Thank you Mike and Angela for posting this. Freezing is foreign to us moving here from a year round warm state, heading out there right now to drain the above ground plumbing!
Thank you for posting this video. I wish I had seen this before the big freeze last year and in 2021. I would have saved myself quite a bit of money on repairs. But now I feel prepared for this year. Thank you again. God bless you.
Very informative! However, my pool is higher than my equipment so how does that change change the draining the equipment process? Do I have to “stop up” the water to keep it from flowing through the skimmer basket?
Hi Manuel. In situations where this has had to occur due to terrain, there are 2 ways to handle it: 1 would be to plug the returns and skimmer first and then follow the video as normal. The 2nd would be to install ball valves on the inlet and return lines just before the 90's as they head vertical into the ground. For the first, standard skimmers will usually accept a male threaded 1-1/2" plug that you can get at a home depot or Lowes with a square head to turn. This should screw into the hole at the bottom of the skimmer that the 90 is attached to for the pump inlet line. Standard returns also accept a male threaded 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" (depending on return type) plug. These are installed by unscrewing the collar holding the aimable eyeball and screwing in the plug (we prefer a plug with an o-ring if possible). A cheat for the returns (if you can't find the plugs) is to find a thick piece of plastic bag (like a heavy duty ziploc), remove eyeball collar, place over the return and then screw the eyeball collar on snug to cover the return opening with the plastic. For the 2nd, we recommend plugging the same and then cut the appropriate length of pipe to accommodate a ball valve out of the inlet and outlet lines just before the 90 going down into the ground. Use a glue-type schedule 40 PVC ball valve and install on the lines so you can simply turn them to shut off gravity flow from the pool anytime you need to. Prime all pipe very well before gluing and BE VERY CAREFUL not to overglue the ball valve so that glue does not get into the movable mechanism of the valve. If you have backpressure from the pool, the water will never go below ground, so we recommend wrapping an insulation blanket around inlet and outlet pipes coming into and going from the first and last drain points or ball valves. Hope this helps!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to give me a detailed reply on how to solve my pool problem. I’m a first year pool owner so it is greatly appreciated!
We don't worry too much about the jets, just keep the valves open until restart. As far as pool cleaners, we recommend pulling, draining and storing them
Thanks for the video… My Pentair pump, for whatever reason stopped this morning. We just had the pool installed this past October. We had it running through the night since that is what was explained to do and then it just stopped. Error code looks like 0016. I tried turning it on and it would kick on for about 10 seconds and then stop. Did it a few times and even turned off the power at the breaker per the troubleshooting. Fearing the water would freeze, I turned off the power and opened all the plugs to drain the water. Any idea on what the problem is?
I believe 0016 is a pentair code for phase current imbalance, which could be from anything from faulty/damaged wiring to electrical imbalance in the pump or breaker or bad interface. The first and easiest step is to inspect all pump wiring for damage (maybe from a lawn trimmer hitting it, etc.). The second step (which will cost less money than a new pump, but will still cost some money) would be to change out the breaker in the panel. The third step would be to change out interface, and the final step would be to replace pump motor. If your pool is that new however, most reputable contractors offer a one year construction warranty on all trades (including electrical) and if they bought the pump through a supplier and not online there is usually a 2-3 year equipment warranty. I would contact the GC and utilize these warranties.
@@CrystalEdgePools Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have spoken with our contractor and he was waiting for the cold snap to break before starting up again. Hope it isn’t anything to big. Great videos! Will keep watching for more understanding.
As in case of Jan 2024 cold snap ..that went on for 4 days. Shutting the system would cause the pool to freeze over...any concerns with that? Damage to the walls..pressure built up...i feel like u fail to address that result
In speaking specifically on fiberglass pools in texas, freezing of the surface should not cause damage to the pool shell. This is assuming a pumped out sump and a pool filled to operating level. This would leave the water roughly 5" below the top beam and the ground will not freeze 5" in four days. Properly backfilled, dry material around the pool shell will not freeze and expand. This is why we are firm believers in a pea gravel backfill around a fiberglass pool shell (other than cavity washing which should only be done with 100% sharp sand and no clay content). These materials do not retain water when sump is kept dry.
Thank you Mike and Angela for posting this. Freezing is foreign to us moving here from a year round warm state, heading out there right now to drain the above ground plumbing!
