Ask the expert: Should I cover my pool filter and heater for winter?
Q. Should I cover my pool filter and pool heater for the winter?
A. A pool filter and pool heater should be handled differently. In our region, where temperatures routinely fall below freezing for an extended period of time, a pool filter must be winterized to avoid cracking due to the expansion of freezing water inside the filter. A cover will not help the filter from freezing, but will protect the exterior from oxidization. A simple canvas cover or tarp with tie-down straps can be used to cover the filter, but should be removed prior to the commissioning of your swimming pool or, at minimum, the startup of the filter. A properly winterized filter shouldn't crack. If the filter is not too heavy and can be detached from its piping, it is always good to store it indoors. This will help ensure the filter does not freeze during severe low temperatures. It is always good to consult with your pool filter installation company or a professional for instructions on removing the filter to make sure it is done right.
Manufacturers do not advise their customers to cover their pool heaters. In fact, pool heater manufacturers like Hayward and Raypak do not even manufacture covers; they are only available after market, typically by companies that solely produce covers for a variety of outdoor equipment. The biggest issue with covering your pool heater is the possibility of moisture buildup, which leads to corrosion on the interior of the pool heater; whether it be the deterioration of a coil inside your heat pump, or the rusting of the burner compartment in your gas heater.
Another concern is the possibility of the pool heater being turned on accidentally while the cover is still on. Someone not familiar with your pool's operation may turn on the heater with the cover on. Without proper air flow over the coils in a heat pump, or without the proper intake of fresh air and discharge of flue gases in a gas heater, the equipment will not operate properly and the potential of mechanical damage increases, whereby creating an expensive repair.
Typically pool heaters are meant to withstand outdoor conditions like extreme temperatures, rain, snow, etc. If you are concerned with maintaining its new appearance, simply wipe down the exterior of the pool heater routinely and keep bushes, and weeds away from the unit. This will keep the heater looking newer than if left alone.
Covering your pool heater will not keep mice, spiders or other insects from entering the cabinet during the winter. The only way to insure that your pool heater is free from debris, and other living matter, is to have your pool heater serviced regularly and have an experienced professional provide the winterization and startup of your equipment. Pool heaters are expensive and worth it, but keep in mind they need to be serviced to maintain proper operation.
Q. How do I maximize every inch of a closet whether it's big or small?
A. Staten Islanders tend to have limited closet space and need to optimize every inch. Here are some tips in getting the most out of your closets:
Analyze: Each closet should be approached differently when it comes to maximizing the space and organization. Analyze how much you use your closet and for what purposes. If you have a lot of clothes, consider separating them by season to allow for quick access to those items you can wear at that time. If you keep your office products and children's school supplies in the closet, your should consider floor storage that can be stacked.
Clothing: For those of you with seasonal clothing, consider using your hanging space strictly for in-season clothing. This way you aren't looking at clothes you aren't going to wear now. Store out-of-season clothes in under-bed storage bins, or in covered boxes at the top of your closet. Use vertical space up to the ceiling if possible. Shoes can be a project of its own. If you have a large quantity, assess how often you wear them. Only keep your top choices readily available. The others can be stored in stackable clear bins, or opt for a shoe rack in a custom closet setup.
Make a plan: After organizing and considering your specific needs, purchase storage bins or shelving systems from your local home goods store. However, you may want to consider an expert to assist in the planning of a closet system to truly maximize every inch of space. They will have the knowledge and products to design your closets to fit the individual needs of your family. It is a very simple process, which starts with a free in-home consultation and ending with the closets of your dreams. Typically, a professional closet installer will have a different product line than what is offered in a big-box store. If you are fully committed to maximizing the space in your closet, then this is the best option for you.
Q. Where is the best place in the room to start my hardwood flooring installation?
A. Every situation is unique. When planning to install a hardwood floor, there are certain matters to take into consideration, like size and shape of the room. Most of the time, it is easiest to start off on the longest, straightest wall. But, what if you are starting with a thin subfloor? In this case, it's best to make sure you're running your flooring perpendicular to the joist beams in the floor below. If you desire the direction of the floor in the same direction as the joist beams, in some cases it would be strongly recommended to add a thin layer of plywood (3/8" minimum) over the existing subfloor to help with the structure of the flooring and to allow for soundproofing.
