Pool "Professionally" Closed. Why do i feel uneasy....

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Northern cannonball

Northern cannonball

Bronze Supporter
Sep 12, 2021
150
Toronto, Canada
Pool Size
9250
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
Hey everyone,

Sadly my pool was closed yesterday :(. The pool company i purchased my pool from provides a complimentary closing for the first year. There were a couple of things they didn't do:
  1. Add antifreeze to return and skimmer line
  2. Remove the pool lights as per manufacturers winterization procedure
  3. left a quarter inch of water at the bottom of the pump under basket
I've reached out to the service department about the lights and am waiting to hear back. They don't add antifreeze since their industrials blower removes the water from the pipes, still for some reason I feel uneasy about this. The last thing i want is for any remaining water to damage my pipes over the frigid winters.

Which leads me to my questions for the experts :)
  1. Should I add some antifreeze to the return and skimmer lines, for my piece of mind / added insurance?
  2. Is it possible to add antifreeze now that they have effectively closed the pool?
  3. They put a Gizzmo in the skimmer however should I pour antifreeze around it?
For reference my pump and pool equipment is about 5 feet above pool level and 10 ft from pool skimmer.

Thanks in advance.
 
Not everyone uses antifreeze as insurance, but if you want to you certainly can. Be sure it's pool or RV antifreeze and not automotive. As for getting it into the lines, that would depend on your set-up and how it was closed. You might post some pics to show us. Also tell us if the pool will be covered, and if so, what type. The Gizmo should take care of the skimmer. You can place some cut-up pool noodles in the skimmer as well if you are still concerned. There should be no water in the pump basket. The drain plug(s) should be removed and it should be relatively dry inside. Same goes for the filter. No standing water that could expand. Hope that helps. If you have more questions let us know.
 
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Thanks Texas Splash great info! I’ll add some pool noodle to the skimmer and maybe some antifreeze, as you can see from the photos there is quite a bit of water that they didn’t remove.
Also added a photo of my setup, guessing I’d add antifreeze to the intake pipe of pump and the outbound pipe from salt generator?
 

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Texas Splash said:
Not everyone uses antifreeze as insurance, but if you want to you certainly can. Be sure it's pool or RV antifreeze and not automotive. As for getting it into the lines, that would depend on your set-up and how it was closed. You might post some pics to show us. Also tell us if the pool will be covered, and if so, what type. The Gizmo should take care of the skimmer. You can place some cut-up pool noodles in the skimmer as well if you are still concerned. There should be no water in the pump basket. The drain plug(s) should be removed and it should be relatively dry inside. Same goes for the filter. No standing water that could expand. Hope that helps. If you have more questions let us know.
Click to expand...
Also adding filter pic. Will remove remaining water 😡
 

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Texas Splash said:
Not everyone uses antifreeze as insurance, but if you want to you certainly can. Be sure it's pool or RV antifreeze and not automotive. As for getting it into the lines, that would depend on your set-up and how it was closed. You might post some pics to show us. Also tell us if the pool will be covered, and if so, what type. The Gizmo should take care of the skimmer. You can place some cut-up pool noodles in the skimmer as well if you are still concerned. There should be no water in the pump basket. The drain plug(s) should be removed and it should be relatively dry inside. Same goes for the filter. No standing water that could expand. Hope that helps. If you have more questions let us know.
Click to expand...
Hi
Texas Splash said:
Looks like the SWG is connected via unions. You might just remove that completely and store it out of the elements. One less thing to worry about.
Click to expand...
thanks. So is it as simple as loosening the unions and lifting up the SWG? If this is beginner level stuff I’ll go for it 😜. Do I need to cover the openings of the pipes once swg removed?
If I were to add antifreeze, do I simply poor it down the return and skimmer pipes and let it flow down to the plugged returns and skimmer?
 
If that salt generator isn't plugged into anything, then you should be able to unscrew the plumbing unions and lift it out. Easy stuff. You may not need to add any antifreeze to the PVC coming from the filter since it will be empty already and no water to expand. The return line going into the ground should already be blown out (to the return jets) removing most water, but you can always pour a little antifreeze down that pipe as well if you want. Then cover/plug them.
 
Texas Splash said:
If that salt generator isn't plugged into anything, then you should be able to unscrew the plumbing unions and lift it out. Easy stuff. You may not need to add any antifreeze to the PVC coming from the filter since it will be empty already and no water to expand. The return line going into the ground should already be blown out (to the return jets) removing most water, but you can always pour a little antifreeze down that pipe as well if you want. Then cover/plug them.
Click to expand...
Thanks again. I have the pool guys coming back out to winterize the lights. I’ll be home to watch closely. Should I get them to drain the skimmer? Or is that bound to fill up with water over the next 6 months? 😒
 
Northern cannonball said:
Or is that bound to fill up with water over the next 6 months?
Click to expand...
Depends on how much they lower the water level and if it's covered well. But that's the reason for the Gizmo and pool noodles anyways, so if it gets water in there it has room to expand and should be fine.
 

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For most members the water will never freeze three or four feet down where the lights are so there's no need to really pull them out of the niche's. That said, in Canada I can see where it could happen if we have a horrid winter. It's really kinda a darned if you do darned if you don't sort of thing. If you pull them out you run the risk of doing stupid things like kicking them as you walk around the deck while if you leave them in your run the risk of water freezing deep and breaking them. I personally don't remove ours, but we've also removed them in the past.

