Miami Cold Weather and Your Pool: What to Do When Temperatures Drop
Residential pool (placeholder, update with cold-weather image)
So Miami’s actually cold right now. Like, wear-a-sweater cold. If you’re used to ignoring your pool until the weekend, this is one of those times to pay attention. A few simple moves can save you a nasty repair bill later. Here’s what to do.
Why bother? We barely get freezes.
We really don’t. But when we do, it’s usually the pipes and the pump that pay for it. Water sits still, it freezes, things crack. I’ve seen a pump housing split right down the side after one hard night. Not fun. A little prep now beats a big pool repair bill in a few weeks.
1. Run your pump when it’s cold.
Keep the water moving. That’s the main idea. Run your pool pump when it’s at or near freezing, or when the wind chill is in the 30s. Moving water doesn’t freeze as easily inside the pipes or the pump.
- Run it 24/7 during the cold snap, or at least overnight when it’s coldest.
- If you’ve got a variable-speed pump, use a low speed. You still get circulation without burning a ton of energy.
2. Protect anything that’s exposed.
Pipes and equipment sitting out in the open freeze first.
- Pool pump: If it’s in the open, throw a pool pump cover or a heavy blanket over it. Just don’t seal it up so tight that the motor can’t breathe.
- Above-ground plumbing: Wrap exposed pipes with foam insulation or even old towels. Tape or zip ties work fine to hold it on.
- Drains and skimmers: Keep them clear of leaves and gunk. If water can’t flow, you get ice and pressure where you don’t want it.
3. Don’t drain the pool.
Seriously. Draining in cold weather can mess up the shell. Empty or low pools can float or crack from groundwater. Keep the water level where it normally is and let the pump do the work.
4. After it warms up, take a quick look.
Once the cold spell’s over, do a fast check:
- Any wet spots or puddles around the equipment?
- Does the pump sound weird? Odd noise often means something’s damaged.
- Is the filter pressure normal?
If you see leaks or hear anything funny, call a Miami pool repair pro before it gets worse.
5. Big repairs can wait for a warmer day.
If something breaks during the cold, you can still run the pump on a timer or manually to keep water moving until someone can come out. But avoid cracking open the filter or breaking plumbing seals when it’s freezing. Schedule the real repair for when it’s warmer if you can.
6. If you use a cover, watch the weight.
Make sure the cover isn’t holding a ton of standing water or debris. Rain plus cold adds up. Use a cover pump to get the puddles off and brush the leaves away so you’re not stressing the cover or the pool.
When to just call a pro.
- Pump won’t run or you have no flow. Get help so the pipes don’t freeze.
- You see leaks or something’s clearly broken. Don’t wait. It only gets more expensive.
- You’re not sure what to do. A licensed pool service in Miami can walk you through it or come out and winterize things properly.
Thinking about a pool heater? Three solid options.
If you’re tired of skipping swims every time it dips below 70, a heater changes the game. We do pool heater installation and service all of these. Here are three we like, with a couple of standouts for each.
Pentair ETi 400 (gas). Fast heat and built to last. It uses a titanium heat exchanger (Titan-Tough) that holds up to corrosion and saltwater, and it runs at 96% thermal efficiency, so you get more heat per dollar of gas. Great when you want the pool warm in a hurry.
Hayward Universal H-Series or HeatPro (gas or heat pump). Hayward’s cupro-nickel heat exchangers are standard on the H-Series and are tough on saltwater and chemicals. The HeatPro heat pump can hit a COP of up to 6.0, so in a climate like ours it’s one of the most efficient options for keeping the pool warm without blowing the budget.
Raypak Digital (gas). The AVIA line adds Wi-Fi and automation so you can control it from your phone. Raypak also uses crosswind inverter technology to adjust the burn based on conditions, which can trim energy use. Often a bit easier on the upfront cost than similar-size units from other brands.
We install and service Pentair, Hayward, and Raypak. If you’re not sure which type (gas vs heat pump) or size fits your pool, we can walk you through it.
FloPool serves Kendall, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, and the rest of the area. We can help you get through the cold snap, get your heater installed or repaired, and get everything back in shape when it warms up again.
Bottom line: When Miami gets cold, run the pump, protect what’s exposed, and don’t drain the pool. A little attention now keeps your pool ready for the next sunny day and your wallet happy.
