How to Protect Your Pool From a West Texas Freeze

West Texas pool owners think about heat for most of the year. Then a January cold snap shows up, and a pool that has been fine for ten summers can suffer real damage in a single night.

The good news is that most freeze damage is preventable, and the basic idea is simple:moving water doesn't freeze as easily as standing water, and exposed equipment is where problems start. Here's what to do before the cold arrives, during a freeze, and afterward.

What actually gets damaged

When water freezes it expands, and anything holding water that can't expand with it, such as a pipe, a pump housing, a filter, or a heater, can crack. In a pool system, the vulnerable parts are usually:

• Above-ground plumbingand exposed pipe runs

• Pump and filter housings

• Heaters, which hold water internally

• Valves, fittings, and small linesto spas, water features, and automation equipment

• Tile and copingin a hard freeze, particularly if water is sitting in small gaps

The pool shell itself is rarely the first casualty. It's the equipment and the plumbing on the pad.

Before the cold arrives

Know your forecast, not just the date.Freezes in West Texas are occasional, which is exactly why people get caught off guard. When the forecast dips toward freezing, that's your cue, not the calendar.

Set a temperature alert.A simple phone weather alert for when overnight lows approach freezing gives you time to act. One pool-supply source suggests setting an alert for when temperatures drop below about 37°F, so you have margin before it actually freezes.

Install automatic freeze protection.A freeze sensor, or a timeclock with an air-temperature sensor, can start the pump automatically when it gets cold. More advanced controllers can also open valves and run booster or water-feature pumps. If you're away often or your equipment is exposed, this is the best insurance you can buy. We can add it during aremodel or equipment upgrade.

Check the basics.Make sure equipment is in good shape, nothing is leaking, and you know where your breaker and valves are before you need them in the dark.

During a freeze

Run the pump continuously.In mild climates like ours, the standard practice during a freeze warning is to override the timer and run the pump around the clock until temperatures climb back up. As long as water is moving through the plumbing, it's much harder for it to freeze.

Run water features and spa circulation too.Spillover spas, waterfalls, and booster-pump features have their own plumbing, and these lines are easy to forget. If your system has valves for them, make sure water is circulating through those lines as well. Not sure how yours is set up? That's a good question for your builder before winter, not during a freeze.

Don't try to protect the pool by draining it.Lowering or emptying a gunite pool is not a freeze fix, and removing the water can create structural problems. If you're thinking about lowering the water for any reason, talk to your builder first.

If the power goes out.Without power the pump can't circulate water, so your equipment becomes vulnerable. If the outage is long and temperatures are well below freezing, the usual advice is to drain water from the pump, filter, and heater, open the filter's air bleeder and any closed valves, and shut off the breaker so nothing runs dry when power returns. Afterward, replace drain plugs, prime the pump, and restart. If you're not comfortable doing any of that, call a pool professional.

If something freezes

• Turn off power to the equipment at the breaker.Don't run a frozen pump.

• Let it thaw gradually.Covering exposed equipment with heavy blankets is a common approach; some owners place a small space heater inside the equipment enclosure and monitor it closely.

• Inspect for cracks once thawed.A pump housing, filter, or fitting that looks fine frozen can leak once water is moving again.

• Don't restart until it's checked.If something is cracked, running it can cause leaks or damage the motor.

If anything looks cracked or is leaking, give us a call. A small repair now is almost always cheaper than finding out later.

After the freeze

Walk the equipment pad and plumbing and look for leaks, drips, or damp spots. Check water level over the next few days, since a pool that's losing more water than evaporation explains may have a leak somewhere. Look at the tile, coping, and any water features for cracks or chips. Small damage is easy to deal with early. See also our guide to thesigns your pool needs a remodel.

Build it right in the first place

How a pool is built has a lot to do with how well it handles a freeze: equipment placement, plumbing layout, valves and drains in the right places, and freeze protection designed in rather than bolted on. That's part of what we mean when we say we build for West Texas, not for a milder climate. Pina Pools has built pools in Odessa and Midland since the 1970s, and Hector has seen what a hard freeze does to systems that weren't planned for it.

If your pool or spa already has problems after a cold snap, or you want freeze protection added before the next one, request a free estimate and we'll take a look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I run my pool pump during a freeze?In mild climates like West Texas, yes. Running the pump continuously during a freeze warning keeps water moving through the plumbing, which makes it much harder for lines and equipment to freeze.

At what temperature should I turn the pump on?Many pool-supply sources suggest acting when the forecast gets close to freezing, with some recommending an alert around 37°F so you have time to respond. An automatic freeze sensor can handle this for you.

Should I drain my pool before a freeze?No. Draining or lowering a gunite pool is not a freeze-protection step and can cause structural problems. Focus on keeping water circulating and protecting equipment, and ask your builder before changing the water level.

What should I do if my pool equipment freezes?Turn off power at the breaker, let the equipment thaw gradually, and inspect for cracks before restarting. If anything is damaged, have it repaired before running the system.

Can freeze protection be added to an existing pool?Yes. Freeze sensors and automatic controls can usually be added to an existing system as part of an equipment upgrade or remodel.

Does Pina Pools repair freeze damage?Yes. We repair pool and spa equipment, plumbing, tile, and coping across Odessa, Midland, and the Permian Basin.