Winterizing above ground pool

[NJpool82]

I have a small above ground pool and last year had a service come out to winterize it. They blew out the lines with an air compressor and put the cover on. This year I want to do this myself.
My setup is:
18' round 54" deep pool. Permanent installation.
raypack heat pump
rj 30 SWG
Pentair optiflow pumpt and cartridge filter

My question is what can I use to blow out the lines and where do I connect the blower? From what I understood this step is necessary because I have the heater. The other steps are described in the article about winterizing. I will also remove the salt cell.

 

[Texas Splash]

My question is what can I use to blow out the lines and where do I connect the blower?

While a Cyclone blower is the ultimate in line clearing, your pool might get away with something else. Let's see if @jseyfert3 has some words of wisdom for you.

Closing (Winterizing) Your Above Ground Pool

Closing an above ground pool at season’s end should be a fast and worry-free process. Learn the basics of above ground pool winterization in easy steps.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[NJpool82]

While a Cyclone blower is the ultimate in line clearing, your pool might get away with something else. Let's see if @jseyfert3 has some words of wisdom for you.

Closing (Winterizing) Your Above Ground Pool

Closing an above ground pool at season’s end should be a fast and worry-free process. Learn the basics of above ground pool winterization in easy steps.

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks. Wonder if shopvac would do the trick.

 

[Texas Splash]

Wonder if shopvac would do the trick.

In your set-up it just might.

 

[jseyfert3]

I only have removable flex line currently, so I don’t need to blow any lines out. So unfortunately I’m not the guy to ask on this one.

For blowing lines out I’d watch the winterizing discussion posted, some good detail there on the in-ground portion. It will be at least somewhat similar on an above ground pool.

 

[phonedave]

With an above ground pool, you should be able to just let gravity drain your lines. You should have unions on your heat pump. Turn the gas and power to the heater off, and undo the service unions (well, plug the skimmer and return at the pool first)

I don't know how your equipment is plumbed, but I have a hard plumbed ABG in Northern NJ (no heater). I do the following after getting the water ready for closing

Plug my skimmer and return. I use a thread in return plug, and a skimmer door.

I remove my filter / pump at the service unions near the filter and put it in the shed

I remove the salt cell from the return line at the unions and put that in the shed

The electronics for the salt cell goes . . . . in the shed

My suction and return lines remain open at the low end, so if anything has to drain, it can. I do cover the ends with some hardware cloth (chicken wire) because one spring I had the joy of cleaning out about 3 dozen acorns a squirrel had jammed up my suction line.

Since it is an above ground pool there is no trap in the lines that can hold water that needs to be blown out. Everything can drain by gravity.