01/27/2026
❄️ Oklahoma vs. The Pool Equipment: Who Won? ❄️
Check out this setup from one of our Oklahoma Pool and Spa clients! Despite the snow and ice piling up, take a look at the second picture—the water is moving, the equipment is humming, and nothing is frozen shut.
How did they pull this off? They created a "micro-climate" for their equipment using tarps and safe heating sources, combined with constant circulation.
🥶 The Deep Dive: How to Protect Your Investment
When temperatures drop into the single digits, your pool equipment is the most vulnerable part of your system. Here is why this setup worked and what you need to know to prevent a catastrophe:
1. Circulation is King 👑 Water has a much harder time freezing when it is moving. In this client's pool, even though the surface is iced over, the pumps are running 24/7.
Tip: Never turn your pump off during a freeze warning. Ensure your "Freeze Guard" mode is active or manually set your Variable Speed Pump to run continuously.
2. Insulate the "Heart" of the Pool 🫀 The wind chill is often what cracks pipes and pumps. By covering the equipment pad with tarps (as seen here), you block the wind and trap the ambient heat from the motors.
Tip: If you use a heat source (like a space heater or heat lamp) under a tarp, please be careful. Ensure it is not touching plastic pipes or the tarp itself to prevent fire hazards. Even a simple incandescent light bulb can generate enough heat in a small, enclosed space to keep pipes from freezing.
3. Don't Break the Ice 🧊 You'll notice the pool is iced over, but we aren't smashing it.
Tip: Never try to break thick ice on the surface of your pool. The shards can slice your liner or damage the plaster. Let the moving water underneath do the work.
4. The Power Outage Plan ⚠️ If the power goes out, the water stops moving, and freezing begins rapidly.
Tip: If you lose power for more than an hour in freezing temps, go to your equipment pad and pull the drain plugs on your pump, filter, and heater. It’s better to drain the equipment than to replace a cracked $1,500 pump housing.
Stay warm and keep that water moving!
🏊♂️ Need help winterizing or checking your freeze guard settings? Call us today at 918-550-0798.