Advice for first time pool closer

mikelishan · Oct 28, 2016

First let me say that I love this website and have learned a lot from all of the advice that is posted here. I joined the year after I bought my house and have been lurking on line ever since (during pool season).

I have done everything with my pool by myself except closing. I've been paying someone to close my pool for the last 6 years. This year I had it all planned to do it again, but they took three weeks to get to my house. So at the 3 week point, I called and cancelled my appointment. I've read/printed the sticky for pool closing and that gave me the confidence to close myself.

The reason I've never closed my pool before is fear that I would burst my pipes, so I few things didn't go as planned during the closing...now I'm worried about bursting pipes in the winter.

I have few questions with pictures...

I went out and bought a Cyclone blower to try and blow all of my lines out. I hooked the blower up to the skimmer hole that is closed with gizmo. I was able to get water out of my discharge but not the main drain. Everything that I've read has told me that the cyclone should be able to blow out the main drain, then I can vacuum lock the main drain pipe. Well no bubbles. I put 1 gallon of antifreeze in the skimmer hole and the discharge hole and capped.

Questions
1. Is it OK that I didn't get bubbles out of my main drain?

2. Is the connection that is capped in the picture a line to my main drain? It has been capped all season and last winter as well.

3. A big rainstorm happened before I was able to get the skimmer plugged with the gizmo is that OK or should I re-blow that line. I had a couple inches of antifreeze that was sitting in the skimmer that drained down since I capped with the gizmo...

4. I included pictures of my pump/filter setup (and another capped line...is that an additional line from the skimmer and/or attached to the main drain?)

5. Position of the valves? Should I close them both or leave the both open to allow any ice to expand.

6. Should I remove gaskets from the pump/filter. I haven't done this previously but do you guys think it will extend the life of the gaskets?

One more thing...My pool sits on a hill (inground) but the mechanicals are about 10 feet below the skimmer. I can post a pic of the pool area if that helps.

Thanks guys, I've been debating posting this because I don't want to post if the information is out there, but I'm just hoping to get some peace of mind.

JVTrain · Oct 31, 2016

mikelishan said:
First let me say that I love this website and have learned a lot from all of the advice that is posted here. I joined the year after I bought my house and have been lurking on line ever since (during pool season).

I have done everything with my pool by myself except closing. I've been paying someone to close my pool for the last 6 years. This year I had it all planned to do it again, but they took three weeks to get to my house. So at the 3 week point, I called and cancelled my appointment. I've read/printed the sticky for pool closing and that gave me the confidence to close myself.

The reason I've never closed my pool before is fear that I would burst my pipes, so I few things didn't go as planned during the closing...now I'm worried about bursting pipes in the winter.

I have few questions with pictures...

I went out and bought a Cyclone blower to try and blow all of my lines out. I hooked the blower up to the skimmer hole that is closed with gizmo. I was able to get water out of my discharge but not the main drain. Everything that I've read has told me that the cyclone should be able to blow out the main drain, then I can vacuum lock the main drain pipe. Well no bubbles. I put 1 gallon of antifreeze in the skimmer hole and the discharge hole and capped.

Questions
1. Is it OK that I didn't get bubbles out of my main drain?

2. Is the connection that is capped in the picture a line to my main drain? It has been capped all season and last winter as well.

3. A big rainstorm happened before I was able to get the skimmer plugged with the gizmo is that OK or should I re-blow that line. I had a couple inches of antifreeze that was sitting in the skimmer that drained down since I capped with the gizmo...

4. I included pictures of my pump/filter setup (and another capped line...is that an additional line from the skimmer and/or attached to the main drain?)

5. Position of the valves? Should I close them both or leave the both open to allow any ice to expand.

6. Should I remove gaskets from the pump/filter. I haven't done this previously but do you guys think it will extend the life of the gaskets?

1. It's more reassuring that you get some bubbles out of the main drain, then air lock it with the MD valve. I'm not sure on your location (please add it to your profile) but main drains USUALLY don't freeze out. It's more reassuring to get air bubbles out of the main drain since then you know that if there is any water in the MD line, it's likely just a little very deep under the pool where frost is highly unlikely. I would try to isolate the drain and get some bubbles before air locking it.

2. That cap can either be linked to your MD or just be an unused hole. If you remove the cap and look down the hole, you'll be able to tell. If there is PVC pipe below it, it's linked to your MD. If it's just dirt/sand/ground, it's an unused hole.

3. I would remove the gizzmo, blow the line again, then replace the gizzmo with some teflon tape on the gizzmo threads. Sounds like there is a leak around the gizzmo fitting to the skimmer bucket, causing the AF and water to drain into that line.

4. Not sure what capped line your referring to. The one with the black pipe running up the wall? A better picture of your pump and the lines going in from the suction side would help.

5. I close all my valves, especially the MD to keep them air locked.

6. My pump stays outside, no disassembly other than leaving the plugs out of the pump basket.

Having the pump below the grade of the pool surface can make it more difficult to close, but as long as you have good valves, it's OK.

Catanzaro · Oct 31, 2016

I was able to get water out of my discharge but not the main drain.

Open the pump basket cover. Try placing the hose in the plumbing to the main drain. I believe there is some flexibility with the suction side, but not on the return side. If this does not work, then go to a plumbing store and purchase a 90* adapter. Turn Cyclone on and quickly open the MD valve, wait until the bubbling effect is there for 45 seconds to 1 minute, then quickly shut off valve after powering off Cyclone. This will work.

From the pictures, it is hard to tell, but appears to be only one pipe coming into the pump? You have a skimmer and main drain (wondering if they are plumbed together at this point)? Please advise!

If plumbed together, the skimmer is closed with the Gizmo. When pushing air through, it would automatically go to the main drain.

3. A big rainstorm happened before I was able to get the skimmer plugged with the gizmo is that OK or should I re-blow that line. I had a couple inches of antifreeze that was sitting in the skimmer that drained down since I capped with the gizmo...

Try lowering the water below the skimmer (about 2" and blow out the skimmers again and this should clear any remaining water. You can actually just open the pump cover and work backward. If you have a shop vac, have someone vacuum the water out of the pump while the Cyclone is running. you are working backwards. Again, you stated out of the discharge, which I am assuming the backwash. Also, do you have a recirculate feature on your filter (I can not tell). This will allow you to blow air again from the skimmer, through the pump and back to the main drain.

mikelishan · Nov 2, 2016

Thx for the replies...I'm away for work right now, but I will take your suggestions and re-post when I get back.

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Advice for first time pool closer

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JVTrain

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