Cover pump for the winter?

[CCAT18]

My husband and I recently purchased a home with an in ground pool in September. We hired someone to close it for the winter, which went smoothly (even if the gentleman was difficult to communicate with). Now we are half way through winter in Northeast Ohio (lots of snow with a recent melt) I am wondering - were we supposed to cover the pump and heater for the winter with a tarp or cover?

The pool is winterized and covered. I am just wondering if we should cover the equipment that has been winterized. The equipment is in a permanent location exposed to the weather. Any advice?

 

[OTPirate]

I'm in the South, so I don't close my pool. I do know that pressure gauges will freeze. I think it makes sense to cover equipment that is exposed to the elements.

 

[woodyp]

Never a bad idea.

 

[CCAT18]

Thanks for the advice. I am thinking I may go out and cover it before the next snow storm comes!

 

[blbncsu]

If I recall my Hayward pump manual says to NOT cover the pump since condensation can get trapped under the cover and lead to rust or other issues. Not sure if its a big deal one way or another.

 

[bmoreswim]

I expect that the condensation is a real issue if covered where air can no longer circulate. My experience in a snowy environment, which easily buries the equipment, is that after two winters, the pump wouldn't start in the third year. The guy who closes it came by and essentially whacked it with a hammer (OK, he probably tapped it gently all around) which freed it up. Then it was running but not as quiet as it used to be. Then it became louder. So he removed it and replaced the bearings. He also said he would not rebuild it again should that happen again. He would have me replace it due to the overall condition of the motor inside from the condensation which caused rust. Again after just two winters. So this fall, when he closed the pool he removed the pump (including my booster pump which I'm not going to replace and I'm going to get a robot but I digress). He is going to re-pipe it higher but also in a way that it will be easy to remove annually. The best approach to keeping a pump in prime shape (haha) is to remove it for the winter where pools get closed and store it indoors. Other options may help but would be less effective to various degrees. Surely many keep theirs outside while closed, but that didn't work too well for me.

In your case, I'd try to cover it so that snow doesn't pile up on it and rain doesn't routinely fall on it while closed - while allowing air to move freely about it (probably not easy). That is, if you can't easily remove it.

 

[Captain 776]

Do any of you remove the motor and bring it in the house for the winter?

 

[skimmerswimmer]

Do any of you remove the motor and bring it in the house for the winter?

I have a cover for my heater and I bring the pumps and filter assembly into the garage for the winter. I also cover the multiport valve with a contractor bag.

 

[Captain 776]

I would do the same, moisture in a motor winding is not where you want to be, even very tiny amounts can cause a problem and be shortening motor life.
slightly larger pumps than we use have electric heaters in the casing to prevent moisture when the warm motor shuts off in a cooler ambient air space.
As soon as the motors arrive, we must temporarily feed the heaters while in the warehouse and then have the heaters on for a recommended amount of time before initial start up to bake the moisture out.
We do Megger tests to check the resistance in motor windings.