Air pressure, my new cartridge filter, and winterizing
- By sande005
- Pumps, Filters, and Plumbing
- 2 Replies
Thinking ahead to winter closing. Being in Minn., freeze protection of the pipes is important.
With my old sand filter and multiport, I could hook a compressor up to the lower pump drain hole, set to "recirc", and pressurize the whole system. Thereby blowing out the skimmers, jets, and main drain. I used to set the compressor to 60-80 lbs at the compressor, assuming that as the air left the 1/2" hose, there was a big pressure drop as it expanded into the rest of the 1 1/2" or 2" plumbing. And quickly dropping further as it blew the water out of whichever line was currently open. It's a smallish 8 gal tank compressor, so not a lot of air volume available. May have to do each line a couple of times individually to push most of the water out. And then I pour in a couple gallons of antifreeze in each line. The main drain took the most pressure and time before I would turn the valve and air lock it.
Now with the new filter, there is no "recirc" setting. Either the filter is "on line" or I can use the new 2 way valve to pump to waste. The filter manual has warnings about air compressed in the filter causing (explosive) failure of the housing.
I would take out the carts, and fully drain the filter first. But would I be at risk of damaging it (or me, with shrapnel)? Are there alternatives to getting the water out of the plumbing?
With my old sand filter and multiport, I could hook a compressor up to the lower pump drain hole, set to "recirc", and pressurize the whole system. Thereby blowing out the skimmers, jets, and main drain. I used to set the compressor to 60-80 lbs at the compressor, assuming that as the air left the 1/2" hose, there was a big pressure drop as it expanded into the rest of the 1 1/2" or 2" plumbing. And quickly dropping further as it blew the water out of whichever line was currently open. It's a smallish 8 gal tank compressor, so not a lot of air volume available. May have to do each line a couple of times individually to push most of the water out. And then I pour in a couple gallons of antifreeze in each line. The main drain took the most pressure and time before I would turn the valve and air lock it.
Now with the new filter, there is no "recirc" setting. Either the filter is "on line" or I can use the new 2 way valve to pump to waste. The filter manual has warnings about air compressed in the filter causing (explosive) failure of the housing.
I would take out the carts, and fully drain the filter first. But would I be at risk of damaging it (or me, with shrapnel)? Are there alternatives to getting the water out of the plumbing?