Winterizing Solar

[MrSethTaylor]

I'm thinking its about time to turn off the solar for the winter. This is my first winter with it and I want to make sure I do everything I"m supposed to, very nervous that if I don't do the programming correct on the SunTouch controller I'll end up with my valves causing a dead end and breaking something.

1. fully drain the solar panels at low points, leave open
2. turn valves to block the to and from lines up on the roof
3. Program the SunTouch controller (here is where I'm super unsure) - Do I change it in the solar menu, the circuit menu? Do I need to change the valve menu at all?

Link to my controller just to make sure SunTouch Controller

Anything else I need to know or do for the winter

 

[Texas Splash]

Good morning. Can you post some pics of the plumbing and valves that supports your solar? I'm sure that will help with replies. I'm going to tag @mas985 who has a solid background in solar and plumbing requirements.

 

[mas985]

I'm thinking its about time to turn off the solar for the winter. This is my first winter with it and I want to make sure I do everything I"m supposed to, very nervous that if I don't do the programming correct on the SunTouch controller I'll end up with my valves causing a dead end and breaking something.

If you have a solar valve actuator, you can just put the switch into the center position and that will disable the valve so there is no chance of redirecting the flow to solar.

1. fully drain the solar panels at low points, leave open
2. turn valves to block the to and from lines up on the roof
3. Program the SunTouch controller (here is where I'm super unsure) - Do I change it in the solar menu, the circuit menu? Do I need to change the valve menu at all?

If the solar valve is disabled, you don't need to do anything. But in the Suntouch menu, you can also select the heat source as "Off" for extra safety.

Are you using the controller in Solar Only mode or Pool/Spa mode?

Sacramento has very similar climate to Pleasanton and I never winterize my solar. Are you at a higher elevation?

 

[MrSethTaylor]

Thanks mas958, no i'm in Sacramento proper, I wasn't sure if some of our colder days could cause issues in the panels. I never winterize the pool and its never been an issue but since the pathways in the panels are much smaller i wasn't sure....

at the very least I would like to turn off the heat, in part because no need to run the pump on high speed just to filter the water, i just assume keep it at 950 rpms to circulate.

 

[mas985]

To cause any sort of freeze damage, temperatures really need to be well below 32F for more than 6 hours which really doesn't happen that much anymore. Even years ago when we got much colder weather, it was never an issue.

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