Free guide · Bookmark this one
When a Texas freeze hits, here's how to protect your pool equipment.
Written by the techs who fix what freezes. If your power is out and water isn't moving, the next twenty minutes can be the difference between a cold night and a cracked heater.
The short version
If your pump has failed, or a power outage means your system is no longer pushing water, winterize your equipment. The goal is to get as much water out of the system as possible so it can't freeze inside and crack things. We recommend winterizing if your power has been out over an hour.
Do this, in this order
Four steps to winterize your equipment.
Turn off the power
Kill power to your pool equipment at the breaker or main power switch before you touch anything else.
Open the main pump lid
Pop the lid on your main pump so air can get into the system.
Pull all the drain plugs
Every piece of equipment that holds water: main pump, booster pumps, filter, heater, all of it. Use the photos below to find the plugs.
Open the air relief valve on the filter
It lets the trapped water drain out. Pro tip: drop all the drain plugs into the pump basket so nothing gets lost, and start-up in spring takes two minutes instead of a scavenger hunt.
Find your plugs
Common equipment, and where it drains.
The arrows mark the drain plug locations on the most common DFW pool equipment. Yours will look close to one of these.
While it's still freezing
Tips for riding out the cold snap.
- Don't backwash in freezing weather.
- Keep the main pump running if the system works. Booster pumps don't typically kick on with the freeze guard, but water still moves through them when the main pump is on.
- Empty the skimmer baskets so circulation stays at maximum.
- Keep plenty of water in the pool. Even with an auto-fill, you may need to add extra.
- Cover exposed plumbing with moving blankets and a tarp, but keep the covering off the motor.
- Never cover a running heater. Ever.
- Watch the decks and the dog. Decks get slippery, and pets will test pool ice.
- Keep a spare hose in the garage. Outside hoses freeze right when you need to top off the pool.
Already froze?
If your equipment froze before you had a chance to winterize: turn off the power and leave it off. Wait until the weather gets above freezing and everything thoroughly thaws before you even think about restarting. Starting frozen equipment is how a bad day gets expensive.
Not sure what you're looking at?
Call us at (817) 442-5787. It's a lot cheaper to ask than to replace a heater, and we'd rather help you save the equipment.
Freeze questions
The cold-snap FAQ.
When should I winterize instead of just letting the pump run?
If the system is running and pushing water, let it run. Winterize when the pump has failed or the power is out and water has stopped moving. Our rule of thumb: if power's been out over an hour in freezing temps, drain the equipment.
Where do the drain plugs go once I pull them?
Drop them in the pump basket. They won't get lost, and they're the first thing you'll find at start-up.
It froze and now something's leaking. Now what?
Power off, then email photos to info@meyerspoolcare.com or call. Freeze damage is exactly the kind of repair we handle: pumps, filters, heaters, and plumbing.
We've got you
Rather not think about any of this?
Weekly service customers get a team that's already watching the forecast. That's kind of the point.
Mon–Fri 7:30–4:30 · Colleyville, TX · TDLR License #1137