I Think That I Might Have Freeze Damage

WHAT DO I DO NOW?

The recent cold weather provided us both of the extreme weather events that can cause freeze damage—long periods of time with temperatures below freezing and extremely low temperatures (lowest temperature recorded since February 1899). Most pools would have been avoided having any damage even with the extremely low temperatures, but the real outlier from past freezing weather events were the power outages that many experienced—which has resulted in quite a bit of damage to pool equipment and plumbing.

As you are probably already aware of, water expands by approximately 9% when it is frozen, therefore anything that is full of water and freezes can potentially be damaged. There will be quite a bit of freeze damage that will become evident as the temperatures warm up and leaks begin. Most of the pool damage that occurred will be at the pool equipment pad—pumps, filters, heaters, pipes, etc.

Therefore, it would probably be a good idea to check to see if you have experienced freeze damage. Following is a course of action for checking and then the necessary steps to get the problem solved.

If Your System Continued to Operate

If your system continued to operate and you did not experience extended electrical outages that adversely impacted your pool operation, you are one of the fortunate ones. Following are some things to consider:

1. After running for such a long time, your filter will likely need to be backwashed/cleaned. You might need to wait a few days, just in case the backwash line contains ice.
2. Visually check the equipment pad area for possible leaks from the pool equipment, valves, or plumbing. Also check your fill line for freeze damage. In addition, it would be a good idea to check your automatic pool cleaner hose lines to make sure that there is no damage.
3. Most underground pipes are deep enough that they do not experience freeze damage in this region, but, just in case, check the yard for wet spots. If you have a wet spot in the yard, you could have an underground leak, which needs to be repaired.
4. If you see any leaks or damage, turn the pumps off and give us a call at (940) 384-7665 to schedule repairs. Photos are always helpful to us when planning repairs.

Do not wait until spring/summer to get repairs made, as we are very busy and it doesn’t look like it will slow down anytime soon.

If Your System was Winterized
(equipment was drained)

If your system was winterized, freeze damage could still have occurred as oftentimes not all of the water vacates all components and plumbing.

1. It is important to wait a few days to be sure that any ice that remains in the system has time to melt. Then replace all plugs, turn the power back on, and prime the pump to begin operation.
2. Visually check the equipment pad area for possible leaks from the pool equipment, valves, or plumbing. Also check your fill line for freeze damage. In addition, it would be a good idea to check your automatic pool cleaner hose lines to make sure that there is no damage.
3. Most underground pipes are deep enough that they do not experience freeze damage in this region, but, just in case, check the yard for wet spots. If you have a wet spot in the yard, you could have an underground leak, which needs to be repaired.
4. If you see any leaks or damage, turn the pumps off and give us a call at (940) 384-7665 to schedule repairs. Photos are always helpful to us when planning repairs.

Do not wait until spring/summer to get repairs made, as we are very busy and it doesn’t look like it will slow down anytime soon.

If Your System Froze Up

If your system froze up, following is a plan moving forward.

1. Let it thaw out. This might take a few days of above freezing temperatures as solid chunks of ice often take several days to melt. Operating your equipment while there is still frozen ice in the lines could cause further damage—so be patient and let it melt.
2. Once you are convinced that all of the ice has melted, turn the pumps on. Visually check the equipment pad area for possible leaks from the pool equipment, valves, or plumbing. Also check your fill line for freeze damage. In addition, it would be a good idea to check your automatic pool cleaner hose lines to make sure that there is no damage.
3. Most underground pipes are deep enough that they do not experience freeze damage in this region, but, just in case, check the yard for wet spots. If you have a wet spot in the yard, you could have an underground leak, which needs to be repaired.
4. If you see any leaks or damage, turn the pumps off and give us a call at (940) 384-7665 to schedule repairs. Photos are always helpful to us when planning repairs.

Do not wait until spring/summer to get repairs made, as we are very busy and it doesn’t look like it will slow down anytime soon.

Will My Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Any Damage?

One question that we often hear is whether or not freeze damage to pool equipment is covered under homeowner’s insurance. We encourage you to check with your insurance company, but it is our understanding that the following is accurate in most cases.

• Is freeze damage to swimming pools and swimming pool equipment covered by homeowner’s insurance?
  • In most cases, freeze damage is not covered, but the resulting damage would be covered.
    • An example would be: pool equipment and/or a pipe freezes and busts, water leaks from the pool equipment area to the house and warps the floor.
  • Some homeowners have added mechanical breakdowns to their policy, and if they have, then the damage to the pool equipment would likely be covered.
  • With that being said, policy language is different among different carriers—so check with your insurance professional to find out what your policy covers.

We are hopeful that you did not experience any freeze damage, but if you did, hopefully this information answers some of your questions. If we can help you further, please give us a call at (940) 384-7665.