Pool Owners Brace For Hard Freeze This Holiday Weekend

As the holiday weekend approaches, a hard freeze has pool owners scrambling to prepare.

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As the holidays approach, pool owners across the country are bracing for record-low temperatures and the dangers that come with them. One major concern for pool owners is the risk of their pool freezing in such cold conditions. More than a million and a half people in the United States are currently without electricity. A "historic winter storm" is impacting many areas of the country.

The hardest hit thus far has been the Northeast and South. As of Friday morning, 152,915 were without power in Virginia, 201,243 in North Carolina, and 182,637 in Tennessee. The entire country is watching Texas, one of the largest pool markets in the nation. The deep freeze encountered in 2021 caused many to lose power which led to catastrophic damage in pools. Currently, 73,324 consumers in Texas are without power.

A powerful Arctic front continues to spread through the eastern third of the nation. Consequently, the National Weather Service has issued a travel advisory. As the nation prepares for a hard freeze, roughly 60% of the country is under some sort of weather advisory.

The news of a hard freeze over the holidays has had many homeowners scrambling to prepare their pools. According to the National Weather Service, a hard freeze occurs when temperatures remain at or below 28 degrees for an extended period of time. On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, temperatures in the teens and twenties are expected in many areas of the country.

When the water in a pool or its equipment freezes, it can cause significant damage. The expansion of water as it freezes can put a lot of pressure on the various components of the pool. Freezing temperatures can also damage equipment, such as pipes, filters, and pumps. This pressure can cause these components to crack or break, which can be costly to repair.

One of the most common problems that occurs when a pool freezes is damage to the pool's plumbing. The pipes that carry water to and from the pool's pump and filter system are particularly vulnerable to freezing. If these pipes freeze and then thaw, they can become damaged or burst, which can lead to serious water damage.

Another potential problem is damage to the pool's filter system. The filter is responsible for removing contaminants and debris from the water. If it becomes damaged, it can be difficult to get the pool clean and clear.

Freezing temperatures can also damage the pool's pump. The pump is responsible for circulating water through the pool and its equipment. If the pump is damaged, it can be difficult to keep the water moving and maintain proper circulation.

In addition to these problems, freezing temperatures can also cause the pool's liner to become damaged or even rupture. This can be a costly repair. The liner is a crucial component of the pool and is responsible for holding the water in place.

Power outages can have significant impacts on pool owners during a freeze. They can disrupt the functioning of pool heaters and filtration systems. In addition, power outages may prevent pool owners from being able to use electricity. Without power, it becomes difficult to prevent their pools from freezing.

There are a few practical steps one can take to help prevent or reduce the risk of freeze damage to pool equipment. Manufacturer, Hayward has been sharing the following advice to pool owners.

Content originally posted in: Pool Protection Tips For Freezing Weather

Run Your Pump When Below FreezingDuring deep freeze conditions, it will be imperative that all pumps run while temperatures are below freezing. If you have a controller, it should automatically take over and turn on the pump(s) and rotate between the pool and spa mode on its own. If you do not have a controller, you will need to manage this process on your own.

Cold Weather And Power is OnIf you do have power to your home and are not being affected by power outages, keep your pool equipment operating at all times (24/7) until temperatures increase above freezing.

If your power is out or your home is being affected by power outages, keep reading below or contact your local pool professional for assistance:

Cold Weather, But Lost PowerIf your power is out and the temperatures are below freezing:

Wait for Ice to Melt NaturallyIf ice has formed on your equipment, don't turn the power back on. Wait for any ice that has formed to melt naturally. This will help prevent damage to the equipment once power is restored.

Reinstall Removed ItemsOnce the ice has melted, re-install the drains and salt chlorine generator cells. Turn on the power to your pool equipment.

Get Expert HelpAlways remember you can use your local pool professional for help. Reach out to a licensed pool contractor for assistance

Is the hard freeze here? It certainly looks that way. Professionals in the pool industry have already been taking steps to prepare for the deep freeze by winterizing pools and ensuring that equipment and pipes are protected from cold temperatures.

Again, the attention is on Texas which has a tendency to fall victim to sudden freezing temperatures but does not historically winterize its inground pools. During Uri, a sustained freeze accompanied by mass power outages was responsible for much of the damage we saw in 2021. Pool professionals are eager to avoid a similar reoccurrence.

A post shared by Element Pool Company (@elementpoolco)

In the event that a pool does freeze, it is important to handle the situation carefully to avoid damaging the equipment or the pool structure. If the water in the pool has frozen, it is generally best to wait for it to thaw naturally rather than trying to force it to melt. If you notice damage to pipes or cracked pool equipment or any structural damage to the pool, the best advice is to contact a pool contractor immediately.

And the condition is getting worse! Water level dropping in pool, pipe is frozen to add water to the pool, and filter is…Posted by Joanne Pisano Di Bella on Friday, December 23, 2022

It is not uncommon for pool equipment and pipes to be damaged during a deep freeze, and many have already begun posting photos on social media to show the extent of the damage and to help educate others about the importance of winterizing their pools. If you own a pool, it is important to take steps to protect it from the cold weather to prevent damage and ensure that it is ready for use when the weather warms up.

