- Jul 21, 2013
- 53,316
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Few days of below freezing temp. What to do?
- Thread starter Hachu
- Start date
The PVC lines, the control panel, the SWCG...if we lose power, should they be wrapped in towels, covered in blankets, etc. etc. Once power goes out I am going to throw the breaker to the panel so the pumps won't start by themselves. So can we cover them. My question is should we wrap/cover pool equipment once it is drained and power is out???
That is my plan. It’s covered now in a tent to keep the wind off. Blankets and tarps are on everything except for pumps. If power goes out, I’ll drain everything and recover to include the pumps.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 53,316
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Once you pull the power and shutdown everything then insulate and blanket it all the best you can.
Sounds like it is only a matter of time before we 'lose' (city pulling the plug) power. Once it does Ill throw breaker, drain and wrap. Thanks!
- May 3, 2007
- 17,008
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I don't see what the point of wrapping the equipment would be once the water is drained from it. Not necessary IMHO.
Also, we often talk about tarping equipment for freeze protection (i.e. tarp over top of equipment). In reality, there should be no need to "wrap" equipment even if there is water in it as it won't protect the equipment that much more than just tarping. The primary reason for tarping is to shield the equipment from sky radiation cooling and air convection. These are the primary sources of heat loss that lead to freezing.
Also, if temperatures are only going to below freezing for a few hours, that is not enough time for freeze damage.
www.troublefreepool.com
Also, we often talk about tarping equipment for freeze protection (i.e. tarp over top of equipment). In reality, there should be no need to "wrap" equipment even if there is water in it as it won't protect the equipment that much more than just tarping. The primary reason for tarping is to shield the equipment from sky radiation cooling and air convection. These are the primary sources of heat loss that lead to freezing.
Also, if temperatures are only going to below freezing for a few hours, that is not enough time for freeze damage.
The Physics of Freezing and Freeze Protection
Recently, there have been a lot of questions from those living in moderate climates about using automatic freeze protection or running pumps to prevent freezing and what a pool owner should do when temperatures drop so I thought it might be useful to have a thread which dealt with the issue from...
www.troublefreepool.com
From what ercot is saying the rolling blackouts will be only 15 minutes and the power back on for a couple hours. I think just leaving the main pump/spa and water feature pumps on is about all you need to do. The lines aren’t going to freeze solid in 15 minutes.
We’ve had below freezing temps for three days now. It’s 6 degrees currently and the high on Monday is 4 with a low of -5. Add -25 degree windchill to that day. Temps won’t creep above freezing until possibly next Saturday. Not normal for Tulsa at all. That’s the only reason I’m wrapping everything up in the tent (my tarp/tent combo). I use a construction lamp to “warm” the pad at night and a small heater during the day. It keeps it at a steady 20 degrees for now. I think you’re right that it probably wouldn’t be necessary for a few hours. Unfortunately, we’ve got a long way to go.
Agreed...when power goes out I am not going to sprint out there..but if it's not back on in an hour or so I will start the conversion. I can always take blankets off the motors in the morning, fill the pumps and run again...and if we lose power the next night, drain again and on and on.
- May 3, 2007
- 17,008
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
If you have multiple days of sub-freezing temps, the best thing to do is to just drain the equipment. After that, there is no point to tarping/covering. It doesn't add anything.
Thx. Just hoping to keep things running at this point.
I did throw some blankets over my control panel and then put some plastic trash bags over the blankets.
- Nov 7, 2018
- 1,049
- Pool Size
- 14000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
I talked to my neighbor who has the massive "fancy pool" (45 or 50K gallons) and while the waterfalls were winterized, the main pool/spa is not. The equipment is in the wide open and he hasn't tented anything. The builder told him to just let the pump run at the higher speed and everything will be OK. The pool is still under the builder's warranty, so there is incentive for the high end builder to give decent advice. The neighbor is more annoyed that his kids won't go play in the snow and it's a madhouse there. So, I think I have freaked out a little too much...my pool certainly didn't cost the $200K+ like my neighbor's did! 
Everything is fine running pool pumps 24/7 when temp drops below freezing. Circulating water is harder to freeze. Water is slightly warmed up when pumped. Electronics are generating heat...all goes to heck when the power goes out.
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Yep...trying to decide to go ahead with Plan B and draining the pad now. If one skimmer ices up but I can still pull water through the bottom drain, is it smarter to keep everything running? Currently, the main pump looks ice-free, the fountain pump is working well, and the booster pump running some jet seats in the spa is running well. Very little ice in spillover spa. Ice is forming on the pool but not near the moving waterfalls, spillover, or bubblers.
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I would run every pump you have and make sure water is circulating thru as much as possible...I have my pool/spa pump running circulating water. I have my bubblers on making sure water is going thru their pipes on the pad. I have my sheer descent pump on and water coming out all three sheer descents. We have ice on surfaces now. I would rather run than drain and wrap.
Am still running pump for now. Question is if I am forced to drain pad EQ, what about spa? Should spa drain valve be closed? I opened a bit yesterday and now thinking should not have done so.
Pump still running here in Dallas, but dang if I'm not nervous about tomorrow night.
Sleet pounding the windows here in Houston...power still on....not sure I will be sleeping too much tonight checking on pool.