New pool owner and just bought my first VS pump...winter scheduling question.

[atibaldi]

Hi everyone. I bought a home with a pool back in June which had a 15 year old single speed pump that was on its last legs.

Rather than waiting for it to break, I decided to proactively get a new Jandy VS pump which was installed today.

I am setting up a schedule for this to run now and have a question:

I am located near Charlotte and the pool is staying open through winter. We are getting hit with sub freezing temps overnight right now so I want to make sure my water is consistently moving.

Right now I have it set to run at 2,500 overnight from 10 pm to 10 am (during coldest temps) and then 1,500 throughout the daytime hours. What do y'all think?

 

[Bperry]

Hi everyone. I bought a home with a pool back in June which had a 15 year old single speed pump that was on its last legs.

Rather than waiting for it to break, I decided to proactively get a new Jandy VS pump which was installed today.

I am setting up a schedule for this to run now and have a question:

I am located near Charlotte and the pool is staying open through winter. We are getting hit with sub freezing temps overnight right now so I want to make sure my water is consistently moving.

Right now I have it set to run at 2,500 overnight from 10 pm to 10 am (during coldest temps) and then 1,500 throughout the daytime hours. What do y'all think?

If you keep the pump running, make sure everything above ground that has water in it is also running (polaris cleaner, water features, etc) if installed.

 

[reggiehammond]

Hi everyone. I bought a home with a pool back in June which had a 15 year old single speed pump that was on its last legs.

Rather than waiting for it to break, I decided to proactively get a new Jandy VS pump which was installed today.

I am setting up a schedule for this to run now and have a question:

I am located near Charlotte and the pool is staying open through winter. We are getting hit with sub freezing temps overnight right now so I want to make sure my water is consistently moving.

Right now I have it set to run at 2,500 overnight from 10 pm to 10 am (during coldest temps) and then 1,500 throughout the daytime hours. What do y'all think?

No need to run it fast overnight; you should be able to easily run 1500rpm or lower 24/7.

Pumps are not magic; they only do a few things:
1) Filter water (not terribly important and doesn't take long.)
2) Skim the pool surface (perhaps the most important)
3) Satisfy flow switch of a SWCG or Heater

Many, many of us run the pump at the lowest speed possible to achieve those 3 items. Running faster than is necessary accomplishes almost nothing, while considerably increasing your electrical costs. My pump runs 24/7 at ~190 watts per hour. Basically nothing in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Newdude]

Your only real concern of freezing in NC is the above ground plumbing and 1500 RPMs is likely plenty there IMO. Even if some ice forms it will be a thin layer which shouldn't affect skimmer suction. The skimmer and return areas will probably remain unfrozen anyway from the water movement near them. If you get an arctic blast for a spell at some point, then increase the RPMs for an over abundance of caution.

Also have a equipment pad draining plan *before* it's pitch black with sideways sleet when the power goes out. Make a test run or two now in much more favorable conditions.

 

[atibaldi]

Your only real concern of freezing in NC is the above ground plumbing and 1500 RPMs is likely plenty there IMO. Even if some ice forms it will be a thin layer which shouldn't affect skimmer suction. The skimmer and return areas will probably remain unfrozen anyway from the water movement near them. If you get an arctic blast for a spell at some point, then increase the RPMs for an over abundance of caution.

Also have a equipment pad draining plan *before* it's pitch black with sideways sleet when the power goes out. Make a test run or two now in much more favorable conditions.

This is helpful, thank you! I'm probably being paranoid at 2,500 overnight then. It's my first winter here in NC. Can you explain the "equipment pad draining plan" a bit more? Do you just mean how to clear water off the pad before it freezes?

 

[Newdude]

Do you just mean how to clear water off the pad before it freezes?

How to empty the equipment and all the pipes above ground. Sometimes there's a loop or three that won't drain simply by pulling all the drain plugs.

 

[atibaldi]

How to empty the equipment and all the pipes above ground. Sometimes there's a loop or three that won't drain simply by pulling all the drain plugs.

Understood, thank you!

 

[Newdude]

Like this thing.




If you pull the equipment drain plugs the water in the above ground pipes will drain onto the pad or go back to the pool, stopping at the height of the pool water. Providing thats below the equipment pad height, a few inches below grade (in NC) removes most the freezing concern as the ground insulates those pipes. But the device above will still hold water and needs to be unscrewed. Any particularly unlevel pipes or loops may also need draining. You can use a shop vac exhaust port fed to either direction inside the pump basket area if needed. (Your pics in your profile don't have the full pad)

 

[atibaldi]

Like this thing.

View attachment 620351


If you pull the equipment drain plugs the water in the above ground pipes will drain onto the pad or go back to the pool, stopping at the height of the pool water. Providing thats below the equipment pad height, a few inches below grade (in NC) removes most the freezing concern as the ground insulates those pipes. But the device above will still hold water and needs to be unscrewed. Any particularly unlevel pipes or loops may also need draining. You can use a shop vac exhaust port fed to either direction inside the pump basket area if needed. (Your pics in your profile don't have the full pad)

Helpful, that whole section is actually being cut out next week since I don't even have the vacuum that it's meant for...and now it's leaking lol. So that specific item won't be an issue moving forward. But your guidance is much appreciated.

 

[Newdude]

that whole section is actually being cut out next week

Sometimes things just work out by themselves.