Blowing the lines using an Inflator

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nidamer

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Bronze Supporter
May 30, 2016
68
Toronto/Ontario/Canada
Hi all,


This is my first year trying to close the pool all by myself. I did all the steps last year except for blowing the lines and winterizing the equipment so I really appreciate your advice on how to do that part this year.


Below are pictures of my setup. I have 1 skimmer, 1 drain, and 4 return jets. I also bought a 150PSI tire inflator (Campbell Hausfeld RP410099AV) to use for the job.


Based on watching videos and reading, these are the steps I intend to follow after cleaning and balancing the pool. Please let me know if I am doing something wrong or if I am missing any steps. I never actually did these steps before so I am only assuming that they will work. Let me know please if you believe I made some wrong assumptions.

1. Lower water level to under the jets
2. Turn off the pump. Drain the filter and take out the cartridges and then reseal the filter casing. Shutoff electricity and gas to the Heater
3. Remove pump drain cap on the basket end of the pump and connect to the inflator
4. Cap all 4 return jets and turn on inflator. I assume this will cause the skimmer to start bubbling and that I may need to scoop the water out of the skimmer
5. Stop the inflator, screw in the gizzmos into the two holes in the skimmer
6. Uncap the return jets, start the inflator and cap them one by one to push the air to the last return jet and turn off the inflator before capping the last return jet
7. Disconnect the inflator from the pump and put back the pump drain cap
8. Unscrew the pool light and lower into the water using some kind of a weight
9. Put the winter cover on

I am assuming the above should have already emptied all the water out of the pump, heater, and filter.

A couple of extra questions:
1. In the past two years, I do not recall the pool companies ever used any antifreeze for any steps. Do I actually need to put in antifreeze? For reference, our weather is about the same as Chicago.
2. I read somewhere that I should take off the drain caps on the pump, filter, and heater for the winter and put them back on when opening the pool. My equipment is out in the open and taking off the caps makes me worried this may allow the rain and melting snow to seep in. I also do not recall the pool companies taking the caps off. Do I need to do this or can I just keep them on for the winter?

Many thanks!
Nash
 

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Below are pictures of my setup. I have 1 skimmer, 1 drain, and 4 return jets. I also bought a 150PSI tire inflator (Campbell Hausfeld RP410099AV) to use for the job.
Click to expand...

I will stop you right here. Your blower or compressor (as I have to research it) is a tire inflator. IMHO, I do not believe this will even work, but could be wrong. If you lower the water below the returns, you could be somewhat successful. The main drain will not work with a tire compressor. Please read my post below. The concept of closing any pool is all the same. You are using air to move water and closing off the end, besides the main drain which requires an air lock. In Canada, I would recommend a little bit of antifreeze.

Keep us posted is this works. If not, try an air compressor or borrow one from a friend. Only set the PSI to about 20 to start, but no more than 30 and see if this can clear the lines. Please read all the post as there are links to other threads that provide a lot of detailed information from other members.

The concept of closing an in ground swimming pool
 
dw9000 said:
Take some really deep breaths, and try blowing into it
Click to expand...

Nice!

If the water is lowered below the returns, one could use the pump and a shop vac to siphon the water out of the skimmers and returns at the same time. This will definitely work, but the main drain is still the problem. The industry should create some sort of plate to place over the skimmer grates. If you can siphon some water out, it would create suction as the water would hold down the plate.

what nidamer can do is clear out some water to allow antifreeze in the lines for both the skimmer and returns, but the main drain would still need to be winterized properly. Especially in Canada, which is a lot colder than NJ.
 
A main drain doesn't require a cover. The water will return down the line to match the waters level that you lowered it to. If it's a main drain that is plumbed into the skimmer, you push. 4' piece of foam rope into it and plug it. If it has its own dedicated line to the pump, blow it and leave it. The air gap that is left is where any resulting ice will grow to. It's like a bottle in freezer, cap it and it expands big time, uncap it and the ice grows out the top.
 
Thanks for the advice guys!

I have a 5 gallon 135 max PSI, 1.5 HP air compressor as a back up. I was planning to use it originally but was worried it may cause some damage. If I end up using it, I will make sure I keep it to 20~30 PSI. Thanks for that.

I am almost certain the main drain is plumbed into the skimmer as I have two holes in my skimmer and there is only one line coming out the ground and connecting to the pump. Sorry for the stupid question but can you (Chemnut) please explain why I need the 4' piece of foam rope? As I mentioned I am using the gizzmos.

Given the pictures, can you guys please let me know if the sequence of steps I have in my post make sense?

I am going to attempt the steps this weekend and will post how things go.
 

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You can buy foam rope at any pool store. If you have two holes open in the bottom of your skimmer, the front one should be plumbed to the main drain. There is no way I know of to blow that free and quickly plug it, so the water just works its way back up the line to be at the level of the pool. The foam rope pushed into that hole will push away some water and if freezing does occur it allows the ice to crush this foam and not the pipe or fitting.
 
So I'm reading this thread saying an 'inflator' wont work for the main drain. This will be my first year closing my pool and I figured to blow the main line with an inflator as well based on the gadget that is attached to the main drain line in my skimmer, see image from this spring (yes it looks horrible).
that silver part on top is a standard tire nozzle that I was planning on using to blow out the lines. Do I just need a bigger inflator than a 150psi or what's the deal?? the submerged object is a bottle filled with sand from the prior year pool company who closed it. I assume for ice expansion and that I'll be using this year.

pool.jpg
 
Do I just need a bigger inflator than a 150psi or what's the deal??
Click to expand...

No, more PSI is not the answer. Volume of air is the answer. My Cyclone produces volume, not pressure.

From speaking with the manufacturer, the Cyclone produces about 5 psi, and with the resistance of the water, the return jets are at about 90 cfm and main drain about 30 cfm. Under no pressure, the unit produces 130 cfm. The bubbling effect of the main drain is real powerful.

As you can see, the pool blower produces only 5 psi. It is the volume factor that clears out lines. Again, your unit will not work for the main drain.
 
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