How to Protect Your Pool Equipment From Freeze Damage

Imagine heading outside on the first warm day of spring, ready to open your pool, only to find a cracked pump housing or a split pipe. It’s a nightmare scenario that costs homeowners thousands of dollars every year. But here’s the good news: this pool horror story is preventable.

To protect your equipment from freezing temperatures, make sure you:

• Drain the pump and heater
• Prepare the filter
• Protect underground plumbing lines

At Caribbean Pools, we have been helping families in Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland protect their backyard investments since 1976, and we know exactly what our harsh winters can do to unprotected equipment. Whether you are a new pool owner or just need a refresher, properly winterizing your equipment is the best insurance for your pool. (Just remember, you’ll want to take these steps before the temperatures drop below freezing!)

Drain Your Pump and Heater

Water expands when it freezes. If water is trapped inside your pool pump or heater, that expansion has nowhere to go but through the metal or plastic casing. The result? Cracks that break critical components and ruin the equipment.

To prevent this, you must remove all the water. Start by turning off all power to the pool equipment at the breaker and locating the drain plugs on your pump and heater. Once you remove the plugs, let the water drain out completely.

Prepare Your Filter

Your filter is another piece of equipment vulnerable to pressure buildup during the winter. The winterization process varies slightly depending on whether you have a sand, cartridge, or DE filter, but the goal is the same: get the water out.

First, give the filter a thorough cleaning. Once clean, remove the drain cap at the bottom of the filter tank and let all the water inside drain out. Disconnect the attached hoses and store them indoors or in another dry, secure space as a final step.

Protect Underground Plumbing Lines

While most pool equipment is expensive, underground plumbing repairs can be devastatingly costly. Protecting these lines is a critical step in pool winterization. The most effective method is blowing out the lines with an air compressor to remove all water.

However, for added security, or if you can’t get 100% of the water out, you can use antifreeze in the lines. But be careful: You must use propylene glycol (often labeled as RV or Pool Antifreeze), never automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol). Pool-specific antifreeze is non-toxic and designed to protect your plumbing lines from any water remaining after blowing them out.

Need Help Closing Your Pool?

Winterizing is a precise process. If you miss a plug or leave water in a line, the damage likely won’t be visible until it’s too late. If you are unsure about handling this yourself, or unsure if you did everything right this fall, the team at Caribbean Pools can help. We offer professional pool closing services to ensure every line is clear and every piece of equipment is safely prepared for freezing temperatures. Contact us today for a professional evaluation and experts who can get the job done right for you.