8 Best Things to Prepare for Freezing Temps and Your Texas Pool
When temperatures drop below freezing in Parker County, your pool becomes vulnerable to serious damage. Ice formation can crack pipes, destroy equipment, and cause structural damage that costs thousands to repair. Here’s exactly what you need to do to protect your investment.
1. Keep Your Pool Pump Running
Run your pump continuously when temperatures drop below 32°F and keep it running until temps rise above freezing for at least 24 hours. Moving water resists freezing much better than standing water—it needs to stay around 20°F or lower for an extended period before flowing water will freeze.
Set your timer to manual or override mode so the pump doesn’t shut off during its normal cycle. Yes, you’ll see a spike in your electric bill, but running a pump for 48-72 hours straight costs roughly $15-30 depending on your equipment. Compare that to replacing a cracked filter housing ($400-800), burst pipes ($500-2000), or a damaged pump ($600-1200).
If you lose power during the freeze, this becomes critical. You’ll need to take additional protective measures immediately, which we’ll cover below.
2. Check Your Freeze Protection System
Most modern pool automation systems include freeze protection sensors that automatically turn on your pump when temperatures drop to around 34-36°F. But sensors can fail, wiring can corrode, and settings can get changed accidentally.
Test your freeze guard at least a week before forecasted freezing weather. Here’s how: locate your freeze sensor (usually mounted near your equipment pad), spray it with compressed air turned upside down (this makes it extremely cold), and verify that your pump turns on within 30 seconds. If it doesn’t activate, you need to troubleshoot or call for service before the freeze hits.
Also check that your system is set to override all other programs during freeze conditions. Some systems default to running only certain equipment, which might not be enough protection.
3. Protect Exposed Pipes and Equipment
Any plumbing above ground is at extreme risk. Backflow preventers, pressure relief valves, and exposed PVC are the first things to crack when water inside them freezes and expands.
Use foam pipe insulation from any hardware store—it’s inexpensive and reusable. Wrap every inch of exposed pipe, especially the backflow preventer which typically sits 12-18 inches above ground. For extra protection, wrap insulated pipes with waterproof tape to keep moisture out.
Pay attention to pipes on the north side of your equipment or home—these areas get no direct sunlight during winter and stay colder longer. Also protect any pipes in shaded areas or near fences where cold air settles.
For backflow preventers specifically, you can buy insulated covers designed exactly for this purpose. They’re worth the $30-50 investment if you have an expensive double-check valve assembly.
4. Don't Drain Your Pool
This is one of the biggest mistakes homeowners make. They think an empty pool can’t freeze, so they drain it to protect it. The opposite is true.
When the ground freezes, it expands. An empty pool has no water weight to counteract this pressure, and the shell can crack, pop out of the ground, or buckle. This is especially true for fiberglass and vinyl liner pools, but even concrete pools are at risk.
Additionally, empty pools can float out of the ground if the water table rises from rain or snow melt. Repairs for a popped pool can run $20,000-50,000 or more.
Keep your pool filled to normal operating level and keep the water moving with your pump.
5. Cover or Insulate Your Equipment
Your pump motor generates heat while running. Trap that heat by creating insulation around your equipment pad.
Use old blankets, sleeping bags, or towels to wrap your pump, filter housing, heater, and chlorinator. Don’t cover air vents on motors—you need airflow to prevent overheating. Drape the insulation loosely over equipment and secure it with bungee cords or rope so wind doesn’t blow it away.
For extra protection, some people build temporary enclosures using cardboard boxes, plastic sheeting, or even small pop-up tents around their equipment. The goal is to trap warm air from the motor and protect from wind chill, which makes actual temperatures feel much colder.
If you have a pool heater, running it during a freeze adds extra protection. Set it to a low temperature (around 40-50°F) to keep things just warm enough without huge energy costs.
6. Monitor Your Water Level
Water level matters more during freezing weather than normal operation. Your skimmer is typically the most vulnerable point in your pool system.
Keep water at the middle of your skimmer opening—this is the standard operating level. If water is too low, the skimmer throat (the part that water flows through) can freeze and crack. Skimmer replacement costs $400-1000 depending on your pool type.
If water is too high, ice formation on the surface can expand and put pressure on tile, coping, or the bond beam. While ice on the surface generally isn’t a major issue for the pool itself, keeping water at the right level prevents unnecessary stress on materials.
Check your water level the day before a freeze. Texas freezes often come with winter storms that can dump rain first, raising your level unexpectedly.
7. Remove Pool Cleaner and Accessories
Automatic pool cleaners—whether suction-side, pressure-side, or robotic—contain internal components that can be damaged by freezing temperatures. Remove the cleaner from the pool and store it in your garage or shed.
Drain any water from the cleaner’s body and hoses. Water trapped inside can freeze and crack the housing or damage internal gears and motors.
Also remove:
- Solar blankets or covers (these can be damaged by ice formation underneath)
- Floating pool toys and inflatables
- Removable ladder sections if possible
- Pool skimmer baskets (replace after the freeze)
- Vacuum heads and poles
Leaving items in the pool during a freeze won’t necessarily destroy them, but ice can scratch finishes and frozen accessories can become brittle and break.
8. Have a Backup Plan
Even with perfect preparation, things can go wrong. Power outages are common during Texas ice storms, and if your pump stops running, you have a limited window before problems start.
Know where your main electrical breaker panel is located and which breaker controls your pool equipment. If it trips during the night, you need to reset it immediately.
Keep these numbers saved in your phone:
- Emergency pool service (Parsons Pool Service: [your number])
- Your electrician
- Your local hardware store for emergency supplies
If you lose power for an extended period and can’t run your pump, you have options:
- Run a gas-powered generator to keep the pump going
- Add pool antifreeze to your lines (only as a last resort and only the proper pool-grade antifreeze)
- If safe to do so, break up surface ice to allow gas exchange and reduce pressure
Have a flashlight and basic tools accessible. Freeze events often happen overnight, and you might need to check equipment in the dark.
What If You Can't Be There?
If you’re traveling during a freeze warning, you have two options: hire someone to monitor your pool (this is a service we offer), or set your system to run continuously before you leave and have a neighbor check that it’s still running.
Some pool automation systems allow remote monitoring through phone apps. If you have this capability, set up alerts for low temperatures and equipment status before you travel.
The Bottom Line
A hard freeze in Parker County doesn’t happen every year, but when it does, it hits hard. The February 2021 freeze caused millions of dollars in pool damage across Texas—most of it preventable with proper preparation.
Preparation takes about an hour and costs almost nothing. Repairs take weeks, leave your pool unusable during spring, and cost thousands. The choice is obvious.
Need help preparing your pool for freezing weather? Parsons Pool Service offers freeze preparation services throughout Parker County, including Aledo, Weatherford, Brock, and surrounding areas. We can handle everything from equipment checks to full winterization and monitoring. Contact us before the next freeze warning.
