02/01/2022
Pool owners. It is recommended by most pool industry professionals to simply leave your equipment running during the hard freeze.
*Add water to fill the pool NOW, you will not be able to add water when your water hose is frozen. Do not get in a position that your pump loses prime due to low water levels.
*if you lose electricity for an extended period then you must drain your equipment NOT YOUR POOL. Familiarize yourself with where the drain plugs are NOW and have the correct tools handy. You do not want to be out there with a flash light searching through ice and snow trying to find the drain plugs. Drain pumps (including cleaner booster pump if you have one), filter, heater, and and any other equipment that may hold water. If you have a heat pump or salt cell you can just loosen the plumbing unions.
* if you drain your equipment due to power outages turn off the power to the equipment so it cannot come back on when power is restored.
* put all of your drain plugs in your pump basket. They are easily lost.
*it does not hurt to tarp or cover your equipment, but if you keep power it is probably unnecessary.
*I do not recommend putting a heat source under the tarp/blankets. If we have power you are fine anyway. If we lose power the source will probably not function anyway. We had some damage on customers pools last year that was caused by a heat source.
*if you have any equipment or plumbing bypassed or valved off so water doesn’t flow through it when the pump is running, then either open the bypass or drain that equipment or plumbing
*it is not necessary to run your pool heater during a freeze event like what we are facing.
*this event will not result in thick ice accumulating in the pool or underground plumbing damage. There will most likely be no need to worry about skimmers, tile, pool structure, or underground plumbing.
McMicken Pools
The picture below is for one brand of equipment, other brands are similar, but the drain plugs may be located in different locations.
