First closing approach

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daum

Well-known member
Aug 30, 2022
53
Massachusetts
I've been put in the position of needing to close my pool and spa the first year I've had it and by myself due to lack of availability of companies to do it. I've purchased a cyclone and the hose to connect it to the system. Here is what I'm thinking, let me know your thoughts:
1. Will bring the pool to SLAM night before and ensure rest of the balance is there.
2. Make sure pool is as clean as possible.
3. Day of will drain pool to just below the returns, doing most through the backflush line on filter and using main drain.
4. Use the cyclone put inside the pump to blow out the returns and filter.
5. Blow in anti-freeze to return side.
6. Use cyclone to clear out the skimmers
7. Blow the main drain until volcano of air and then air lock it, remove handle so noone mistakenly touches it.
8. Add antifreeze to the skimmer inputs, and then plug with gizmos that have teflon tape
9. Double check that filter doesn't have any remaining water in it.
10. Attach the safety cover

Here are some pictures of my pad and my skimmers. In my equiptment pad you'll see the pump for the spa that is completely separate, but figured we may keep that open a few more weeks before closing.
A few questions:
  • On the skimmers, I see there are two holes, one that is open, which is where I put the gizmo's but what is the other hole? Sorry for the dirt there, just removed a filter of leafs seconds earlier.
  • For the pressure gauge on the filter I read some people take it out, is that necessary?
  • For the pool light itself, there is only one, do I need to take it out? Unfortunately there is very little documentation on this setup, the previous owners have not passed along anything.
  • For the polaris is there anything special I need to do on it?
  • Did I miss anything else?

Thanks for all the help!
Daum
 

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Hey Daum !!! Sorry you fell through the cracks yesterday.

Try it the easiest way possible first. With a cyclone you can likely hold the hose into the skimmer and blow the whole thing out. Grab a helper to blow while you turn the valves appropriately to cycle through the pipes.

The second skimmer hole is an equalizer or main drain pipe on some pools. Filling with dirt means yours is factory plugged never used, or abandoned on purpose.

The pressure gauge can go inside, but they are cheap ($15?) if this is the year it breaks. I personally like to keep the top of my filter water tight.

Some older lights needed to be taken out but most don't anymore. If the light is underwater after you drain to close, it should be fine. Add some pics if you can, somebody else has one too and can confirm one way or the other.

I don't know squat about Polaris's besides taking the unit/hose put and blowing the lines. Hang tight if there is anything else.

Anti freeze is easy to dump right in the skimmer pipe for that line(s) and either a bendy funnel, or a short hose taped to a funnel for horizontal pipes, either the returns or at the pad. There's no need to blow it in and you'll likely overshoot where you want it.

Take all your drain plugs, put them in a ziplock bag and store it in the pump basket. I put everything else like the return eyeballs/ diving board bolts / etc in the skimmer baskets on my workbench.
 
Thanks Newdude. So you'd recommend blowing from the skimmers versus from the pump opening? Just whichever way is easiest I'm guessing is the way to go?

Sounds good regarding all drain plugs etc. Will try to snap a picture of the light, I think it should be still under water.

Will see if anyone else has insight to the polaris lines but what you outline sounds good too.
 
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daum said:
So you'd recommend blowing from the skimmers versus from the pump opening? Just whichever way is easiest I'm guessing is the way to go?
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Yup. Try the easy way first, right through the equipment. Taking the equipment apart and blowing each way is plan B. (y)
 
For the chlorine, since I need to get to 55 FC for a slam, once I add the 8 gallons and a quart should I remeasure it? Just thinking about trying to count out 100+ drops is going be a fun challenge and/or use a lot of the testing reagent.
Also is there a downside to going a little higher than 55 just for extra insurance?
 
daum said:
For the chlorine, since I need to get to 55 FC for a slam, once I add the 8 gallons and a quart should I remeasure it?
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*record scratch*

What's your CYA ? 120ish ? Did you do the dilution test or is it just a guess ?
 
Yeah I had done the dilution test, the last time I did it (about a month ago) was 140. I can do a new one if you think it's necessary, we did have some rain, but haven't cycled out the water or anything like that.
 
OK. It didn't change much in a month. I'm not sure I like closing with such high FC, although safe today because of your CYA level. I worry that the CYA comes down faster than the FC, leaving you with a bleached finish.

@Texas Splash, think 20% is plenty to make it to winter ? It's already plenty cool with lows close to freezing up here. I had ice on my car the other morning.
 

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SLAM FC is 40% of your CYA, 55 ppm FC. With next to no daily loss anymore, especially once covered, that 55 FC may outlast the CYA level and no longer be safe for your finish at some point.

