Water loss during freeze protection.

[Paularmer]

Hi

Houston is getting some very cold weather and my freeze protection kicked in as the dial was set to 36 degrees I heard a water flow whilst lying in bed and when i went out side it looks like the level has dropped to lower level of skimmer basket, is this normal?

I moved the dial back to 33 pump stopped but the temp is now 30 outside and it hasn’t kicked back in.

advice greatly appreciated

Cold Brit living in Houston!

 

[toofast]

Hi

Houston is getting some very cold weather and my freeze protection kicked in as the dial was set to 36 degrees I heard a water flow whilst lying in bed and when i went out side it looks like the level has dropped to lower level of skimmer basket, is this normal?

I moved the dial back to 33 pump stopped but the temp is now 30 outside and it hasn’t kicked back in.

advice greatly appreciated

Cold Brit living in Houston!

I'm sure others will kick in but no this is not normal ... the pump running while cold should have no impact on water level....

 

[Paularmer]

its bizarre the water level is down to the skimmer level and the return inlets are spitting like crazy.The pump kicked in overnight again as it should.

I turned the auto fill off a few days ago aswell, but a 2 inch drop seems quite excessive right?

 

[mknauss]

Does sound excessive though your evaporation rates are probably higher than normal. Your pool water has been warmer than your overnight air temperatures by a significant amount.

I would suggest adding water to get the system working again and when things warm up, do a bucket test.
See Pool School - Leak Detection

Take care.

 

[Paularmer]

Excellent, thanks for the input, i'll get on it tonight when i get home.

best wishes

 

[willisn75]

Excellent, thanks for the input, i'll get on it tonight when i get home.

best wishes

I’m in San Antonio and have had the same problem during both of our recent freezes here. Do you happen to have a fountain or waterfall? I have a theory that those features in my pool is leading to larger evaporation amounts since the freeze protect has been running the fountain/waterfall pretty much non-stop for 2-3 days. I did not have the evaporation problem when temps have been warmer and freeze protection isn’t needed. Anyway, just a thought!

 

[bmoreswim]

its bizarre the water level is down to the skimmer level and the return inlets are spitting like crazy.The pump kicked in overnight again as it should.

I turned the auto fill off a few days ago aswell, but a 2 inch drop seems quite excessive right?

It's been some time since your last post, so hopefully you've identified the issue. Just in case you are still searching, here's a thought...

I think the above has the key. If my timing is correct you a) turned off your autofill, b) had cold weather which triggered the pump to run and c) your water level dropped whilst the pump was running.

If so, then it sounds like you may have a leak in your plumbing lines. It sounds like the water level was stable with the autofill on and pump running. The autofill was replacing lost water. Also sounds like the water level did not drop after autofill was turned off but before pump ran. This would mean that the shell isn't leaking, but only when the pump runs, and now that autofill is off it's noticeable. Not sure if you had your pump running after autofill was turned off and before freeze protection kicked on. Potentially freeze protection could be set to turn valves certain ways to route water appropriately and that caused a path to be used that is leaking. One that is not normally used?

Let us know if anything is my scenario makes sense for your situation or if you are good to go.