Once there is no power to your equipment — either from you shutting it off or from a loss of power because of the weather — follow these steps:

• Make sure all equipment has been shut off and that the breakers to your equipment have also been turned off.
• Open the air relief valve on your pool’s filter.
• Remove the drain plugs from the front and rear headers of your pool heater. If you have a heat pump, remove those drain plugs too.
• Remove the lid and drain plugs from your pump.
• Remove the drain plugs from the filter or any other unit, such as a leaf trap, that holds water, including in-floor system water valves.
• Remove the top on Jandy valves, check valves, or other valves. If necessary, open the valves so water can move down the pipe.
• Put empty plastic gallon jugs in your pool to take up ice expansion and protect your pool tiles or finish from freezing weather. Make sure each jug has enough water to give it weight (but not full) so it breaks the surface of the water but is not fully submerged.  You can also use floats or anything that can absorb pressure. Place a weighted 5 gallon bucket on your steps or hanging over the edge in the pool. Again, the bucket must break the surface of the water.
• Put an empty plastic drink bottle (if a Gizzmo is unavailable) in the skimmer to protect it. The bottle should have enough water to give it weight but not be full. Do the same for in-deck chlorinators or deck debris traps for in-floor cleaners.
• If there is an auto leveler, wrap a towel around the vac break (backflow preventer) to prevent damage.