We run ours all winter long and we've had ice storms and so forth of course it's undercover but as long as it's running and circulating there's almost no chance of it freezing at 102 plus. Also we keep like in the picture a little coverage of the pump stays warm as well. I think what they're trying to say is they don't want you to let it freeze and stand still. Ours has to be unlocked every day or else if it goes past a day and a half it will turn off and that's what you got to watch for..