Is a major cold front heading your way? Bringing with it freezing temperatures and challenging conditions? This is a call for all Austin pool owners to prepare and take a few simple steps to protect your pool. Austin Pool Techs is here with essential tips for these chilly & precarious times.
Prepare Your Pool for Freezing Temps
As the freezing air sends temperatures plummeting, it's crucial to get your pool ready for the big freeze. Here's what you should do:
Keep Your Pool Pump/s Running: Continuous operation of all the pool pumps is key in cold weather.
Forget the Heater: Moving water is unlikely to freeze, so your heater can take a break. However, it's not necessarily a bad idea to heat the pool if you can afford the gas cost.
Disconnect Unnecessary Equipment: Unscrew PVC lines to slides and booster pumps if possible. If there are not unions within the plumbing, you may not be able to do such. You can still turn off the power via the breaker to the pump in question and remove the drain plugs and/or pump lids on the pump, if present.
Pool Floor Cleaners: Simply remove them from the pool; there's no need to run them continuously unless you cannot drain the water from the PVC line connected to them.
Power Outage Pool Tips
If you find yourself without power during the freeze, don't worry. Here's a quick checklist to safeguard your pool:
Turn off the automation or timer mechanisms at the breakers to ensure the pumps will not turn on if the power returns. This is because you have decided to remove as much water from the plumbing & pumps as possible.
Remove all pump lids & drain plugs from each pump.
Remove all drain plugs from heaters, & filters. Also open the air relief on the filter.
Set the multiport valve on the filter (if present) to waste or backwash.
If you have a "flooded system" meaning the pool equipment is below the pool. You will, in end effect, have to drain the whole pool.
Bounce Back After the Freeze!
Once the freeze is over, it's time to get your pool back to its best:
Replace all plugs, pump lids, and attach all unscrewed unions within the PVC, to ensure water will flow through the system.
If you still lack power, manually brush walls, floors, steps, and ledges, and skim the surface. Also break up any formed ice within the vessel.
Ensure the water level remains above the skimmer mouth for effective circulation when power returns.
After the freezing temps, it's time to focus on your pool's chemistry:
Use stabilized chlorine tablets or resume function of your salt cell. This will prevent algae growth and keep your pool clear.
Bring a water sample to your local pool retailer for a free test.
Check all pump lids, plugs, and seals for any freeze-induced leaks.
Remember, whether you're prepping for a cold snap or recovering after one, diligent care and a bit of know-how will keep your pool & pool equipment in perfect condition all year round. Stay safe and reach out to Austin Pool Techs with any concerns!
Comments