Other items to take into consideration are the doorway and staircase openings. If you need to install a bull nose at a staircase opening, you have to consider it to accommodate a square, straight and correct measurement to insure a visually even installation. As a general rule, it's best to always work off the door jambs because once you've nailed the last board in place, it sometimes becomes near impossible to get the last row in place under a door frame. Remember these are very general guidelines and every situation is different.
How to Winterize a Pool
Most pool owners accept “pool season” -- the warm, comfortable time of year when the sun’s shining, temperatures are high, and your pool is at its most appealing.
If you don’t live in the tropics (or south Florida), “pool season” or swimming season typically starts when annual plants begin to bloom in the spring and winds down when leaves begin to change color and temperatures dip in the fall.
The smart, safe, and most cost-effective long-term solution to these seasonal changes is to winterize your pool, which prepares it to endure cold temperatures and inclement frosty weather without risk of damage or deterioration.
But how do you winterize a pool safely, effectively, and affordably?
This guide will walk you through the whole process, so you can be ready to wrap up your pool season and protect your pool from the cold, ice, and other unwelcome wintery impacts that might otherwise make it harder to maintain your pool for years to come.
Why should you winterize your pool?
Most components of inground swimming pools (and above-ground pools for that matter) are designed to function in warm, enjoyable weather.
Their components -- and even the chemicals used to keep them clean -- aren’t meant to sit unused through the cold winter months, which can cause all sorts of problems if your pool water freezes.
Proper winterization prepares everything involved in using and operating your pool for these colder temperatures.
This means preparing your pool surface, the water inside, any chemicals you’ve used to keep that water clean, and all the pumps, filters, heaters, and other equipment through which water may flow.
Let’s look at each critical component you’ll need to winterize… and at the end of this article, we’ll provide you with a quick and handy checklist so you can make sure you’ve taken care of everything before it’s time to close your pool.
When should you start winterizing your pool?
The answer to this question depends heavily on where you live and what accessories you have -- for example, an outdoor pool without a heater should generally close your pool before outside temperatures drop below freezing, or 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
This means that if the temperature is below freezing at any time during the day or night, you should probably call it a season and shut things down.
If you have a solar pool heater or electric heat pump, you should still follow these guidelines, as neither type of heater is designed to work in cold temperatures.
However, it may be possible to keep your pool open year-round with a gas or propane pool heater -- but it’s likely to cost you quite a bit in terms of fuel usage, especially if you’re trying to keep the water toasty while it’s snowing outside.
The basic steps to properly winterize a pool
First…
Remove any accessories, toys, and nonessential equipment, such as removable ladders or steps, detachable water features, and other items you won’t use for the final pre-closing cleaning process. Store them safely in a shed, indoors, or in a secure place near the pool where they won’t be damaged by the elements or by random animals.
Next…
It’s time to thoroughly clean your pool water by removing any debris on the surface. Consider running your pool vacuum or pool cleaning robot now, to get rid of any remaining dirt and other junk on the pool floor.
You can also clean the bottom of your pool after the next step, but it may save time to do all your debris cleanup in one go.
It’s important to get rid of all organic debris before closing, because anything biodegradable -- leaves, tree branches, chunks of dirt, dead bugs, and so on -- can decompose and create stains on the pool surface, which you certainly don’t want to see when reopening your pool for the next swimming season.
Then…
After removing all visible debris, you should brush, shock, and sanitize your pool water thoroughly. We recommend adding 10 ounces of algaecide 60 per 10,000 gallons of pool water, and one bottle of metal remover or sequestering agent for the entire pool (or according to any usage instructions on the bottle).
Run your pool pump and filter system for a full day (24 hours) to allow the shock and sanitizing chemicals to do their work and clean every part of your pool.
Next…
After you’ve cleaned everything, drain the pool water -- for some types of pools. You may not need to drain every type of pool, and the degree of draining may vary as well. Fiberglass pools should never be completely drained. All you need to do is reduce the water level to just below the bottom of the skimmer line, which will be enough to protect vital components in your fiberglass pool. Keep reading for more info on proper fiberglass pool winterization...
We recommend using a special tool that can keep water out of the skimmer while retaining all the water in your pool. This can save you some major headaches, since we also don’t recommend draining your pool yourself -- let a pool professional help you drain off your pool water, if it’s necessary for safe winterization.
