I'm going to find a way for the drains this year. I'm trying 2 shop vacs in series and parallel, and I have a big compressor I can tape splice in to give the CFM from the shop vacs some PSI as well.
Trouble Blowing Out Main Drain - necessary or...?
- Thread starter Appleman
- Start date
Better provide pictures of that! (Win or lose…)
Thanks everyone.. ended up getting the cyclone. Now I just need to run out to Home Depot and grab some hose and adapter. Question about finalizing the air lock. I've got this hayward 3 way valve.. (See attached). Right side goes to main.. left side to skimmers and then obviously center pump. Does it make sense once I see bubbles from main to turn the valve such that the flow is pointed to the skimmers to ensure the main is closed. If I turn to the off position as it is in the photo I would think the air lock could be less than desired given air can travel between the skimmer lines and main. Thanks again for all your insight.
Attachments
By the way - what does that pin do on the handle of the valve? I was able to turn the thing during the partial closing I did a few weeks ago without pressing that pin. Thoughts?
Close off that valve to the skimmers and blow out the main drain till you see lots of turbulence at the main drain then while the blower is still on turn the valve off to the MD. Make sure you remove the handle right then and there so no mistakes are made to reverse your work and call it DONE.
Yes. Close the drain side under pressure. If it leaks any then being plugged at the skimmers/returns is your insurance that the air has nowhere to go.
It should disengage the handle from the stem / valve. Mine has a screw on top but same thing.
Since you can't move the handle once it's done some people also put a plug inside the suction line port at the pump from inside the basket area after the skimmers are blown dry and capped which then airlocks the complete suction side of the plumbing.
Last edited:
I remove my pump and bring it in over the winter. Ok, so leme get this right. Once i see a good amount of bubbles coming from main I'm going to turn valve so the only thing open is skimmer line (left pipe in picture), which ensures main is closed. Then for added insuracne I can cap off the pipe which that goes to the pump (which ensures nothing can hop into the open line (mouse/chipmunk) and walk the length of the skimmer lines and marinate in the antifreeze 
Good deal.
I toss a ziplock baggie over it and tape it so the dogs don't find it. The baggie ensures all the tape comes off easy.