Getting Your Pool Through a North Texas Hard Freeze

Most winters in the Prosper, Celina and Frisco area are mild enough that pool owners rarely think about ice. Then a hard freeze arrives, the temperature stays below 32 degrees for hours, and the exposed parts of a pool system are suddenly at risk. Water expands when it freezes, and pipes, pumps, filters and heaters weren't built to hold up against that. The good news is that a little preparation covers most of the risk. What follows is general guidance, so always follow your equipment manufacturer's instructions for your specific setup.

Why the pool itself is rarely the problem

A large body of water holds heat and freezes slowly. The parts that get hurt are the small volumes of water sitting in exposed places: the plumbing above ground, the pump housing, the filter, the heater and any lines that aren't buried deep. Water that's standing still in those spots can freeze solid while the pool itself looks fine.

Keep the water moving

Moving water is much harder to freeze than still water. For that reason the common approach during a hard freeze is to run the pump continuously until temperatures climb back above freezing, rather than sticking to the usual daytime schedule. Many systems have freeze protection built into their automation or controls that starts the pump when temperatures drop, and it's worth finding out if that applies to your pool and if it's switched on. Check that the timers are set correctly before the cold arrives, because a pump that doesn't come on when you expect is the usual way people get caught.

Keep the skimmer basket and pump basket clear so water flows freely. A blocked basket can starve the pump, and a pump running without enough water can overheat or lose its prime.

It also helps to know how your system is set up before you need that information. Some pools have a freeze sensor, some rely on a manual setting, and some have neither. Finding out which one you have on a mild October afternoon is a lot easier than finding out at two in the morning with ice on the lawn. If you have a heater, a spa or a water feature with its own equipment, check those too, since each has its own freeze considerations.

Watch the exposed parts

Walk the equipment pad before the freeze, not during it. Look at the pump, filter, heater and any exposed plumbing, and think about where water could sit still. Covering or insulating exposed equipment can slow heat loss, but it won't replace circulation, and anything near a heater or other hot component needs to be handled according to the manufacturer's guidance. After the cold passes, check for cracks, drips or new leaks before you assume everything came through unharmed. Water that froze quietly can leave damage that shows up later.

Hoses, auto-fill lines and any water feature plumbing deserve a look as well, because they are often the shallowest, most exposed water in the whole system. If you have a water feature, find out whether it should be run, drained or left alone during a freeze, and follow the maker's guidance.

If the power goes out

A power outage during a freeze is the hard scenario, because the pump can't run and the water in the equipment can freeze. If power fails, the usual general advice is to protect the equipment by following the manufacturer's drain or winterization steps for pumps, filters and heaters, and to avoid draining the pool itself unless you have been directed to do so, since an empty pool can have its own problems. Don't try to break up ice with sharp or heavy tools, which can damage fittings and surfaces. Once power returns, restart carefully and inspect before running everything at full speed.

The winterization PDF on this site

Davis Pool Service has published a downloadable document called Emergency Pool Winterization Instructions, and it's available on the downloads page of this site. If a hard freeze is in the forecast, read it before the weather arrives rather than during it. It was written for exactly this situation, and having a copy saved or printed beforehand is worth the minute it takes.

Davis Pool Service also lists winterization and draining among its solar maintenance services, along with summer start ups and leak repair. Keep one schedule detail in mind too: the weekly route is on a 48-week schedule and the business is closed the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas, and a freeze can land in either week. If you have questions about your own pool, the contact page is the best way to reach Glenn and Destrie.