You're welcome!
Thank you for posting this video. I wish I had seen this before the big freeze last year and in 2021. I would have saved myself quite a bit of money on repairs. But now I feel prepared for this year. Thank you again. God bless you.
Glad it was helpful!
This was amazing. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Very informative! However, my pool is higher than my equipment so how does that change change the draining the equipment process? Do I have to “stop up” the water to keep it from flowing through the skimmer basket?
Hi Manuel. In situations where this has had to occur due to terrain, there are 2 ways to handle it: 1 would be to plug the returns and skimmer first and then follow the video as normal. The 2nd would be to install ball valves on the inlet and return lines just before the 90's as they head vertical into the ground.
For the first, standard skimmers will usually accept a male threaded 1-1/2" plug that you can get at a home depot or Lowes with a square head to turn. This should screw into the hole at the bottom of the skimmer that the 90 is attached to for the pump inlet line. Standard returns also accept a male threaded 1-1/4" to 1-1/2" (depending on return type) plug. These are installed by unscrewing the collar holding the aimable eyeball and screwing in the plug (we prefer a plug with an o-ring if possible). A cheat for the returns (if you can't find the plugs) is to find a thick piece of plastic bag (like a heavy duty ziploc), remove eyeball collar, place over the return and then screw the eyeball collar on snug to cover the return opening with the plastic.
For the 2nd, we recommend plugging the same and then cut the appropriate length of pipe to accommodate a ball valve out of the inlet and outlet lines just before the 90 going down into the ground. Use a glue-type schedule 40 PVC ball valve and install on the lines so you can simply turn them to shut off gravity flow from the pool anytime you need to. Prime all pipe very well before gluing and BE VERY CAREFUL not to overglue the ball valve so that glue does not get into the movable mechanism of the valve.
If you have backpressure from the pool, the water will never go below ground, so we recommend wrapping an insulation blanket around inlet and outlet pipes coming into and going from the first and last drain points or ball valves.
Hope this helps!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to give me a detailed reply on how to solve my pool problem. I’m a first year pool owner so it is greatly appreciated!
Great video. Would you recommend to do anything with the jets? Pool cleaner?
We don't worry too much about the jets, just keep the valves open until restart. As far as pool cleaners, we recommend pulling, draining and storing them
Thanks for the video… My Pentair pump, for whatever reason stopped this morning. We just had the pool installed this past October. We had it running through the night since that is what was explained to do and then it just stopped. Error code looks like 0016. I tried turning it on and it would kick on for about 10 seconds and then stop. Did it a few times and even turned off the power at the breaker per the troubleshooting. Fearing the water would freeze, I turned off the power and opened all the plugs to drain the water. Any idea on what the problem is?
I believe 0016 is a pentair code for phase current imbalance, which could be from anything from faulty/damaged wiring to electrical imbalance in the pump or breaker or bad interface. The first and easiest step is to inspect all pump wiring for damage (maybe from a lawn trimmer hitting it, etc.). The second step (which will cost less money than a new pump, but will still cost some money) would be to change out the breaker in the panel. The third step would be to change out interface, and the final step would be to replace pump motor. If your pool is that new however, most reputable contractors offer a one year construction warranty on all trades (including electrical) and if they bought the pump through a supplier and not online there is usually a 2-3 year equipment warranty. I would contact the GC and utilize these warranties.
@@CrystalEdgePools Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have spoken with our contractor and he was waiting for the cold snap to break before starting up again. Hope it isn’t anything to big. Great videos! Will keep watching for more understanding.
As in case of Jan 2024 cold snap ..that went on for 4 days. Shutting the system would cause the pool to freeze over...any concerns with that? Damage to the walls..pressure built up...i feel like u fail to address that result
In speaking specifically on fiberglass pools in texas, freezing of the surface should not cause damage to the pool shell. This is assuming a pumped out sump and a pool filled to operating level. This would leave the water roughly 5" below the top beam and the ground will not freeze 5" in four days. Properly backfilled, dry material around the pool shell will not freeze and expand. This is why we are firm believers in a pea gravel backfill around a fiberglass pool shell (other than cavity washing which should only be done with 100% sharp sand and no clay content). These materials do not retain water when sump is kept dry.