Freeze & Storm Protection for Your Fiberglass Swimming Pool

With the unpredictability of weather conditions in the south, storms and cold weather can come on fast! At Aquamarine Pools we put together this quick reference guide for basic protection of your fiberglass swimming pool.  In this article we cover power outages and freezing weather.

4 STEPS TO MAINTAINING YOUR POOL IN A POWER OUTAGE

Turn off your breaker.
While you may not have power now, the first thing you should do is turn off all breakers to your pool so that when the power does return, you can assess your pool in a controlled environment before everything turns back on and causes potential havoc.

Remove lids.
Freezing water expands and it needs a place to go. To avoid cracking and damaging lids, we recommend removing pump pot and filter lids to avoid extra built-up pressure and provide extra space for any ice to go.

Open all valves.
Similar to removing lids, opening as many valves as you can, including the air relief valve on top of your filter, relieves pressure on the water that may be expanding within your equipment.

Remove all plugs.
Many of your plugs can also be removed to account for expanding water. Remove the pump pot plug, pump volute plug, cartridge or sand filter drain plugs, the drain plugs next to the heater and the plug found at your dial valve. While most frozen plugs can be removed by hand, if needed, use a pair of pliers for extra leverage.

 

3 STEPS TO MAINTAIN YOUR POOL DURING FREEZING WEATHER

Keep your equipment on.
In general, moving water is less likely to freeze, that’s why it is essential to keep equipment running and pool pumps circulating even during freezing temperatures.

Check your pool pump, pipes and lines.
Do you notice any damage or cracks? If so, turn off your pool to avoid further damage. Do note that cracks in frozen pipes and lines won’t leak until they start to thaw.

Assess the surface of your water.
The surface of your pool’s water could freeze. As the water freezes, it expands and can start pushing against the skimmer and tiles of your pool causing them to potentially chip, break or fall off completely. It is important to keep water flowing as long as possible to avoid potential damage caused by ice.

 

Visit our Swimming Pool Articles & Tips section for additional articles and helpful information or our Pool Services page to see helpful videos and tutorials.