Few days of below freezing temp. What to do?

[Hachu]

Hi,

This is my first year with a pool and we are having a few days of below freezing temperature. We have a freeze protection with filter pump ✔ to run and waterfall ✔ to run (see picture). Should I also select the pool cleaner (Polaris vacuum cleaner) to be set on freeze protect? Right now it is set at its usual run time of 1 hour from 4-5am. Or should I just remove my Polaris cleaner from the pool?

Also, I see water sitting inside the backwash pipe (please see picture). Should I wrap a blanket over it? Is that enough?

 

[Jimrahbe]

H,

The backwash pipe should not be an issue as it should not be filled with water and it is open to the sewer.. If it freezes, there should be plenty of room for the water to expand.

Obviously you want your main pump to be running all the time.. I am not sure about running the waterfall.. Since we don't often get freezing weather for days at a time, it is not something I am too familiar with..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Hachu]

H,

The backwash pipe should not be an issue as it should not be filled with water and it is open to the sewer.. If it freezes, there should be plenty of room for the water to expand.

Obviously you want your main pump to be running all the time.. I am not sure about running the waterfall.. Since we don't often get freezing weather for days at a time, it is not something I am too familiar with..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Thank you for replying

 

[Leebo]

I personally would remove your cleaner from the pool. There’s no need to really risk the hoses freezing. As for the waterfall, are you able to easily drain it?

 

[Hachu]

I personally would remove your cleaner from the pool. There’s no need to really risk the hoses freezing. As for the waterfall, are you able to easily drain it?

I don't think I can drain the waterfalls. It is set by the freeze protect to run continuously as suggested by our pool builder.

 

[Leebo]

So please note two things as I type this,

1. I don’t have any experience with waterfalls​

2. I’ve been awake since 2am and my brain isn’t fully working.​

If I were in your shoes I’d do some searching on TFP about the builders theory. If I were in your shoes I’d kinda step back and look at things as a “once in a lifetime” event right now as Texas seldom gets these weather events. Your builder I suspect was playing towards the majority of the time, not the oddball events like this.

Personally I’d look into draining the waterfall. I suspect it would save some cash by not needing to run it 24/7 plus it’ll take away all worry. Maybe @mas985 can chime in with his thoughts here?

 

[Newdude]

If I were in your shoes I’d kinda step back and look at things as a “once in a lifetime” event right now as Texas seldom gets these weather events. Your builder I suspect was playing towards the majority of the time, not the oddball events like this.

+1. The builder saw it once already when he was 12. He was not expecting to see it a 2nd time. But here we are.

Also, going forward, once in a lifetime events/storms happen every couple of years now. There is no questioning that Mother Nature is angry.

 

[mas985]

With elevated waterfalls (i.e. above pool water level) the water should drain to pool level with the pump off which should also be below ground level. So as long as you don't have a multi day constant freeze, then the waterfall should be ok. Can the waterfall be shut off/isolated with a valve? If so, turn off the pump then close the valve. However, you still have some risk in the above ground plumbing at the pad so that needs to be protected with a tarp and/or heat source.

 

[Hachu]

With elevated waterfalls (i.e. above pool water level) the water should drain to pool level with the pump off which should also be below ground level. So as long as you don't have a multi day constant freeze, then the waterfall should be ok. Can the waterfall be shut off/isolated with a valve? If so, turn off the pump then close the valve. However, you still have some risk in the above ground plumbing at the pad so that needs to be protected with a tarp and/or heat source.

Sadly, I don't know my pool equipments well enough to be messing with it right now. Are you basically saying to do a complete winterization? Since you said to turn pump off?

So please note two things as I type this,

1. I don’t have any experience with waterfalls​

2. I’ve been awake since 2am and my brain isn’t fully working.​

If I were in your shoes I’d do some searching on TFP about the builders theory. If I were in your shoes I’d kinda step back and look at things as a “once in a lifetime” event right now as Texas seldom gets these weather events. Your builder I suspect was playing towards the majority of the time, not the oddball events like this.

Personally I’d look into draining the waterfall. I suspect it would save some cash by not needing to run it 24/7 plus it’ll take away all worry. Maybe @mas985 can chime in with his thoughts here?

I wonder if I'm too late with all this. Our temp has been below freezing. I'm nervous to etuen off anything at this moment.

 

[mas985]

Water takes several hours to freeze even at the lowest temperatures. So turning off the pump for a few minutes, will not affect anything. I was only suggesting turning off the pump while turning valves off and then turning it back on.

However, given you are not comfortable with your own pool equipment then i would not change anything until you are.

 

[donnosu]

I'm in Tulsa and decided this morning to pull the plugs on the equipment (pump, filter, heater, SWG) but I'm concerned about the skimmer. I put in a gizmo, but my pool is already below freezing and we've haven't even hit the negative temps for the next couple days.

 

[Leebo]

The gizmo will become a weak point in the skimmer and allow the ice to expand. It’ll take the abuse rather than your skimmer. If you want some added protection tear an old pool noodle into pieces and shove those in there as well. They’ll add even more protection.

 

[MCF50]

My plan is to have both pumps running. If we lose power I am going to open main filter vent, drain main filter, open pump discharge pump out valves, and wrap everything on the pad with blankets. Any other ideas if we lose power?

 

[ajw22]

My plan is to have both pumps running. If we lose power I am going to open main filter vent, drain main filter, open pump discharge pump out valves, and wrap everything on the pad with blankets. Any other ideas if we lose power?

Remove the drain plugs in your pump and heater. Drain plugs are positioned at the lowest water point for a device,

You may want to look over your equipment and identify all the drain plugs and the wrenches you may need before the crisis arrives.

 

[MCF50]

Thanks. Found the one on heater and two on the pumps - like key handles. No tool or maybe some pliars. I will wrap everything with blankets and sheets after they drain....never though of getting foam insulation for the PVC lines. Guess I'll be doing that when it gets back in stock for our next freeze in 20 years. What do you all think about opening pump out valves and leaving them open?

 

[mknauss]

Pentair Intelliflo pumps have two drain plugs. One on the basket side and one on the pressure side. They are tan thumb screw looking plugs.

 

[ajw22]

Pentair pumps have drain plugs on the bottom. Page 18 in the https://www.pentair.com/content/dam...iflo-vs/intelliflo-vs-pump-manual-english.pdf

 

[MCF50]

Why does the news say to not not cover pool equipment? Even though pumps are running, should I go ahead and wrap up the piping and put a blanket over the control panel and pumps and heater (heater is off due to freeze protect mode)

 

[ajw22]

Why does the news say to not not cover pool equipment? Even though pumps are running, should I go ahead and wrap up the piping and put a blanket over the control panel and pumps and heater (heater is off due to freeze protect mode)

The pump motor and drive need cooling airflow. The Intelliflo pump has fan blades in the rear that cool itself while running.

Do not cover or wrap the pump to not let it get good airflow while it is operating. This is more an issue for VS pumps then older SS or 2 speed pumps.

 

[MCF50]

Ok....what about everything else....plumbing, filter housing, SWCG, automatic valves., etc. etc