What to do for a freeze?

[mattamatt]

Opened the pool a few weeks ago but it looks like I'll be getting a few hours of mid-to-high 20s tonight. I plan on running the pump over night. Is there anything else I should do to protect my system as much as possible?

Thanks!

 

[PoolStored]

Nope, in the same situation, just keep the pump running. Make sure plumbing is set to allow circulation through all equipment.

 

[Newdude]

A few hours won't make a dent in 10k to 15k gallons insulated by the ground. (Although still open to the air). I'm out east on the Island and the water temp is mid 40s.

The plumbing at the equipment pad is only a dozen or two gallons so that's much more susceptible to freezing. With the pump running you're golden.

 

[oledan]

A few hours won't make a dent in 10k to 15k gallons insulated by the ground. (Although still open to the air). I'm out east on the Island and the water temp is mid 40s.

The plumbing at the equipment pad is only a dozen or two gallons so that's much more susceptible to freezing. With the pump running you're golden.

What would happen if one closed the diverter valve to keep water from going through the heater when not in use ? Would there be damage to the heater from freezing that one night?

 

[Newdude]

Would there be damage to the heater from freezing that one night?

It would certainly be possible. 50/50 would keep both sides circulating.

 

[oledan]

It would certainly be possible. 50/50 would keep both sides circulating.

So when i get home i will open valve and hope no water shoots out of heater? I totally spaced this last night.

 

[Newdude]

So when i get home i will open valve and hope no water shoots out of heater? I totally spaced this last night.

Its probably fine. Even though it has airflow through it, it's still somewhat of a protected environment as proven by every rodent in the land who'll happily take up residency. So that slowed down the cooling a bit, and it would take some time to freeze to the point of damage after that.

But every chance is a chance, so keep that in mind going forward.

 

[oledan]

I certainly will. I just closed it off because I don’t intend to use heater until weather warms up a bit. I certainly spaced it about freezing temps as it didn’t even occur to me to open diverter valve to let water flow thru it.

 

[Newdude]

I just closed it off because I don’t intend to use heater until weather warms up a bit

It could backfire the other way too. Anyone with the bypass bypassed would risk it freezing just the same, although better to sacrifice that if you got to choose between the two.

THANKS for pointing out both possibilities.

 

[SJPoe]

Same issues here - started to talk about opening the pool for Easter (which isn't really that early compared to last year) and then yesterday it snowed...and overnight temps were 23F.

Probably still open it, warm it up, pretend the gas man has lost his mind and it's just a billing error....

 

[mattamatt]

Would it be safe to leave my cleaning robot in the pool not running?

 

[PoolStored]

Mine is in. Pool is not going to freeze.