As for antifreeze............
It sounds like you're VERY nervous about the Winter, and I get the concern. Antifreeze will cost you maybe $20 and will help you sleep better so I'd say go for it, even though I doubt you'll ever need it. :) As Texas Splash mentioned make sure it's not the stuff for automobiles. :) Don't just "dump" it into the skimmer as that's going to be a LOT next Spring to remove and it really won't provide much in the long run. Snow/Rain will get into your skimmer and will dilute it if you just dump it all in so save yourself some pennies here. Pour some Antifreeze into a water bottle then toss that into the skimmer. This along with the Gizmo will provide a "weak point" in the system when the water starts to freeze and the ice will push against these items rather than against a solid item like the plastic parts in your skimmer. If you really want to go all out and provide the most insurance tear up some of those pool noodles and shove those into the skimmer. Again, another weak point in the system.......and they're going to be trash next year anyways if your luck is anything like mine year after year. :)

The water in the pump however does slightly concern me. It looks like they just blew out the thing verses removing the drain plugs. I'd guess there's likely a drain plug or two somewhere on the bottom of the pump that you can remove to drain the last bit of water in the system.

Overall it sounds like they do an acceptable job, although not amazing, and you'll be fine. It also sounds like they're going above somewhat and should get some "props" for coming back and taking care of the lights. Sounds like you've stumbled across somebody who's willing to at least try to do a quality job.
 
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Leebo said:
For most members the water will never freeze three or four feet down where the lights are so there's no need to really pull them out of the niche's. That said, in Canada I can see where it could happen if we have a horrid winter. It's really kinda a darned if you do darned if you don't sort of thing. If you pull them out you run the risk of doing stupid things like kicking them as you walk around the deck while if you leave them in your run the risk of water freezing deep and breaking them. I personally don't remove ours, but we've also removed them in the past.

As for antifreeze............
It sounds like you're VERY nervous about the Winter, and I get the concern. Antifreeze will cost you maybe $20 and will help you sleep better so I'd say go for it, even though I doubt you'll ever need it. :) As Texas Splash mentioned make sure it's not the stuff for automobiles. :) Don't just "dump" it into the skimmer as that's going to be a LOT next Spring to remove and it really won't provide much in the long run. Snow/Rain will get into your skimmer and will dilute it if you just dump it all in so save yourself some pennies here. Pour some Antifreeze into a water bottle then toss that into the skimmer. This along with the Gizmo will provide a "weak point" in the system when the water starts to freeze and the ice will push against these items rather than against a solid item like the plastic parts in your skimmer. If you really want to go all out and provide the most insurance tear up some of those pool noodles and shove those into the skimmer. Again, another weak point in the system.......and they're going to be trash next year anyways if your luck is anything like mine year after year. :)

The water in the pump however does slightly concern me. It looks like they just blew out the thing verses removing the drain plugs. I'd guess there's likely a drain plug or two somewhere on the bottom of the pump that you can remove to drain the last bit of water in the system.

Overall it sounds like they do an acceptable job, although not amazing, and you'll be fine. It also sounds like they're going above somewhat and should get some "props" for coming back and taking care of the lights. Sounds like you've stumbled across somebody who's willing to at least try to do a quality job.
Click to expand...
Thanks Leebo for the great write up! Much appreciated :) . And yes Canadian winters typically makes me a bit nervous, especially now after I dropped a fair bit of $$$ on a new pool LOL.
 
I also wouldn't feel comfortable not adding antifreeze. The plugs in the return lines "should" work as intended, but I can't see taking a chance. I add a gallon in the retun lines and another gallon in the skimmer line. First thing I do in spring when opening is blow as much of the antifreeze as possible out of the lines. Theoretically, in spring, when removing the double plug from the skimmer/drain line, there should still be air pressure down in there. This spring there was - but usually not, so I suspect there is a certain amount of water getting in there. It's just some extra peace of mind.
 
I used a gallon of RV antifreeze per pipe. It was more than I ‘needed’ but still way cheaper than going to the DR for sleeping meds. It only took a few extra minutes at opening to blow out most of it away from the pool. The little bit left went into the pool without harm.
 
Northern cannonball said:
Hi

thanks. So is it as simple as loosening the unions and lifting up the SWG? If this is beginner level stuff I’ll go for it 😜. Do I need to cover the openings of the pipes once swg removed?
If I were to add antifreeze, do I simply poor it down the return and skimmer pipes and let it flow down to the plugged returns and skimmer?
Click to expand...
I remove my salt chlorine generator for the winter and put a piece of pool noodle in place of the now removed generator. Keeps mice etc from getting in there. Alternatively, you can use the rubber plugs with a wing nut into each pipe.
 
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Winger 03 said:
I remove my salt chlorine generator for the winter and put a piece of pool noodle in place of the now removed generator. Keeps mice etc from getting in there. Alternatively, you can use the rubber plugs with a wing nut into each pipe.
Click to expand...
Thanks I was going to ask about this. If i remove the SWG, what can i use to plug the pipes and support them since they will just sort of dangle there....
 
Newdude said:
I used a gallon of RV antifreeze per pipe. It was more than I ‘needed’ but still way cheaper than going to the DR for sleeping meds. It only took a few extra minutes at opening to blow out most of it away from the pool. The little bit left went into the pool without harm.
Click to expand...
Temperatures are dropping below freezing sigh :(
Going to run out and grab some antifreeze today. If i pour a down the return and the skimmer line (via the pump), are there any concerns it would mess up or pop off the gizmo on the other end?

looks like i have a local canadian tire that sells it
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/...m-antifreeze-50c-9-46-l-0639925p.0639925.html
 
Northern cannonball said:
If i pour a down the return and the skimmer line (via the pump), are there any concerns it would mess up or pop off the gizmo on the other end?
Click to expand...
Nope. Them gizzmos are threaded and on there good.
Northern cannonball said:
looks like i have a local canadian tire that sells it
Click to expand...
I’ve read a lot about them here in the past. They seem to have everything. (y)

Walmart and Lowe’s should too if either is close to you.
 

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