freezing weather

When cold weather moves in, you may wonder how freezing temperatures will affect your pool and its equipment. Water expands when it freezes, which poses a danger to your pool's plumbing and equipment.

• Run your pool pump continuously when temperatures are near or below freezing.
• You don't need to run your heater, moving water likely will not freeze. 
• Disconnect any aerators and lines to slides.
• Booster pumps for pool cleaners don’t need to run continuously.
• Water feature pumps should be run and valves should be open. Alternately, you can cover and drain the pump and pipes.

• Turn your time clock off or turn off equipment at the breaker.
• Dial the multiport valve to backwash and remove the plug.
• Open the air relief valve on the filter.
• Remove plugs and lids from pumps, motors, filters, heaters and chlorinators.
• Put all of the removed plugs in a resealable bag and store them in a safe place until power is restored.
• When milder weather returns, replace all plugs and lids.
• Ensure there is water in the system before turning the power back on.

Automation Systems and Freezing Temperatures

If you have an automation system, a “freeze protect” feature was likely configured when your automation system was first installed. This feature will automatically turn on your key pumps when a predetermined outdoor temperature is reached, often set a few degrees above freezing. Once ambient temperatures go above the freeze protect point, your automation will return the equipment to its normal settings. Some automation systems rotate valves intermittently between “pool” and “spa” mode when in freeze protect, so you may hear pauses when your pump(s) are not running.

If your filter and/or feature pump(s) has not come on yet as temperatures near freezing, you can turn your key pumps on from your automations system's remote or app, or, at the outdoor control panel by changing the system setting to “Service” and turning on pumps with the appropriate buttons.

If you have an Intermatic Time Clock (yellow dial), flip the silver lever to the right to turn a pump on. If you turn a pump on before the time clock reaches the “Off” tab or tripper, you will have to turn the pump on again manually.