Click the button below to get in touch with a pool pro now to discuss your pool project, whether you're just getting started in the construction process or would like expert guidance on the winterization process:
Once you’ve drained your pool (and/or secured your skimmer), remove all plugs and water from the pump and filter system. This includes everything through which water may flow, including heat pumps and decorative water features as well as the primary pumps and filters.
Put all your plugs in a secure place so you can easily re-attach them when re-opening your pool next year. If there’s space with your pool toys and accessories, that would be as good a place as any to store your plugs.
Next...
Blow out your pool's plumbing lines -- typically with an air compressor -- and plug all of them. We recommend adding a “Gizzmo” to the skimmer during this step, as mentioned above. A Gizzmo is simply a long, green tube used to block off the skimmer when it’s not meant to be used. You can pick one up on Amazon for a few bucks (it's the green thing in the image to the left).
Finally...
Cover your pool and secure your cover for the winter. If you’re using a vinyl or tarp cover, use a pump in the center of the cover to remove any storm water that may accumulate.
Mistakes to avoid when winterizing your pool
We’ve written extensively about winterizing your pool in the past, and in our decades as “pool guys,” we’ve seen a few common mistakes crop up for many pool owners when they attempt to close their pool for the winter.
If you’d like to get the full scoop, read our article on 5 common winterization mistakes. If you just want the quick and simple checklist, here it is…
Clean your salt generator, if you have one. Otherwise, your salt water system may not start up so easily next spring, if it’ll start at all.
Blow out your heater lines, if you have them. Remember, the “plumbing” we told you to blow out with an air compressor earlier includes everything through which water might flow, including the lines running through your pool heater.
Clean your filter! A dirty filter can be wrecked by freezes and thaws over the winter. Keep it clean to keep it safe and functional for your next swim season.
Put a Gizzmo in the skimmer line. Remember, you can get your Gizzmo on Amazon.
Turn off any electrical components. You don’t want your pumps and filters running in the winter, especially after you’ve drained and/or blocked off your skimmer line. You won’t be using the pool, so don’t waste electricity or risk damage to any important equipment by leaving things on after you’ve done the rest of your winterization work.
Want to make the most of your fiberglass pool? Download our free eBook, with comprehensive info on construction, accessories, maintenance, and more. It's got everything you need to keep your pool healthy, enjoyable, and in top shape for decades to come. Just click below to get your eBook now:
Pool winterizing chemicals and pool winterizing kits
We’ve briefly covered the chemicals you should use to winterize your pool, but we haven’t gotten super specific about those chemicals yet.
But there’s good news!
Pool winterizing chemicals are easily found on Amazon, often as all-in-one packages with algaecide, pool shock, and other treatments. In The Swim offers kits for various pool sizes, which you can easily pick up on Amazon -- click here to check out In The Swim’s pool winterizing kits to find the right one for your size of swimming pool.
There are several other highly-rated pool winterizing kits available on Amazon. Here are a few we’ve found that have strong reviews:
As you can see, it’s not particularly challenging to get everything you need to safely and successfully close down and winterize your pool when swim season’s over. The real challenge is finding the patience to wait out the cold temperatures until you can get back in the water again!
Any questions about winterizing and closing your pool? Ask us in the comments. We’re happy to help pool owners make the most of their pool experience!
At River Pools, we manufacture world-class fiberglass pools for customers across North America. If you're shopping around for a fiberglass pool, feel free to take a look at our catalog of models, visit our extensive video library, try out our pool cost calculator, or request custom pricing using the button below.
Why Does My Swimming Pool Heat Pump Freeze Up? Pool Heater Freezing Up
During the winter season, some ice on your pool heat pump is a common occurrence. However, when the whole unit is covered in ice, there is a concern for worry as your device won't function well and might be at risk of getting damaged.
This article focuses on people who want to use their pool heat pump through the winter season. The cause of a frozen or an icy unit can range from damaged circuitry, freezing pool, burst pipes, and more. Ignoring the frozen device can yield significant concerns.
Reasons why pool heat pumps freeze-up
The most common reason your pool heat pump freezes up is the lack of proper care and maintenance. This causes damage to the device, which eventually leads to the device freezing up.
Here are some more reasons that might be why your pool heat pump is freezing up.