Typically, the need for 40% FC is for the 30 CYA crowd. 12 FC gives them some wiggle room to drift down to minimum slowly. Yours would be something along the lines of 40 FC to spare if you closed at 55. You do need more FC because of the higher CYA, but not nearly that much more. So aim to close at 28 FC, which is 20% of your 140 CYA, and still well over double the minimum FC.
 
Ah very good to know, will aim for that. Now what yo do with all these 8 extra gallons of shock I bought yesterday, guess they keep just become less effective over time right? Thank you again for saving me there.

So last thing on my side to figure out is the polaris, otherwise my plan sounds good? Going to likely give this a go tomorrow as weather later this week is suppose to be not great.
 
daum said:
Now what yo do with all these 8 extra gallons of shock I bought yesterday,
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They will still be about half strength next year if stored at room temperature.

I use my leftovers on anything that needed cleaning. The house siding for example, could always use a diluted bleaching, and I'm very liberal with it this time of year. :ROFLMAO:
daum said:
So last thing on my side to figure out is the polaris,
Click to expand...
Blow through the pump and line in a similar way as the primary legs. I'm almost certain there is no magic involved. Maybe say a hocus pocus just in case.
daum said:
otherwise my plan sounds good?
Click to expand...
I think you're all set. Keep us posted.
 
@Newdude for the draining portion, doing it now, should I do it 4 inches belong the returns like the site mentions, or do 18 inches below deck (for my safety cover) which is just about 1 inch below the eyeball of the return, or split some difference assuming rain and such will come before snow and raise the level some.
 
Million dollar question that can go several ways afterwards..... :ROFLMAO:

With a mesh cover, you'll accumulate whatever rain falls (and possibly more that washes of the patio) before the snow falls. If using solid plugs, it helps to have the returns above the water (even just a little). If using blow through plugs you don't even have to drain now, but the less you drain now, the sooner you'll have to drain again.

Don't forget about our good friend Mr Murphy either. With a 50/50 choice, you'll be wrong 90% of the time. 😁
 
Keep tabs on it (monthly ?) to ensure you don't get too full. Each year is different. We average 3 ft of off season precipitation/ melted snow but some years it all falls in 3 weeks and others its spread out evenly.

Keep an eye on the extended forecast, and reset the water level just before the big freeze hits.
 
Awesome alrighty, drained down, blew out the lines (after figuring out the right position for the controls), put about a gallon of antifreeze in the return line, 3/4 in each skimmer lines, a 1/4-1/2 of a gallon in polaris line (it just wouldn't take anymore), then plugged all the holes, put gizmos in the skimmers (with teflon tape), then added 1/4-1/2 gallon of antifreeze to just sit on top in the skimmer.

For the filter, do I just leave it in backwash mode, it seems like that is the only drain I could find? I couldn't find any drain plugs on the pump, so will need to get my shopvac that I left elsewher and just suck out the tiny bit of water at the bottom in it. Should I then up a little antifreeze in it too?

Lastly, for the backwash line, i was gong to disconnect the blue layflat hose I have to make sure there is no water left in it, then put it back on just to keep any critters from climbing through that hose.

Anything else other than keeping an eye on the water level? Should I just get a pool noodle for the skimmers in addition to the skimmer for extra protection?

Thanks so much!
 
daum said:
For the filter, do I just leave it in backwash mode
Click to expand...
If you don't have a winter setting, leave it between 2 settings so any water that gets in there will drain.
daum said:
I couldn't find any drain plugs on the pump, so will need to get my shopvac that I left elsewher and just suck out the tiny bit of water at the bottom in it. Should I then up a little antifreeze in it too?
Click to expand...
Get what you can. A small puddle can freeze without harm. A few drips can't even attempt to hurt.
daum said:
Lastly, for the backwash line, i was gong to disconnect the blue layflat hose I have to make sure there is no water left in it, then put it back on just to keep any critters from climbing through that hose.
Click to expand...
Shake it out and either put it back, or bring it inside so it isn't sitting in the elements. They get brittle and crack/tear.
daum said:
Anything else other than keeping an eye on the water level? Should I just get a pool noodle for the skimmers in addition to the skimmer for extra protection?
Click to expand...
Stuff cut up pool noodles up in there and any water that finds its way in can freeze. You need to allow for 10% expansion (or so). If you fill up 85% of it with noodle, you can sleep WELL until spring.
daum said:
Thanks so much
Click to expand...
Thats how we do. :)
 
Found the drain plug on the pump it's completely dry now. On the filter I may have found one but it seems pretty large, large enough a critter could crawl in so should leave that I assume. The pressure guage came off with no problem so just put a little duct tape over the hole.

Will get a pool noodle for cutting in the coming weeks!
 
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