Featured Photo Credit: Facebook / Kathy Ott Prior

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Editor in Chief of Pool Magazine - Joe Trusty is also CEO of PoolMarketing.com, the leading digital agency for the pool industry. An internet entrepreneur, software developer, author, and marketing professional with a long history in the pool industry. Joe oversees the writing and creative staff at Pool Magazine.To contact Joe Trusty email [email protected] or call (916) 467-9118 during normal business hours. For submissions, please send your message to [email protected]

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This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Western Pool & Spa Show which has been held annually in Long Beach, CA for the last 30 years. Last year over 10,000 pool and spa industry professionals attended the Western Pool & Spa Show making it one of the best-attended national shows in the country.

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Eric Nielson, Director of the Western Pool & Spa Show on the pool magazine podcast. He gave us some insight into the history behind the annual event.

"It started off as a small tabletop and has grown, and this will also be our 30th year in the city which has become our home, Long Beach. So there are two milestones that we’re kind of celebrating," said Nielson.

"Years ago, there was a small group of manufacturers, sales reps, and a few pool guys who simply got together and said, ‘Hey, maybe we should do something to educate people out there in the San Fernando Valley'", said Nielson.

"They put together a small event in Studio City and it grew into something bigger. I believe it was Ray Pak or one of the heater companies that said, ‘Hey, maybe could we put one of our products out in the hall?’, and that was the impetus of the show floor. So they started that and then they brought in more things and it just sort of grew and grew from there. It moved from there to the convention center in Pasadena and then we outgrew that. Then there was a little time in Anaheim and now we’ve been 30 years in Long Beach," explained Nielson.

The Western Show as it's called in the trade has certainly evolved over the years, from being traditionally known as a "Service Show" to incorporating more involvement with the pool construction side of the industry. With a wide array of educational opportunities and seminars available for attendees to take, it also provides excellent value for attendees.

The show which runs from March 23-35 is open to the pool trade only. Registration is required and features workshops on how to become a CPO, seminars on electrical and plumbing, as well as workshops that are available in Spanish.

"We’re all volunteers and our focus is on education," said Nielson, "everything that we do is geared towards us being able to provide that high-quality opportunity for educating the industry. This year we have lots of different classes that people can come and take advantage of for a very inexpensive price. For $115. You can come all three days, take any one of 90 different classes including programs for Spanish-speaking attendees. You really can't get that anyplace else."

Educational workshops are being held by Pentair, Hayward, and Fluidra as well as by Watershape University, Pool Nation, Orenda Technologies, Taylor Technologies, PAL Lighting, as well as many others. The class schedule and exhibit hours for this event are as follows:

Education: 1:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.Exhibit Hours: 6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Education: 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.Exhibit Hours: 2:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Education: 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.Exhibit Hours: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Western Pool & Spa Show does hourly drawings and a big giveaway at the end of the event. "We’re going to give away $20,000 in cash," said Nielson, "in total, we also ended up giving away almost $60,000 worth of prizes last year. Second prize last year we had a pump, heater, filter, a whole equipment pad from Pentair. We have hourly drawings. This year we’re working with AquaCal Autopilot. They are donating a heat pump which is valued at about $9,000."

The Western Show is also a great opportunity to network with professionals, distributors, and manufacturers as well as learn about the latest products and innovations. For those on the West Coast, it remains one of the easiest shows to get to and provides some of the best value in terms of the educational opportunities available for pool professionals.

Pool Magazine will definitely be in the house as well so make sure to stop by our booth (#216) and pick up the spring issue featuring Lucas Congdon, host of Insane Pools and owner of Lucas Lagoons.

Want to learn more about the Western Pool & Spa Show? Listen in on our conversation with Eric Nielson on the Pool Magazine podcast.

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London, United Kingdom (March 20, 2023) – Pentair recently appointed Jerome Pedretti asExecutive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of its Pool segment, and Greg Claffey asGroup President of Pool.

In their roles, Pedretti and Claffey have a shared commitment to further supporting poolprofessionals by delivering innovation excellence, accelerating category growth with smart,sustainable products and solutions for the future of the pool industry, and making it easier to do business with Pentair.

"Our dealer base in Pool is important to us, and we work every day to lead with a ‘CustomerFirst’ mindset and become closer to our customers," said Jerome Pedretti. "These dealers –pool builders, service companies, small retailers – are critical to our success. We are focusedon prioritizing their needs and delivering for our customers into the future."

"Our network of pool professionals, channel partners, and dealers are at the heart of our visionfor the future," said Greg Claffey. "We believe that 2023 will be a great year as we work todeliver innovative and energy efficient pool solutions to help people more sustainably enjoywater."

ABOUT PENTAIRAt Pentair we help the world sustainably move, improve and enjoy water, life's most essential resource. From our residential and business solutions to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.

