power went out and pool pumps iced up - how to thaw?

[tpn7399]

how do i thaw out a pool pump that iced over? thanks.

power went out around midnight SUnday/Monday. and the pumps stopped and froze. power is back on so i wanted to thaw out so i can run as cold temps are expected again in houston tonight.

 

[PoolGate]

If your power went out and the pump froze, there is more than just thawing and running it. First of all, if it froze hard, it is very likely it is damaged. Possibly damaged beyond repair. Also more than just the pump probably froze. The pipes going to and coming from it and other equipment like filters and heaters also likely froze. I am not sure there is much you can do now but wait for the freeze to end, assess the damage, and make an insurance claim if needed. For now, kill the power to it until you are sure.

 

[SlipperyPete]

I had the same thing happen. I was running my heater to make sure I had warm water pumping through the freeze. I lost power for 36 hours. I did drain the pump and most of the filter before it froze. My pool installer was here after for something unrelated and said he didn't see any damage in my setup. I'd like to thaw it out to get things back flowing. I thought it would thaw naturally. It was originally supposed to get into the 50's today and 70's tomorrow, but it looks like we won't get out of the low 40's for several days now. Any advice for thawing the pipes and equipment so I can get the water moving again?

 

[CrystalRiver]

Let it thaw naturally. Trying to force the issue with hair dryers, hot water, or blowtorches is more likely to cause your things to break due to the sudden and uneven thermal expansion.