Pentair IntelliCenter Freeze Protection

[DSMinAtlanta]

Hello,

This winter will be our first as new pool owners. We are planning to keep the pool open year-around to see how that goes this first year. I looked at the configuration in my IntelliCenter settings today and confirmed Freeze Protection was enabled for the following circuits:

• Pool
• Water Feature
• Cleaner (booster pump)

I know it makes sense to have it enabled for the Pool and Water Feature to keep water flowing through all pipes. Does it need to be enabled for the cleaner though? From what I can tell, water is constantly flowing through that booster pump even when it isn't powered on. I also see in IntelliCenter that there is a separate pump speed for 'Freeze'. When Freeze Protection kicks in, does the 'Freeze' pump speed override the other speeds configured? Below are the speeds currently configured for the pump. The builder set the 'Freeze' speed to 2,000 RPM so I'll definitely lower that to something closer to the 'Pool' speed. I just want to make sure I fully understand how Freeze Protection works before we get into the winter season. Thank you!

 

[ajw22]

Pentair publishes little in how Freeze Protection works.

If you have a strong flow through the cleaner return when the filter pump is on then you do not need to have the cleaner pump on Freeze Protection.

A slow pump speed flowing water slowly will protect you from a mild freeze event. In a sustained hard freeze slow flowing water can freeze.

The Physics of Freezing and Freeze Protection

Recently, there have been a lot of questions from those living in moderate climates about using automatic freeze protection or running pumps to prevent freezing and what a pool owner should do when temperatures drop so I thought it might be useful to have a thread which dealt with the issue from...

www.troublefreepool.com

Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[DSMinAtlanta]

Pentair publishes little in how Freeze Protection works.

If you have a strong flow through the cleaner return when the filter pump is on then you do not need to have the cleaner pump on Freeze Protection.

A slow pump speed flowing water slowly will protect you from a mild freeze event. In a sustained hard freeze slow flowing water can freeze.

The Physics of Freezing and Freeze Protection

Recently, there have been a lot of questions from those living in moderate climates about using automatic freeze protection or running pumps to prevent freezing and what a pool owner should do when temperatures drop so I thought it might be useful to have a thread which dealt with the issue from...

www.troublefreepool.com

Preparing Pool for Cooler Months - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

That’s what I’m finding as I read through the IntelliCenter manuals. I’m surprised they don’t go into more detail. I may turn off Freeze Protection for the cleaner after I do a little more research. Thanks for the links.