Pool WINTER
4. Turn on pumps, one at a time, and
allow pumps to prime.
Note: Pumps prime faster if you are only
pulling from one water line. Adjust valves as needed.
According to Chris, this winterization process is actually just a partial
winterization guide for North Texas. “A true northern winterization typically will also
MAINTENANCE
P
by Jade Kensington
ools are typically associated with the warm and sunny summers that we get here in North Texas. However, the recent winter storm that came through was a bitterly cold reminder that pool maintenance is a year-long commitment that allows for seasonal enjoyment when we emerge from the winter months. Chris Bowen, owner of Bowen Pools,
6. If you have a heater, unscrew the drain
include blowing out the plumbing lines
and plugging them, since their frost level
is so severe that they don’t want any water in the system at all.”
One of the most common mistakes Chris sees from pool owners is that they don’t have proper protection on their pools
during the winter months. “We typically
see people who won’t have freeze protect
offered his business protocol on proper
plug under the front header (located
on their pool and don’t check to see if
the elements.
of the heater).
see freeze damage most of the time in a
pool winterization to safeguard against
HOW TO PREPAR E FO R A DE E P F RE EZE It is important that water is circulating
through the entire pool and any water feature systems during deep-freeze
conditions. If you have any water feature
booster pumps that you wish to winterize, follow the winterizing steps below. It is
important to note that if you have a gas
heater, you should not turn them on for a
continuous amount of time, as it can cause damage to the internals of the heater.
HOW TO WIN TE R I ZE A P O O L (IF POWER I S LO ST) 1. Turn off all power at the breaker. 2. Open the air relief valve on the filter to
release water.
3. Unscrew or open the lid on the pump. 4. Unscrew both drain plugs on the
bottom of the pump.
5. Unscrew the large drain plug from
the filter.
where the plumbing pipes go in and out 7. If you have a cleaner booster pump,
remove the drain plug from the bottom. 8. If you have any other devices that hold
water, make sure to drain them.
9. To ensure all drain plugs do not get
lost, place them within the pump strainer basket.
Upon completing those steps, all
the water should be out of the pool equipment, and therefore, cannot be frozen.
As important as it is to winterize, it is equally important to properly un-winterize a pool.
HO W TO STA RT YO U R PO O L UP AFTER W I N TERI ZI N G 1. Reassemble all drain plugs that were
removed.
2. Take a water hose and fill up all pumps
with water.
3. Turn pool equipment back on.
it’s working or not. And that’s where we
normal winter.” He emphasized that it is
important for pool owners to make sure
their equipment is working properly prior to a freeze and to make sure they know
how to winterize their equipment in the case of an emergency.
As expected, there has been an uptick in
business calls for pool equipment repairs in the aftermath of the winter storm. With over 100 service calls scheduled during
the first week after the storm, Bowen Pools has been out to assess the damage in our
area. “Unfortunately, this event has caused an equipment shortage in North Texas. Luckily, we have quite a bit of storage space and were able to stock up on
equipment for a couple of weeks before things got too crazy,” Chris states.
This bout of inclement weather was a
reminder for all pool owners to check
on their pool equipment regularly and
to follow proper winterization protocols. Mild or not, winter weather can cause
damage to intricate pool equipment if not properly protected.
3341 Long Prairie Rd. • Flower Mound, TX 75022 • BowenPoolsllc.com • 214.770.7227 38 | FLOWER MOUND TOWN LIFE | MARCH 2021
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