Question for those with pools ...

[DamonH]

So we just had a pool built, and I'm a little nervous about the impending cold weather. What are those with pools doing to keep things from freezing with the 20 and below temps coming in? I know the freeze guard will basically run the pool 24x7 when the temp goes below a certain range, I guess my main concern is the booster pump for the cleaner, and the pump that runs my water features. Here's my plan, please tell me if I'm missing something, or just misguided:

1). I'm going to pull the two drain plugs on the feature pump. The water feature is loud and I don't want to hear it running all the time. I believe the water level will drop below ground and I shouldn't have to worry about any freeze damage to those pipes or pump.

2). Cleaner Booster pump - Do the majority of people use freeze guard on it, or should I pull the plugs on it and pull the sweep out of the pool?

Anything else?

[The King]

This is where SVO is the quintessential subject matter expert (SME).

[mustang_revival]

Been maintaining my pool for 12 years.
I mostly:
-Run pump at night(booster for an hour) / let freeze guard do its thing.. I've never had my booster pump or lines have a problem..
But a few years:
-Don't run it, open valves up so water has a place to expand, deal with a green pool till spring.

[black50]

Just let the freeze guard do its thing..Everything should be fine as long as it was wired up correctly, I have seen quite a few that weren't though...If you can't help yourself and you have to do something then pull the plugs on all the pumps and bottom drain plug on filter...Turn main power off and done

<--pool guy for 20+ years

[svauto-erotic855]

The filter pump runs water through the booster pump all most all of the time except when the valves turn to the spa mode; it doesn't have to be powered up to be protected. The water feature pump normally is set to come on with the freeze guard. Is the pump loud or just the feature? If your water feature pump is loud you have the wrong pump installed for the application. PM me a pic of the pump, a detailed pic of the tag that shows the model number, and a pic of the plumbing and I will tell you what can be improved.

[DamonH]

The filter pump runs water through the booster pump all most all of the time except when the valves turn to the spa mode; it doesn't have to be powered up to be protected. .

That makes perfect sense, I should have realized that. That quells my fears about the booster pump!

The water feature pump normally is set to come on with the freeze guard. Is the pump loud or just the feature?

The pump isn't loud enough to bother me, it's the feature. Water is dumping off the grotto right outside our bedroom window. I'll need to get up and take a leak 5 times if I leave it running while I sleep. It's on it's own plumbing loop pulling from the deep end, so I think if I pull the basket and the drain plugs it'll be ok.

Thanks for your input!

[black50]

That makes perfect sense, I should have realized that. That quells my fears about the booster pump!



The pump isn't loud enough to bother me, it's the feature. Water is dumping off the grotto right outside our bedroom window. I'll need to get up and take a leak 5 times if I leave it running while I sleep. It's on it's own plumbing loop pulling from the deep end, so I think if I pull the basket and the drain plugs it'll be ok.

Thanks for your input!

if you pull the plugs on the water feature pump make sure and kill the power to that pump so the freeze guard doesn't turn it on

[dcs13]

So we just had a pool built,

I am so sorry..
Can't freaking wait til im outa this house. Will NEVER have another pool... mine hit the 11 year mark...New pump, new booster pump, new filter, all in last 4 months.. EFF this thing.

And Hey, SVO has hooked me up a few times on help and parts,,saved me some coin

[CyaNide]

Fill it in with dirt.

CN

[ram57ta]

Fill it in with dirt.

CN

This ^---------^

[yellowstang]

Heat the entire pool so it is like a huge hot tub, then swim year round!

[black50]

Heat the entire pool so it is like a huge hot tub, then swim year round!

Might as well tap into your local gas well

Pool heaters use a massive amount of gas

Just a 1 time use to heat the entire pool this time of year will run you anywhere between $200-600, depending on size of pool, ambient air temp and efficiency of the heater

[lincolnboy]

This ^---------^

Double dog dare

[Gasser64]

Fill it in with dirt.

CN

An alternative, turn it into a fish pond. Far less maintenance than a pool, and pretty to look at. You can even run a filter system that is a lot like a bacteria/sewage treater, and the water will be completely clear.

[DamonH]

I am so sorry..
Can't freaking wait til im outa this house. Will NEVER have another pool... mine hit the 11 year mark...New pump, new booster pump, new filter, all in last 4 months.. EFF this thing.

Fill it in with dirt.

CN

This ^---------^

Hah ... trust me ... thought long and hard before going forward. Both my wife and I grew up with swimming pools, so I'm somewhat aware of what I'm dealing with - tho never the one doing the maintenance or paying the bills. We've got small kids who LOVE to swim, so I think we'll get our use out of it, but only time will tell.