Another first time pool closer with questions

niilo

Member
May 1, 2024
9
ann arbor, MI
Pool Size
22500
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
We had a company close for the first time last year since we just bought the house and had a lot to lean (still do!) but thought we could give it a try on our own this year and I had some outstanding questions and I wanted to get a sanity check of how we understand the process.

I think most of my info is in my profile, but our setup:
- 2 skimmers
- 1 return jet
- Haward EC75 DE filter
- Stay-rite Max-E-Therm 200 heater

Once the pool is cleaned out and water chemistry is set for closing, we're thinking at a high level:
1. Drain pool to a few inches below the return jet
2. Blow out the lines
3. Add antifreeze (?)
4. Cap the lines (?)
5. Remove the ladder and stuff
6. Install mesh safety cover

Some questions:
Q1 - It's not clear to me how to best blow out the lines. I've heard that a shop-vac might do it, but if it's not powerful enough then get a cyclone. But where do I attach the blower to- the skimmer, and have it blow all the way through the pump and heater?

Q1B- There seems to be an air compressor attachment nozzle right after the heater (see image), is for blowing the lines out? If so that seems it would only do from the heater to the return jet, how would I get the water out of the skimmer lines and filter/heater/pump?

Q2 - See picture of the caps- I'm not sure where these go. Logically I would think the two white ones would go on the skimmer? maybe one of the big rubber ones for the return jet? I think last year they also took the gauge off the filter so I'm guessing one goes there, but that still leaves one extra.

Any insight the community could provide would be greatly appreciated, thank you!
 

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But where do I attach the blower to- the skimmer, and have it blow all the way through the pump and heater?
My shop vac hose was a perfect fit in the skimmer pipe and blew right through the system.



There seems to be an air compressor attachment nozzle right after the heater (see image), is for blowing the lines out? If so that seems it would only do from the heater to the return jet, how would I get the water out of the skimmer lines and filter/heater/pump?
I'm not a fan of compressors. They just don't have the volume for the job, and any iota of a leak kills whatever oomph they had. Plus, you get legit winters with a deep frost line and you want it done right.
See picture of the caps- I'm not sure where these go. Logically
The big white one likely fits your return once the 3 piece eyeball contraption comes out. The little white one likely fits the skimmer. The others you'll have to size up along the way. In my case I end up with open pipes at the pad for those

Get gizmos for the skimmers like in my thread above.
 
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