Hello all! Hoping I can find some help or direction to an issue I am having. I am in central OK and our weather is up and down during the winter. Our inground pool has an attached hottub/spa that overflows into the pool during typical operations. During the winter we utilize the freeze guard protection that is part of the system. In addition to the freeze protection I typically cover the equipment and include some heat lamps under the tarps for some added help. Recently I've noticed that when the freeze protector switches from pool to spa, the heater kicks on. I can hear it and see it that it's running in the Pentair app. I can turn it off in the app, but it will continue to kick back on. I've read where running the heater during these winter spells can damage the heater, not to mention being under a tarp with little ventilation. When it's not freezing temps, I have a schedule set in the app for the spa to run an hour a day by itself to circulate and sanitize. Could the scheduled run time be a part of this issue? It's like the water temp is below the minimum temp of 40 degrees in the app so the heater kicks on automatically during the freeze protection. I've mostly ran the entire system through the app so the panel is a little foreign to me. Definitely will take all the help I can get to avoid any future damages. Thanks all in advance!
Freeze protection help
- Thread starter bull jr
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 62,694
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Can you tell us what brand and type of automation you have? Completing a signature with all your pool specs is very helpful in getting accurate recommendations in solving your issues.
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My apologies, that would certainly help! I have all Pentair equipment. The automation I believe is the EasyTouch control system, ScreenLogic2 is the control system.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,694
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
In Configure ScreenLogic, do you have Spa Manual Heat checked? In your Schedule, both Pool and Spa have Freeze Protect On?
Using the Windows Screenlogic program is much easier to use for setting up the EasyTouch automation.
Using the Windows Screenlogic program is much easier to use for setting up the EasyTouch automation.
I will venture out to the panel in a moment and see if I can find these settings and report back. I've not accessed the Windows Screenlogic but sounds like that could be helpful as well. Honestly we've been pretty hands off as it relates to the system as a whole since we had it built in 2017.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,694
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
You should delete the scheduled spa run time each day. Use Spillway if you wish to refresh the spa water each day.
Is your heater on its own circuit breaker? Mine is, and I simply flip that breaker off for winter.
I did go into the app and delete the spa schedule. I may just leave it deleted until the warmer months when it's needed more anyway. The heater and the salt chlorinator are on the same breaker. I guess I could still flip it off during these ice/freeze weather events we have. From what I understand, the water temps may be lower than needed for additional chlorine anyway? Assuming the chlorinator would pick up where it left off when the breaker is turned back on?
The chlorinator won’t make chlorine when water temps are below ~55F-ish.
Turn the heater off at the heater and back on when the danger has passed. Simple. At some point, even with automation, you need to visit the equipment pad.
The temps here have been 30 and below for the past few days, I get the same calls from ones with automation every year and give the same advice.
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I went out to the panel and Spa Manual heat is checked/on. I will see if I can uncover the heater and turn it off at the panel. I covered the equipment with a tarp, heat tape on the exposed plumbing and set heat lamps to help with the air temps.
Further update- I was able to access the panel on the heater itself and pressed the power button to turn it off at the source. Still is kicking on when the mode switches to spa. The heater does not kick on when it switches to pool side. The freeze guard is obviously working since it's rotating between the 2 modes and I can see the water flow to each one. The lowest heat setting on the spa side in the app is 40 degrees. Since it's low 20's the water temp is lower than that so it must think it needs to function. Even though I deleted the spa schedule entirely on the phone app, could it still be searching for that schedule since freeze protection mode engaged during that scheduled time for the spa? I understand the function of the freeze protections is to somewhat "override" the system if you will. If I can't figure it out I will flip the breaker at the control panel that is labeled chlorinator/heater. Controls and pumps have their own labeled breakers so I assume that would be a quick workaround
- May 3, 2014
- 62,694
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Thank you. It's working fine and seems to be doing it's intended job. It's the heater that won't stop kicking on when it's the spa's turn to circulate during the freeze protection mode.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,694
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
That is odd. When I have used freeze protection, mine did not do that.
Some command is set incorrectly. Not sure where.
Some command is set incorrectly. Not sure where.
I do think it's in a command or even possibly the communication between the app and the equipment that sends and receives the info. Even after switching the breaker off for the heater, it still shows it to be on inside the app.
In the EasyTouch HEAT menu, disable heating of the spa (heat = off) for the winter.
The heater off at the heater will not turn on, regardless of what the display indicates. The heater overrides the automation.
Thank you all for your help. It's very reassuring! A little proactivity can definitely save some money and headaches!