We do recommend that you set the freeze temperature at 40-45 degrees just to be safe. During extremely harsh weather (low 20's and windy) you might consider just leaving the pump running 24 hours per day until the weather gets back up into the upper 20's. You have to use your best judgment on this.
You should have a freeze protection device that will automatically turn the pump on when the temperature drops to around 34 degrees. A freeze protector will keep your pool running as long as the temperature remains close to freezing.
Some systems have a freeze guard (or freeze protector) which automatically triggers the pump when the temperature hits between 36-38°F. But sometimes, sunlight can warm up the thermostat and accidently shut it off.
Helpful tips to keep your pool and its equipment safe during freezing temperatures. Run your pool pump continuously when temperatures are near or below freezing. You don't need to run your heater, moving water likely will not freeze.
If you have an above ground pool with the pool filter system and plumbing above ground (like nearly all above ground pools), pipes and pumps can freeze up in less than an hour of minus 32 degrees.
Yes, they can freeze solid. If temperatures reach below zero, swimming pools that are not circulating can freeze solid within a few days. If those low temperatures continue for several days, the ice sheet can increase in thickness by up to ¼” per day.
When the pool surface freezes solid, it won't weigh any more than the water that it is displacing. But if your pool cover is not pumped off, and the ice starts spilling over the top rail of your aboveground pool, that could cause some problems! Be sure to keep your pool cover clean and mostly pumped off during winter.
Running the pool pump will slow down the rate at which the pool water and pipes will freeze. Pool water and pipes will eventually freeze regardless of if the water is moving or not if the temperature drops below 32°F (0°C.
Lower the water level to below the skimmer. Clear pipes and equipment of water using a blower or compressor and plug the pipes at the pool. Add swimming pool antifreeze to the lines to prevent freezing. Place a Gizzmo* (or similar device) in the skimmer to seal it and absorb pressure from ice.
The freezing point for water is 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). When the temperature of water falls to 0 degrees Celsius and below, it begins to change to ice. As it freezes, it releases heat to its surroundings. However, in some ways water is not like other types of matter.
Insulate plumbing lines with blankets or towels to prevent freezing. Even pool noodles can serve as good insulation around pipes. Open all lines to ensure proper water flow. If a valve is shut off, no water will flow through that pipe, and there is the danger of freezing damage.
Pipes can freeze at 32 degrees or below, but it will take a sustained period of time for this to happen. In other words, a pipe needs to be at freezing temperatures for at least half a day before homeowners have to worry about any freezing occurring.
Do NOT let your pool freeze.
While a thin layer of ice is unlikely to damage your pool, if you live in an area with continuous below-freezing temperatures, we highly recommend you winterize and close your pool at the end of swimming season. Keeping your pool open all year long is also an option.
Winter Damage On Above Ground Pools can happen without proper preparation. The top level of the water freezes and forms a sheet of ice on the top layer. If there is a leak in the liner, or too much weight on top of the cover the ice sheet can fall down further into the pool, scraping and ripping the liner.
You might be tempted to wait for the pipes to thaw out by themselves. But keep in mind: Depending on the weather, the process can take days. Pipes typically don't freeze until the temperature dips to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
See, in most cases, your water pipes will start freezing when the temperature is within the range of twenty to thirty two degrees Fahrenheit. And since they need around six hours until they burst, this temperature rate can be considered the one at which your water lines will collapse.
You might not even be able to freeze it at 32 degrees, but most likely it will be solid after around 10 hours for water equivalent to a normal bottle.
32°F (0°C). Share that the temperature at which fresh water freezes is called the freezing point. The freezing point is the temperature at which a liquid turns to a solid. The freezing point at which water — a liquid — turns to ice — a solid — is 32°F (0°C).
And water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. But it can actually get colder than that, all the way toward what we call absolute zero. This value is equivalent to about -459 degrees Fahrenheit. This is when the water molecules are basically not moving.
Can water freeze at 33 degrees? Water will not freeze with the temperature air at or above 33 degrees, regardless of how far the wind chill is below freezing. Wind chill has no effect on inanimate objects, and they cannot be cooled below the ambient air temperature.
Air pressure certainly affects the freezing temperature. The higher the pressure, the lower the freezing temperature. Since it will take water longer to reach the lower temperature, I'd expect that it would freeze more slowly. There are two ways that the higher pressure lowers the freezing temperature.
Antifreeze lowers the freezing point of water, keeping it liquid at low temperatures. Both sugar and salt will do this as well, although to a lesser extent.
The temperature of ice varies just like the temperature of any other solid substance–within the physical limitations of its solid state. Just as the temperature of water varies between 32 (degrees) and 212 (degrees) (its freezing and boiling points), the temperature of ice ranges from 32 (degrees) downward.