My equipment, Plan to not winterize

[MDT]

This is my first winter for the pool. In my area it is rarely possible but can hit single digits. This is a fiberglass plunge pool of 2,500 gallon with gas heater, salt gen, plumbed for few spa jets and has a couple actuator valves. The two valves I am questioning if I can leave closed are a hydrostat valve the builder put in to pull water from outside/around the shell in a massive rain event (labeled 1) and a drain valve with actuator that would take water out of the pool (labeled 2). I have the spa jet valve partially open (the other actuator). Thinking there will be no water above ground on the closed sides of these valves. Is this OK?
Thanks

 

[mas985]

Thinking there will be no water above ground on the closed sides of these valves.

Are you planning to drain the above ground equipment or keep the pump running while there is a risk of freezing? The pad plumbing does not automatically drain of water when the pump is off unless there is a vacuum release in the plumbing. Closed valves are usually the first place where freeze damage will occur since ice has no room to expand.

 

[MDT]

Hi, I plan to keep the pump and heater running in the winter. My thought was the "hydrostat" plumbing would be empty, since that valve has never been open for suction since maybe initial inspections in Spring and it would drain back under the pool. The #2 valve on the right side should be empty on the closed side, since it has an open end connection to the landscape corrugated drain pipe. The equipment has an automatic freeze protection with the automation system.

 

[mas985]

Running the heater in the winter will likely decrease the lifetime.

Heater Condensation - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Jandy​

Jandy gives the following guidance in the JXI heater manual:[7]

• Do not operate the heater if the water temperature is below 40 °F (4°C)
• Short term operation of heater when temps are below 40F can continue but continuous flow must be maintained.
• Prolonged operation with water below 50F can seriously damage the heater and is not covered by warranty.
• It is recommended that vent runs over 18 feet be insulated to reduce condensation and use a condensate trap in the vent run close to the heater, especially in cold climate installations.
• If the heater is to be operated in below freezing conditions it should be installed in a protected outdoor shelter.

Also, it really isn't necessary as long as the water is moving.

Also, I am a firm believer that if the temperatures get so low that freeze damage is a possibility, you are better off just draining the pad equipment.

The Physics of Freezing and Freeze Protection

Recently, there have been a lot of questions from those living in moderate climates about using automatic freeze protection or running pumps to prevent freezing and what a pool owner should do when temperatures drop so I thought it might be useful to have a thread which dealt with the issue from...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[mas985]

One other WiKi that might be useful:

Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com