Barry Bartakovits Custom Pools Yes/No

Will Your Pool Equipment Suffer Freeze Damage?  

Last winter boasted record low temperatures across the nation. The winter of 2015 has been milder so far, but long periods of freezing weather may be yet to come. With spring thaws, you may be faced with repairing damage to your swimming pool that results from frigid temperatures.

Frozen pool pipes - Underground pipes rarely freeze if they are deep enough, but every consecutive day of freezing cold increases the depth of permafrost in the soil. When pipes are more than half full of water, they crack, usually in a tell-tale spider web fashion. Cracked pool pipes have to be replaced. Cut them out with a hacksaw and replace with schedule 40 PVC, and deep socket PVC fittings, primed and glued with heavy duty PVC glue.

Frozen pool heaters - If you prime up the pump this spring and notice water pouring out of your heater, first check that the drain plugs are tightly in place and the pressure switch is connected. If water still pours out under the heater, remove the side access plates if you cannot see a visible crack. The most common freeze damage to pool heaters is a cracked rear header. The front header can also crack if left full of water. The heat exchanger is not usually affected. The repair involves removing the heater top, and side plates to gain access to the header bolts. Remove and replace, with new header gaskets.

Frozen pool filters - In many cases, pool filter tanks can withstand the pressure of frozen water, and the external valve will crack first, allowing the tank to drain. In the case of top mounted sand filters, the valve can pop off the top, cracking the tank flange.

D.E. and cartridge pool filters can suffer damage to the internal grids and elements if a full filter tank freezes solid, cracking and crushing the media. Filter tanks, flanges or clamp bands that show any sign of leaking or damage should be replaced immediately, for safety reasons.

Frozen pool pumps - Pool pumps typically have two drain plugs, one for the basket pot, and one for the volute. A cracked pool pump may not be immediately evident, due to small cracks in thick plastic, or in other cases, you can spot a cracked pump housing right away. In most cases, a frozen pool pump doesn't need complete replacement, but repair to one or two pump parts. The usual repair for a frozen pump is to replace either the hair & lint pot, or the volute - the impeller and other pump parts are not usually harmed.

If you find freeze damage this spring, remember that you are not alone; thousands of other pool owners around the country are making the same repairs to their pool equipment. After you discover an item that is frozen, closely inspect all other visible equipment, pipes and valves for damage and call Barry Bartakovits Custom Pools for help.

At Barry Bartakovits Custom Pools, our people make the difference. Our team is comprised of eighteen experienced employees - four are PA State certified pool operators and our retail store is a licensed PA state certified chemical applicator. Our in-house team will work tirelessly to provide you with top-of-the-line service, before, during and after the sale of your new outdoor living space. Having just celebrated our 40th year in business, we are proud of the numerous prestigious awards we have received from the Northeast Spa & Pool Association (NESPA), the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP), Penn Jersey Pool & Spa Association, and the Lehigh Valley Builders Association. For more information, call us at 610) 691-7665 or visit http://www.custompoolsbybarry.com/.