Pentair had revenue in 2022 of approximately $4.1 billion, and trades under the ticker symbol PNR. With approximately 11,250 global employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, we work to help improve lives and the environment around the world. To learn more, visit www.pentair.com. As an industry leader in the pool and spa space, Pentair is dedicated to elevating the pool experience to the next level with connected, efficient, and quality products so people can soak in the magical, wonder filled moments by their pool, giving them time – and peace of mind – to create them. Pentair's pool solutions are engineered to filter, clean and sanitize water, while automation equipment makes it easy tocontrol from anywhere. For more information, visit pentair.com/pool.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis release contains statements that we believe to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets," "plans," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "likely," "may," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "should," "would," "could," "positioned," "strategy," "future" or words, phrases or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These forward-lookingstatements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the overall global economic and business conditions impacting our business, including the strength of housing and related markets and conditions relating to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine related sanctions; supply, demand, logistics, competition and pricing pressures related to and in the markets we serve; the ability to achieve the benefits of our restructuring plans, cost reduction initiatives andtransformation program; the impact of raw material, logistics and labor costs and other inflation; volatility in currency exchange rates; failure of markets to accept new product introductions and enhancements; the ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions; risks associated with operating foreign businesses; the impact of seasonality of sales and weather conditions; our ability to comply with laws and regulations; the impact of changes in laws, regulations and administrative policy, including those that limit U.S. tax benefits or impact trade agreements and tariffs; the outcome of litigationand governmental proceedings; and the ability to achieve our long-term strategic operating and ESG goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. All forward-looking statements, including all financial forecasts, speak only as of the date of this release. Pentair assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update the information contained in this release.

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A floating swimming pool has been proposed for the city of San Francisco and set to be the city's first public pool of its kind, bringing a new type of aquatic experience to the Bay Area. Located on the San Francisco Bay, the heated, Olympic-sized pool would float on Piers 30-32, which are currently used for parking and will be rebuilt as part of the project.

The proposed floating pool would be surrounded by retail space, offices, and housing, including an apartment tower with 725 units, 25% of which would offer affordable housing. San Francisco State Senator Scott Wiener proposed legislation in 2021 authorizing the construction of the pool on the state-owned piers. The plan proposes a unique recreational and relaxation space while also protecting the city's waterfront from climate change and sea-level rise.

The concept has faced challenges, as previous attempts to revitalize the piers have been unsuccessful. Previous plans to turn the area into a stadium, a museum, and a cruise terminal have fallen through. However, Wiener is optimistic that this project will succeed. He believes that the previous plans failed because they tried to rehabilitate the piers, while this project involves completely rebuilding them. The success of the project depends on approval from the city, state, and various other agencies.

The floating pool would be built on one of the two piers, with the other pier being converted into 375,000 square feet of offices and 45,000 square feet of retail space. The swimming pool would include space for lap swimming, water polo games, and lounging in a hot tub. A section of the Bay surrounding the pool will be dedicated to open water swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

The project, similar to the Plus Pool being proposed for the East River in New York City, aims to create an attractive and sustainable space that will enhance the waterfront, providing opportunities for new homes and public spaces that can be enjoyed by all.

The new plan for the project is a change from earlier versions, which emphasized commercial space on the piers, giving the impression of a large office park with a little waterfront recreation. The latest version of the project emphasizes swimming, with a focus on public access to the Bay and views of the Bay Bridge. The plan now calls for a single pier to be rebuilt, with the remaining pier to be converted into an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a shallow pool for people learning to swim, a hot tub, and shower facilities. Along the Embarcadero, there would be a market hall with food kiosks and artisan stands where makers can sell their goods.

The project's developers, Strada Investment Group and Trammell Crow, hope to attract bay swimmers with a roped-off area similar to the aquatic park near Crissy Field. They plan to heat the pools, most likely with fresh water, rather than the frigid water pumped in from the Bay. Developers have also released new renderings of the piers, which is more public-oriented than previous plans.

The piers’ redevelopment plan is designed to revitalize the Embarcadero and make it a more enjoyable public experience. The project's success depends on making the Embarcadero feel less like walking by a couple of office building lobbies and more like an engaging, waterfront destination. The concept has undergone several changes in response to feedback from state agencies, particularly those that regulate the waterfront. The changes reflect the desire to create a space that is more in line with the natural environment, with a greater emphasis on public spaces and water recreation.

The project has faced several challenges, including the fact that the site where the project is proposed to be built is owned by the state, which means that special legislative approval would be required before a developer can build there. The project must also get approval from the city, the state, and several other agencies.

Developers hope that the floating pool will provide a unique aquatic experience in San Francisco, drawing locals and tourists alike to the Bay Area. The concept has received strong support from San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who said that the project would help the city to invest in critical infrastructure that would protect the waterfront from climate change and sea level rise while also creating opportunities for new homes and new spaces for the public to enjoy along the city's gorgeous waterfront.

Photo Credits: Strada Investment Group

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