Every single October, I get the same phone call or text from someone in McKinney, Prosper, Celina, or Frisco:
“Do I really have to winterize in Texas? It barely freezes here.”
My answer always starts the same way: I send them a photo of a cracked $8,200 heat exchanger from the February 2021 freeze, followed by the repair invoice. The conversation usually ends right there.
I grew up in Plano. I know our winters feel like a joke most years — 60 degrees one day, 22 degrees the next, then back to shorts by the weekend. But when the power grid hiccups and we drop into single digits for 48–96 hours (2011, 2021, Christmas 2022, February 2023, January 2024…), one single night is all it takes to turn your backyard pride and joy into a very expensive pile of broken plastic and fiberglass.
I’ve personally replaced over 200 pumps, 140 heaters, and countless salt cells after those big freezes. The repair bills start at $2,500 and escalate quickly.
The good news for plunge pool owners? Winterizing a plunge is dramatically easier, faster, and cheaper than winterizing a full-size pool. Less water, smaller equipment, simpler plumbing. Most clients are back swimming by Valentine’s Day with nothing more than a quick shock and filter rinse.
Below is the exact process we use on every winterization service call — the same checklist refined over 18 Texas winters.
When to Schedule
Late October to mid-November, right after the first solid cool front when nighttime lows consistently fall into the 40s.
Do it too early and you lose the last few warm weekends. Do it too late and you risk racing an ice storm.
Full Step-by-Step Winterization Process (60–90 minutes start to finish)
- Deep clean the pool — net leaves and debris, brush walls and benches, vacuum to waste, empty skimmer baskets and the pump strainer.
- Run a triple-dose shock — liquid chlorine shock with 24–48 hours of circulation.
- Test and balance chemistry — pH 7.2–7.6, total alkalinity 80–120 ppm, calcium hardness 200–400 ppm.
- Lower the water level — 12–18 inches below the skimmer mouth or tile line using a submersible pump or backwash.
- Blow out all plumbing lines — use a 185-CFM compressor until only air bubbles come out of the returns (3–5 minutes per line).
- Install protective plugs — expanding foam plugs for returns/jets, Gizmo bottles in skimmers, and threaded PVC plugs where needed.
- Add non-toxic RV antifreeze — into any lines that cannot be fully drained (therapy jets, water features, autofill lines, deck jets).
- Completely drain all equipment — pump, filter, heater, chlorinator, blower, check valves (remove drain plugs and open valves).
- Remove accessories — ladders, handrails, diving boards, slide legs; store indoors.
- Install a fitted safety or automatic cover — anchor every 18–24 inches with brass anchors and straps.
- Set the freeze-guard controller to 34°F — test twice to ensure the pump activates automatically.
- Take before/after photos — and text them to the homeowner for documentation.
The Most Expensive Winter Mistakes Texas Pool Owners Make
- Believing “It doesn’t get cold enough to matter.” One night below 20° can destroy equipment.
- Leaving water at its normal level — expanding ice cracks skimmers and tile.
- Forgetting to unplug or remove the salt cell — leading to $1,200+ replacements.
- Skipping the cover — allowing debris and pollen to turn the pool green by spring.
- Not testing the freeze guard — it only works when properly set and powered.
- Leaving the pump full of water — causing the wet-end housing to crack.
Real Freeze-Damage Stories from Collin County
- 2021 Winter Storm Uri: Replaced 47 heaters and 63 pumps in one month.
- Christmas 2022: Homeowner in Tucker Hill thought “one night won’t hurt” — ended up with $6,400 in cracked plumbing.
- January 2024: Family in Prosper forgot to unplug their salt cell — $1,600 replacement plus service call.
Why Plunge Pools Make Winterization Easier
- 75–80% less water to treat and manage.
- Smaller pumps and heaters that drain in minutes.
- Compact plumbing runs with fewer lines.
- Shell and coping engineered for freeze-thaw cycles.
- Perfectly fitted covers that don’t flap or pull loose.
Year-Round Swimming Is Real in Texas
More than half of our plunge pool clients don’t fully close anymore. With a heat pump or gas heater and an automatic cover, you can keep water at 88–92° all winter and swim anytime we get a surprise warm weekend — which happens often.
The freeze guard handles protection automatically during cold snaps.
Real examples:
- A couple in Adriatica Village swims every Christmas morning, even when snow flurries hit.
- A family in Trinity Falls hosts annual New Year’s Day “Polar Plunge” parties.
- A fitness client in Celina uses his plunge for 50° cold plunges, then heats it to 102° for recovery sessions.
Smart Add-Ons That Make Winter Irrelevant
- Heat pump or gas heater
- Automatic safety cover
- App-controlled freeze guard
- Color-changing LED lighting
- Deck jets or spillover spa for a relaxing ambiance
Final Word
Do it right once in the fall, and you’ll open to sparkling water in spring. Skip it, and you’re gambling with equipment you spent thousands on.
We still have openings before the holidays. Let us take care of your winterization — we’ll send before/after photos and a short walkthrough video so you know your plunge is protected when the next polar vortex hits Texas.