We just completed our first full year with a pool and learned a lot along the way. That said, last year the weather never got cold enough to really worry about freezing so we didn't anything much different during the winter months
This year, we are in the midst of a week long cold where the temps may not get above freezing and for a few days may not get out of the teens.
This morning I woke up and the top of my pool was frozen. I knew this was not good and immediately broke up the ice on the surface. It was a very thin layer. I then realized the pool returns were not pushing any water out. I went over to the pump and saw that it was not running and inside basket appeared frozen.
We called a local pool shop and they stated this unfortunately is common in our area since most are not used to dealing with freezing weather and pools. They recommended we take hot water and pour into the pump and all over the piping around the pipe to try and defrost of it. I spent a good hour outside doing this and was able to get the pump running again.
Here is my issue - I cannot get the pump to move any water to the return jets. I did stick my hand in the water to feel if the skimmers had any suction and they do not. The basket on my pump is not really priming either. When I turn it on the pump comes on and the water moves some in the basket but is not pumping the way it should. If i turn the filter to backwash or winterize, the pump water pressure in the pump appears normal, but the moment I move it back to filter it returns to not having much pressure.
I'm not certain if this has to do with letting this freeze and now the pipes are frozen underground, or is there something else that could be causing this that I am missing. Everything was working perfectly fine until this morning but I'm lost at this point.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
This year, we are in the midst of a week long cold where the temps may not get above freezing and for a few days may not get out of the teens.
This morning I woke up and the top of my pool was frozen. I knew this was not good and immediately broke up the ice on the surface. It was a very thin layer. I then realized the pool returns were not pushing any water out. I went over to the pump and saw that it was not running and inside basket appeared frozen.
We called a local pool shop and they stated this unfortunately is common in our area since most are not used to dealing with freezing weather and pools. They recommended we take hot water and pour into the pump and all over the piping around the pipe to try and defrost of it. I spent a good hour outside doing this and was able to get the pump running again.
Here is my issue - I cannot get the pump to move any water to the return jets. I did stick my hand in the water to feel if the skimmers had any suction and they do not. The basket on my pump is not really priming either. When I turn it on the pump comes on and the water moves some in the basket but is not pumping the way it should. If i turn the filter to backwash or winterize, the pump water pressure in the pump appears normal, but the moment I move it back to filter it returns to not having much pressure.
I'm not certain if this has to do with letting this freeze and now the pipes are frozen underground, or is there something else that could be causing this that I am missing. Everything was working perfectly fine until this morning but I'm lost at this point.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
