Pool Winterization Tips: How to Protect Your Pool During a Hard Freeze
Winter weather in Middle Tennessee can be unpredictable, and when temperatures drop fast, your pool equipment becomes vulnerable to freezing, cracking, and costly damage. At Palmingo, every system we install was designed with freeze protection in mind—but hard freezes still require a little extra attention.
Here’s a simple guide to help you protect your pool and equipment when temperatures plunge.
1. Turn Off the Skimmer Valve
During a freeze, you want your system pulling warmer water from the main drain, not cold surface water from the skimmers.
Turning off the skimmer valve prevents icy water from entering the equipment pad.
This reduces the risk of freezing pipes and potential breaks.
If your system was installed by Palmingo, your skimmer valve is clearly labeled on the equipment pad.
2. Bypass the Heater
All Palmingo systems are built with a heater bypass valve for freeze conditions.
Why this matters:
Cold water entering a heater is one of the fastest ways to cause internal freeze damage.
Engaging the bypass keeps water flowing around the heater instead of through it.
You can also drain your heater using the drain plugs located at the bottom to ensure no standing water remains. This helps prevent internal ice expansion and plumbing cracks.
A good rule of thumb: Heaters should not run during a freeze, and manufacturers agree—it does not prevent freezing and can worsen the risk to the unit.
3. Make Sure Freeze Protection Is Enabled
Every Palmingo system includes freeze protection at startup.
You’ll see this in your iAquaLink app near the pump icon when temperatures hit 38°F or below. Once activated, your system enters Freeze Protection Mode, which automatically:
Runs your pumps at a minimum of 2,230 RPM to maintain proper water flow
Overrides your existing schedule (no need to adjust anything manually)
Shuts the heater down for safety
Water movement is the single most important factor in preventing freeze damage. Freeze Protection Mode keeps things circulating when it matters most.
4. Should You Run the Heater in a Freeze?
Short answer: No.
Even if the water feels warm, it won’t prevent the system from freezing in a true hard freeze. Heater manufacturers recommend not running heaters during freezing conditions because:
It does not stop the pipes from freezing
It can actually damage the heater if water inside freezes
Freeze Protection Mode automatically turns the heater off anyway
The safest plan is to use the heater during normal cold weather—but not during an actual freeze event.
5. Use Your Pool Cover Wisely
Pool covers can help hold heat in the water, but they are not a freeze-proofing solution.
Here’s how to use them effectively:
If snow is expected, gently remove snow from the cover during the storm to avoid excess weight.
In a dry hard freeze (no storm), keeping the cover on helps maintain slightly warmer water temperatures.
You should always be able to open your cover, even in a freeze—covers do not prevent the pool itself from freezing.
A cover is an insulation tool, not a freeze-proof tool.
Additional Protective Options
If you’re facing a prolonged freeze (24+ hours), or if rolling blackouts are expected, consider extra precautions:
Insulate exposed pipes
You can wrap exposed plumbing with:
Store-bought pipe insulation
Moving blankets + duct tape
Foam insulation sleeves
These are temporary measures, but they add an extra layer of defense against ice.
Drain equipment if power is lost
If a blackout stops water flow, freezing becomes likely. Every pump and heater on your pad has drain plugs at the bottom—removing them allows water to escape and prevents expansion damage.
A Quick Note About Power Outages
During a hard freeze, neighborhoods sometimes experience rolling blackouts. If your equipment loses power:
Freeze Protection Mode cannot run
Pumps stop circulating
Pipes and components can freeze quickly
Taking additional precautions—insulation, draining equipment, and monitoring your system—helps dramatically reduce freeze risk when the unexpected occurs.
Final Thought: Water Movement Is Everything
The single most important factor in protecting your pool during freezing weather is continuous water flow. With Palmingo-built systems, much of this happens automatically, but knowing how your equipment functions—and how to take action when needed—gives you peace of mind all winter long.
If you have questions or need help preparing your pool for freeze season, our service team is always here to help.