I was not prepared for this! 😲❄️❄️❄️

[Josueosuna]

This is my first pool in a house I just bought... So I know very little about this stuff. Any help is much appreciated for this Houston newbie...

I read that to prepare for the winter storm I should leave the pump and waterfall running to prevent water from freezing in the pipes and equipment... But I was not prepared for the power outages!!! I was out of power for about 10hrs in freezing temps... do you think the equpment or water in pipes already froze?

I turned the equipment power breakers off before the power came back so I can control if the freeze protection wants to kicks in again.

now power is back and I don’t know if it is better for me to try to run the filter pump and waterfall again or just leave like that for a few days?? It’s going to be freezing temp for at least couple of days more.

what do you guys think?

 

[Jimrahbe]

J,

I would think after 10 hours in this weather, that it is too late.. If this were my pool, I would remove the lid from one of the pumps and see what it looks like.

If frozen solid then would leave the lid(s) off.

Sorry,

Jim R.

 

[HeyEng]

J,

I would think after 10 hours in this weather, that it is too late.. If this were my pool, I would remove the lid from one of the pumps and see what it looks like.

If frozen solid then would leave the lid(s) off.

Sorry,

Jim R.

I agree with Jim here. I would also be concerned with the heater as cold as it's getting there. If there is no where for the water to go, the heat exchanger could crack and I think that would be a costly repair.

 

[Josueosuna]

J,

I would think after 10 hours in this weather, that it is too late.. If this were my pool, I would remove the lid from one of the pumps and see what it looks like.

If frozen solid then would leave the lid(s) off.

Sorry,

Jim R.

Thanks! I couldn’t take the lids off on the first try... I’ll try again in the morning. I believe by now it is all frozen. ❄

 

[Josueosuna]

I agree with Jim here. I would also be concerned with the heater as cold as it's getting there. If there is no where for the water to go, the heat exchanger could crack and I think that would be a costly repair.

Tnks! Hope the home warranty or insurance helps if that’s the casee!

 

[Josueosuna]

Brief update here.. thanks for your recommendations. There is visible damage in the lids of the pumps, one valve and the pipe connections to the heater. I’ll have to see how much it will be of repairs after all this of the weather gets a bit better. Hope it is a not too expensive learning.

 

[Newdude]

When we get there, Wait. Wait some more and then wait a few more days. Everything may look totally thawed but a 2 inch pipe can let loose a grenade sized chunk of still frozen ice that will blow through something that wasn’t damaged. The same hidden/deep areas that were last to freeze will also be the last to thaw.

 

[Jimrahbe]

J,

I suspect that we will see your problems duplicated many times in the next week or so as it warms up.

Thanks for the pics they certainly drive home what can happen.

Jim R.

 

[ajw22]

It is interesting to see how much the ice has expanded over the top of the pump to crack off the lid. That looks like more then the 10% expansion we say ice does over water...

 

[Newdude]

It is interesting to see how much the ice has expanded over the top of the pump to crack off the lid. That looks like more then the 10% expansion we say ice does over water.

+1. I always try to keep in mind that I may not be seeing all the water that i *think* is in there. The difference could make a much larger 10%.

 

[HeyEng]

Brief update here.. thanks for your recommendations. There is visible damage in the lids of the pumps, one valve and the pipe connections to the heater. I’ll have to see how much it will be of repairs after all this of the weather gets a bit better. Hope it is a not too expensive learning.

That is a bummer. The good news is that there are A LOT of very knowledgeable folks here at TFP and help with getting you back up and running is just a post away.

 

[HeyEng]

It is interesting to see how much the ice has expanded over the top of the pump to crack off the lid. That looks like more then the 10% expansion we say ice does over water...

I think this is a great example of the "science" being tested. Similar to the adage "if the water is flowing, it will be ok"...we have seen some examples that this is not the case. Not saying the science is wrong, just that most of us don't have pumps that can move water that is less than 32 degrees FAST ENOUGH to keep it from freezing.