Should booster pump be running during freeze

[fullmoon]

First last year my booster pump inside caseingg froze and caused casing to crack and we had to replace it. That was the second winter we had the pool. The pool had been on freeze protection and we were not aware of the crack until the booster pump was turned on. I did not know the booster pump which runs the cleaner needed to be turned on during freez protection but what is have read in this forum it needs a I run during freeze protection. But now that it have the booster pump on the spa will be drained after running the freeze protection cycle for 8 hours . This is what I Read happens when booster pump comes on during freeze protection. 1) is that true and if not then what is causing me to loose water in the spa in freeze protection mode .? I have not had that happen before. 2) do I leave booster pump off in freeze mode and use just let the pool pump run during the freeze time and wrapp the booster pump off o protect it from the freeze in hopes the freeze will not damage it again? Thx

 

[Bperry]

First last year my booster pump inside caseingg froze and caused casing to crack and we had to replace it. That was the second winter we had the pool. The pool had been on freeze protection and we were not aware of the crack until the booster pump was turned on. I did not know the booster pump which runs the cleaner needed to be turned on during freez protection but what is have read in this forum it needs a I run during freeze protection. But now that it have the booster pump on the spa will be drained after running the freeze protection cycle for 8 hours . This is what I Read happens when booster pump comes on during freeze protection. 1) is that true and if not then what is causing me to loose water in the spa in freeze protection mode .? I have not had that happen before. 2) do I leave booster pump off in freeze mode and use just let the pool pump run during the freeze time and wrapp the booster pump off o protect it from the freeze in hopes the freeze will not damage it again? Thx

If water freezes in the pump, it will break…always. If you can’t trust your plumbing setup with the freeze protection you should drain any exposed above ground plumbing until your out of the danger zone.

The spa draining is a plumbing or valve issue. Someone else would need to help with that.

 

[JJ_Tex]

You need all pipes and pumps either fully drained and winterized, or part of freeze protection to keep water moving through it.

It would not be normal for a spa to drain in use, including in freeze protection. I'm not following your post very well. Are you saying your spa does drain when in use, or you just read about it happening to people? It does happen some times, but that is due to a faulty valve. In normal operation, your freeze protection should cycle through the various components on freeze protection to keep water running through them and keep them from freezing. Mine cycles through pool and spa mode every ~15 minutes anytime the air temperature is below 35 degrees and has done a good job keeping everything working properly for the last 4 years.

 

[Mayorb]

It may depend on how cold it gets and for how long. The temperature of the pool water is the temperature of the water running through the pool plumbing. Where I am (Gulf Coast) the pool water never gets colder than about 50F, but I realize in a lot of areas it gets much colder.
Is your pool on an automated system, or is your freeze control a box that overrides a mechanical timer?

 

[fullmoon]

You need all pipes and pumps either fully drained and winterized, or part of freeze protection to keep water moving through it.

It would not be normal for a spa to drain in use, including in freeze protection. I'm not following your post very well. Are you saying your spa does drain when in use, or you just read about it happening to people? It does happen some times, but that is due to a faulty valve. In normal operation, your freeze protection should cycle through the various components on freeze protection to keep water running through them and keep them from freezing. Mine cycles through pool and spa mode every ~15 minutes anytime the air temperature is below 35 degrees and has done a good job keeping everything working properly for the last 4 years.

My spa only drains water when in freeze protection mode. I had read in other forums that it had that happen to them as well and the thought of being the amount of times that the pool to spa and spa to pool circulation happens. When on pool filter and cleaner cycle the spa will not drain will . I have programmed my pool filter and cleaner not to come on during freeze protection. Even though freeze protection still comes on but I have the cleaner and pool filter set to no for freeze protection and the cleaner will not come on but the pool filter does. So now I am trying to do is set them to manually on and to stay on but my pool filter will come on but NOT my cleaner while pool freeze is inactivated even I have nothing else coming on. So I thought I may drain the water in the booster pump but I am unsure of any valves that may need to be shut off to the booster pump .. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thank you

 

[DrewLG]

what is causing me to loose water in the spa in freeze protection mode?

I do not believe that this is related to the booster pump (at least, not directly).

In Freeze Mode, your system runs the pump continuously, switching between pool and spa 3 or 4 times per hour. And each time it switches, the Suction and Return valves both move.

While the valves are moving, water is being pulled from both the pool and the spa, and water is being returned to both the pool and the spa. So one of three things can happen:

1. If the flow is exactly balanced between the spa and pool pipes, and if the valves move in perfect synchronization always, then exactly the same amount of water will be pulled from the spa and from the pool, and exactly the same amount will be returned to the spa and the pool, so the water levels in the pool and spa will not change.
2. If there is an imbalance in the flow or timing such that more water is pulled from the pool and sent to the spa, the water level in the spa will rise -- but you will not notice, because the excess will just spill over into the pool and it will appear that the pool and spa water levels did not change.
3. If there is an imbalance the other way, the water level in the spa will fall. And even if it only 1/4 inch during each transition, after 8 hours the level will have fallen 8 inches -- and you will definitely notice that.

If you have a spa bypass line that allows a little water to flow to the spa even in pool mode, opening it more will refill the spa even if its level falls during the pool-to-spa/spa-to-pool transitions.

 

[fullmoon]

Thanks I am not familiar with the pool valves and direction they should be set for what needs to be turned. 2nd year pool owner here. We live in a rural area and getting someone out to keep me in line with this sort of thing is impossible, so the internet is my only source. I do understand what you are explaining but for me which valve needs opened more you got me there. Thank you for your response it does make sense.

 

[ajw22]

I do understand what you are explaining but for me which valve needs opened more you got me there.

Showing us pictures of your situation with your equipment pad and valves will let us communicate better.