Damaged unit or system
Most heaters come with a defrost unit, and the primary purpose of the defrost unit is to defrost any ice that might settle in the device. In case of a faulty defrost unit, the device won't warm ice crystals that freeze up in the machine.
Also, a lower temperature in the evaporator fins compared to the dew temperature in ambient air causes water from condensation to be produced on the evaporating fin's surface. When the temperature is 0 degrees Celsius, the ambient air will cause the condensation water to turn into frosts. Here are a few more parts that, when damaged it can lead to freezing up of the machine.
Refrigerator charge issue
Damage to the control board unit
Problem with the sensor unit
Damaged evaporation coil
Faulty valve
Insufficient airflow
Once the pool heat pump's refrigerant temperature drops below the freezing point, any moisture in the atmosphere can freeze, especially in the condenser coil and the evaporator. This happens if there is no sufficient airflow going through the device. Insufficient airflow causes moisture to linger in the unit system, which turns into frost during cold seasons.
Coldwater
Freezing rain settles on the device and turns into frost, and once the top part starts freezing, the rest will follow quickly. Another reason your pool heat pump is freezing up might be raining hailstones that clog in the device, freezing it from the inside out.
Leaking heat pump/condensation
Before jumping to conclusions, check to see the cause since both issues present almost similar challenges. If the heat pump is leaking, there is a busted tube releasing water on the inside, and in cold seasons, the water released can turn into frost and freeze up the device.
You need to switch off your heat pump and run water through to push out the condensation. It would help if you also considered fixing the air circulation of your device. There are test a person can run to figure out which of the two issues is the problem.
Use a chlorine strip near the heater to test if there is a reaction, and if a reaction occurs, it's an indication of a leaking heat pump. When there is no reaction, it simply means its condensation or rainwater.
Low or high Freon pressure
Low Freon pressure is a common challenge that occurs when it’s too cool outside to heat your pool. Low pressure is a sign of low temperature, meaning low refrigerant, which will freeze the evaporation coil. Most heat pumps work efficiently as long as the atmospheric temperature is over 45F -50F.
On the other hand, high Freon pressure occurs on low flowing water pressure meaning there isn't enough water passing through the heat exchanger for the process of heat transference. This condition can sometimes be confused with a faulty valve that appears open but closed inside the tube.
Understanding the reason a pool heat pump freezes up is the beginning of preventing or solving the issue. Here are a few techniques you can try to avoid or stop your pool heat pump from freezing.
Ways to prevent the pool heat pump from freezing
Sometimes preventing your pool heat pump from freezing all boils down to proper maintenance and care. Running frequent checks to see if your device works well and replacing worn-out parts if an issue presents itself goes a long way to ensure your device doesn't sustain damages.
In some cases, the problem might be as simple as adjusting the defrost setting to suit the temperature difference. Therefore, ensure all settings are adjusted to suit the environmental temperature.
Use a freeze protector.
Just like its name implies, a freeze protector safeguards your pipes and pool from freezing. A freeze protector connects with your pool devices to automate the circulation of water, power on your pool heat pump when the temperatures reach freezing points. It's like a robotic pool assistant safeguarding your pool equipment and the pool itself.
Ensure good airflow
As discussed above, insufficient airflow leads to frost on the inside of the device. Remember to regularly clean your device and clear any leaves, particles or debris that might block a perfect airflow.
Settling
Commonly heat pumps are placed on a concrete slab, and with time the concrete settles in the slab. This might block the drainage passage for melted ice and prevent a good airflow, leading to ice building up. If this is your problem, the fix is just slightly moving it a bit higher to free up space for the ice to pass when it's melted.
Seal in your pool.
Sealing in your pool helps prevent it from freezing during the cooler seasons. Allow your pool heat pump to run for 12 hours regularly to continue achieving the desired heat pump temperatures of above 50F. This will allow your heat pump to function correctly since the temperatures are conducive.
Seek a technician.
If all methods fail to yield results seeking an experienced professional might be your best solution to fix your freezing heat pump. Preferably it's wise to choose a technician from the company you bought the device from since different devices have different designs.
Summary
Do not let your pool heat pump suffer the consequences of ignorance while you can take measures to prevent it. This article has provided readers with the most common reasons why a pool heat pump may freeze and ways to avoid or fix the issues.
