Pump and PVC Melted under Blanket w Halogen Light during TN deep freeze 2024

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It said 136 degrees when I checked this morning. Temps are now above freezing so I turned off the heat lights. I'll check everything once I get home tonight and hope for the best.
 
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Apsuhead said:
It said 136 degrees when I checked this morning. Temps are now above freezing so I turned off the heat lights. I'll check everything once I get home tonight and hope for the best.
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136? Something may be off with that thermometer. Modern temperature testing electronics don’t seem to be very accurate. I have and indoor/outdoor model with a remote sensor for outdoors. When I bring it in to recharge it, the base model and remote model read 3 degrees different even though they sit right next to each other.

Another reason not to trust things like that when the bad things can happen within their margin of error.
 
I really can’t tell. It appears the pvc is just discolored. The pvc does seem like it is slanted now going up to the filter. The side of the pump housing/filter is what melted. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I took the blanket off when I got home last night. I’m a teacher/coach and I had school and basketball games yesterday and again today. Leave home before sunrise and get home around 10 pm. I guess I will call my PB today and check on the pump. Not sure if I can just replace the housing if the motor section is still good. I couldn’t hardly sleep last night but this morning I’m at peace now lol. Just money. It was the perfect storm … the power breaker popped off overnight. Ice had built up around the bottom of the pump and I couldn’t remove the drain plugs. I used some small blankets and the halogen light to try to keep it warm. My wife told me to use an old king size down comforter that she was getting rid of to cover it. That thing held the heat in alright. I checked it several times and it felt slightly warm under there, but I was afraid it was still too cold under the blanket. Never in my wildest dreams. 🤦‍♂️
 
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Sorry for your loss...hopefully, as you say, you can replace just the pump housing/basket and maybe some PVC joints + unions.

Those 500w halogen lights throw off some serious heat.
 
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My PB is sending guys out to check my damage today. He implied that it may be wiser to just replace the whole pump if so many parts are damaged. Then I could keep my pump motor as a spare if it still works. I will see how much replacement cost would be compared to buying new parts. The whole filter strainer, basket, housing assembly is melted. Lots of pvc to replace as well. My wife isn’t going to be happy with me 🤑
 
The picture of the melted parts indicates that the light bulb was way too close to the pump.

For the pump to melt like that, the bulb must have been right on top of the pump.

You need to give the light plenty of clearance and you need a way to control the maximum temperature.

Infrared Heat Lamps are specifically designed for heat.

You can use a temperature switch to control the light to reduce overheating.

These thermostats are compatible with portable electric heating equipment, which are commonly used to heat offices, jobsites, or garages.

They're nonprogrammable, so the temperature setting stays the same until it's readjusted.

Heaters plug into the thermostats, which then plug into a wall outlet.

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Freeze protection thermostats control heating devices to avoid frozen pipes and other low temperature issues.

Also known as temperature cutout thermostats or low temperature detection thermostats, they're commonly used with engine block heaters, heat lamps, heat tape on water lines, and tank deicers.

These freezestats have a fixed setpoint that turns the heater off above 45°F and on when it drops below 35°F.

They control one heating device and have an indicator light that illuminates when the temperature drops to warn users of possible freeze events.

Heating equipment plugs into the thermostats, which then plug into a wall outlet.

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A small electric heater with a fan is probably a better choice than a light.

The fan circulates the heat.

Some heater have a thermostat or you can use an external thermostat to limit the temperature to a safe level.

Some heater do not work with an on/off switch.
 
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It probably would have been better to tarp the whole front opening or use a sheet of plywood so that the whole shed was enclosed and then the heat would not be as concentrated.

A temperature controlled switch would also have helped to limit the top temp to a safe level.

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IMG_0941.jpegIMG_0942.jpegPB worked on my damage today. It appears they just replaced the pump housing and filter/basket. They also replaced some of the pvc. I haven’t talked to them yet but the pump turned on when I got home to check everything out. They will be back tomorrow
 
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I put a blanket over the shed opening last year during the super cold event. I have all the supplies I need to blow out the lines and drain everything in case I ever lost power during a freezing event. Gizmo, bungee plugs for the returns, skimmer plate cover, dummy pipe for the swg. The thing that screwed everything up was the ice around the pool pump inside the bottom of the shed. I couldn’t get the drain plugs out of pump. My only guess is the snow melted outside the shed in the sun, and it drained downhill into the pool shed and froze when in the shade. That’s when I panicked and grabbed blankets and the work light. Stupid mistake! I still can’t believe it got so hot, every time I checked under there … it barely felt warm and the ice wasn’t melting.

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From the looks of the pump, our only play is to be happy you didn't catch fire under there.

It very well could have been a 3 ft wide flaming puddle of PVC/plastic. Once the shed caught the flames would have been 10ft tall. :ROFLMAO:
 
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