I've watched a lot of videos and printed out the Pool School "Closing an in ground pool" guide. I want to do the closing tomorrow.
I am comfortable with most of it, but the blowing out the lines is my biggest concern. I've seen many different ways to do it, and want to be sure I do this right. I have some pictures below of my equipment. There are two return lines, one skimmer, and one drain.
1) I've read you are suppose to bring the pool to slam levels, but on the guide it says to let it fall to half the levels. Is it OK to close if I bring it up to slam levels first? I brought it up yesterday and was planning on testing in the morning.
2) Is PolyQuat the only other chemical I need to add (outside of antifreeze in the lines) and chlorine?
3) I've heard mixed opinions about draining it below the skimmer, some say it is better to keep it up if you don't have tile and you properly blow out the lines, but many say to drop it down. The guide says to drain it, so I was planning on doing this. It seems having it drained would be better for telling when the returns are blown out.
4) Any chance that someone can explain it to me like I am a two year old how I would blow out the lines with this setup? I know I have a split for the drain skimmer going to the pool and the two returns. I seen people use a shop vac at the skimmer to blow out the return jets and then blowing from a gizmo to blow out to the pump. But then I also saw them blow from the filter out to the skimmer. As well as other ways.
5) What do I do with the main drain in the deep end? How do I ensure that is blown out and closed?
6) Are there any sanity checks I can do to make sure the lines are safe?
Images: Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
(The second pump is to an old cleaning system that is no longer installed, the line is there but it is blocked off in the pool and the liner is not cut where it was. I eventually want to get this removed and cut the pipe lower.)
Thanks a lot! You guys have been great making the first year of owning the pool pain free!
I am comfortable with most of it, but the blowing out the lines is my biggest concern. I've seen many different ways to do it, and want to be sure I do this right. I have some pictures below of my equipment. There are two return lines, one skimmer, and one drain.
1) I've read you are suppose to bring the pool to slam levels, but on the guide it says to let it fall to half the levels. Is it OK to close if I bring it up to slam levels first? I brought it up yesterday and was planning on testing in the morning.
2) Is PolyQuat the only other chemical I need to add (outside of antifreeze in the lines) and chlorine?
3) I've heard mixed opinions about draining it below the skimmer, some say it is better to keep it up if you don't have tile and you properly blow out the lines, but many say to drop it down. The guide says to drain it, so I was planning on doing this. It seems having it drained would be better for telling when the returns are blown out.
4) Any chance that someone can explain it to me like I am a two year old how I would blow out the lines with this setup? I know I have a split for the drain skimmer going to the pool and the two returns. I seen people use a shop vac at the skimmer to blow out the return jets and then blowing from a gizmo to blow out to the pump. But then I also saw them blow from the filter out to the skimmer. As well as other ways.
5) What do I do with the main drain in the deep end? How do I ensure that is blown out and closed?
6) Are there any sanity checks I can do to make sure the lines are safe?
Images: Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
(The second pump is to an old cleaning system that is no longer installed, the line is there but it is blocked off in the pool and the liner is not cut where it was. I eventually want to get this removed and cut the pipe lower.)
Thanks a lot! You guys have been great making the first year of owning the pool pain free!