Winterizing a Pool Pump
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Pool pumps are one of the more expensive pieces of equipment on your pool filtration system and you need to take steps to protect it if you live in a cold climate area with freezing winter temperatures. This is especially true with variable speed pool pumps which are more expensive than the previous option, single speed pumps, so you definitely need to make sure you winterize your pump against damage. Fortunately the process of winterizing a pool pump is not very difficult or time consuming to do.
There is not one singular, set way in which pool pumps need to be winterized. Some people drain them, some people fill them with antifreeze, and further still some pool owners physically disconnect and remove their pool pump to store inside a heated area for the cold winter season. When done properly it is likely that any of these approaches to winterizing a pool pump would work. In short, you simply must remove all water from inside the pump to prevent from that water freezing and expanding and cracking your pump in the process. How you remove and store your pump for the winter will depend on the unique installation of your pool and your equipment, as well as your personal approach to how you like to care for your property.
Do you need to remove a pool pump for the winter? - Much like a car, some owners will meticulously maintain and care for their vehicle, while other car owners take a more minimal approach to care and maintenance. In this same way pool pump owners may approach the winterizing process differently. The most dedicated pool owners will endeavor to remove the pump completely from the system, including disconnecting the hardwired electrical service, and store the pump indoors for the cold season. While this certainly would be the best for the pump, assuming no damage was done during the removal and re-installation, I would qualify this as overkill for pool pump winterizing. I have seen reference to removal and storage indoors in some pump installation manuals, having worked for decades in freezing climate areas it is certainly not "the norm" to remove and store the pump indoors. If you properly winterize a pool pump you should not need to remove it from the system to prevent it from damage over the winter.
How to winterize a pool pump? - Every pool pump (except entry level above ground pool pumps) will have winterizing ports on the bottom near to the front of the pump. Most will have two of these ports. The front port drains the wet end chamber of the pump, while the rear plug drains the impeller and volute area. No pressurized air (or tipping the pump on end) are needed to effectively drain all of the water from the pump. Simply remove the winterization plugs from the pump and gravity will do the rest. Note, you should remove the winterizing plugs from your pump and immediately place them into the pump strainer basket. This can be left stored in the (now empty) pump for the off season, so you are sure to not lose them before spring. There is more work to do around the pump, like winterizing the filter, and also blowing out the suction lines which connect to the front of the pump, but the pump itself only needs to have the winterizing plugs removed, nothing more.
Pump winterizing steps to avoid - Since there are different acceptable methods that you could use to winterize a pool pump I think it would be a good idea to touch on some of these to provide context as to why it is done and then this should help you to decide better how you want to approach winterizing your own pump.
Do not wrap up your pump with a tarp or cover.
This will only serve to hold moisture in and around the pump and could promote corrosion on metal components.
Do not leave your pump lid, suction or pressure side ports open.
This might allow pests to move in over the winter season so be sure all access is closed up.
Do not forget to turn off the electrical supply / breaker to the pump.
It is common to burn pumps out from owners forgetting to power off the breaker.
Do not add antifreeze to your pump.
If you have removed all of the water, as you should to winterize a pump, then you do not need antifreeze.
Do not lose any gaskets or O-rings.
They might fall off of the pump lid or winterization plugs when you remove them.
Do not re-install winterization plugs after draining the pump.
There will still be some trapped water that drains over time. Mice can not fit into a winterizing port.
Swimming pool winterizing services from pool professionals is big business. A professional crew can close your pool in as fast as an hour or less and usually this service is fairly affordable. I traditionally have always told pool owners that paying for professional winterization of the pool is probably a good investment. When you close thousands of pools per year you get pretty good at it, and then you can be confident that your pool (including the pump) will not sustain and freeze damage over the winter season. Opening the pool in the spring is a lot more labor oriented and with less risk for damage to the pool so if you hire out for closing but open the pool yourself you can cut your annual costs in half, while also minimizing your potential for extra cost due to damaged pool equipment over the winter season.
You might be interested in the Pool Winterizing Breakdown page.
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Swimming Pool Steve is an award winning, second generation swimming pool specialist from Ontario Canada and one of the most trusted voices in the swimming pool industry. With over 20,000,000 views on the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel, winner of the Pleatco Pool & Spa Industry Leadership award and author of hundreds of pool and spa articles both online and in print. Steve is committed to helping pool and spa owners as well as pool and spa industry workers learn more about the technical side of building, renovating, repairing and maintaining all types of swimming pools and spas. Follow Swimming Pool Steve on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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