturally flows through that in pool mode.

 

[monoptn]

If you do not want to rely on your freeze protection then just reprogram your pump and water feature to run at whatever times you wish. That is what I did because I put a huge tarp over my equipment pad and the pump motors would keep temperature under the tarp a little warmer. So I did not want my freeze protection to turn off, so I just set new programs for pool mode, spa mode and water feature. I did not worry about my booster pump for cleaner as water naturally flows through that in pool mode.

I actually did that too......set up a tarp and blankets over my equipment and put a couple of 100 watt light bulbs under it. I had been relying on freeze protection but I also had the pump programmed to run at about 2000 rpm during the night. The freeze protect went off after the equipment warmed up, but thankfully the 2000rpm I had programmed kicked in. I immediately programmed it to run 24/7 until I get out of this deep freeze. It scared me to death when I woke up at 4:30 am with the temp in single digits and didn't hear my pump running. It was running at a quiet 2000 rpms. After Saturday I should be all clear. It has been a constant worry for a week now with ice on the surface, trying to keep the skimmer clear, and making sure the pump runs 24/7. Next year I am going to winterize my pool!