Hard Freeze in the middle of Pool Work

[Brushman]

We're in the middle of a pool remodeling project -- acid wash of 12 year old plaster, replacing some equipment and replacing some of the pool deck tiles, scuppers and waterfall surfaces. Right now the main pool chamber is half empty and the two smaller chambers above that level are both totally empty. New IntelliBrite lights have been run but not yet installed into the pool walls and bottoms. We're forecast for 4 days with freezing temperatures in south Texas and one night where we will drop into the teens. I don't know whether that kind of cold air sitting on the plaster is a good thing? It's usually underwater and the water here never freezes even in the coldest weather. Same question on the brand new Intellibrite lights now sitting on the pool deck. I have time to fill the pool and drop the lights into the water if that's the smart thing to do. Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Why isn't the pool drained? Do you have issues with ground water?

 

[ajw22]

What do you mean by chambers?

Pools up North sit with ice alongside plaster walls during the winter.

What you do not want is a thin layer of water freezing on steps or ledges where the ice can spall the plaster.

Your lights should be fine sitting on the deck in the cold. Just do not power them on.

 

[Brushman]

What do you mean by chambers?

Pools up North sit with ice alongside plaster walls during the winter.

What you do not want is a thin layer of water freezing on steps or ledges where the ice can spall the plaster.

Your lights should be fine sitting on the deck in the cold. Just do not power them on.

Thanks Allen, familiar with spalling but not in the plaster context so I'll avoid that thin water layer issue.

By chambers, I mean as shown in my profile picture -- scuppers fill a top chamber, that one drains over a rock wall into a secondary chamber and then from there the water spills into the main pool. The whole thing was designed to (1) make my wife happy, she does love it, and (2) make it as big as pain in the backside as possible to keep clean.

 

[Brushman]

Why isn't the pool drained? Do you have issues with ground water?

Thanks Joyful -- yes it was fully drained for one day to do the acid cleaning. But down here, if you don't fill the pool back up at least halfway back up with water as soon as you can, they often come up out of the ground.

 

[FloatOnFrank]

Hello, I think to protect your plaster, it's best to keep it submerged during freezing weather to avoid potential cracking.

 

[Bperry]

Thanks Joyful -- yes it was fully drained for one day to do the acid cleaning. But down here, if you don't fill the pool back up at least halfway back up with water as soon as you can, they often come up out of the ground.

People all over the US drain the water below the tile for winter and live on much colder climates than you. I’m not sure it matters either way.