My pool is only a few months old and the Pool Builder performed it's first seasonal closing last week. As part of the purchase, the builder will also open our pool next year; after which I plan to do both myself. I've been reading as much information and hunting through various threads to attempt to explain how my builder winterized the pool, so that I could document and replicat next year.
The basics are simple: My chemicals were balanced, and I lowered the water level to a couple inches below the two skimmers. On the day of the closing the builder pour a 5 gal pail of chlorine into the pool, as well as a jug of algaecide. Then they removed the stair handrail, pool ladder, and return jet eye's. All simple and routine.
Plumbing background: I have two Skimmers (Shallow End & Deep End), eight return jet's, and two bottom drains. At my pool equipment I have three return pipes with shutoff valves (Shallow End Skimmer, Deep End Skimmer, and Deep End Bottom Drain). Supplying the pool I have three corresponding pipes with shutoff valves (same as return lines).
Here's where I lost the sequence: The builder hooked up the cyclone to the shallow end skimmer (with a specific sized hose to the hayward skimmer). He backwashed the sandfilter for just a moment to basically put standing water in the discharge hose (pump was obviously shut off afterward). I'm curious to understand which valves were left open and which were closed for the next sequence of events: With the cyclone turned on, water began shooting out of the Deep End Skimmer (remember - air was being pumped into the shallow end skimmer). Once it was mainly air, a black plug was inserted into the Skimmer pipe. Then the chain of return jets around the pool started to discharge water (one at a time they were plug as it turned to mostly air). Once the last return jet was plug the main drains started bubbling like crazy (rather impressive considering). After roughly 1 min, the men closed the bottom drain valve to lock that off, which then caused the sand filter to blow air out of the backwash hose. (The small components of the sand filter were removed prior to this time). In the end, air was gently pushing out of the backwash hose until one of the men turned off the cyclone. They opened the drain on the heater (which was bypassed this entire time), and took off the SWG.
All in all, it took roughly 10 minutes max. The cyclone was only hooked up to the shallow end skimmer. At this point the winterization was done, and I had a new safety cover installed.
My apologizes for the detailed explanation - My question is, does anyone know how or which valves I need to maneuver in order to make that sequence happen next year? Just to note: all valves are now open except the deep end bottom drain (which is closed for air-lock). Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.
The basics are simple: My chemicals were balanced, and I lowered the water level to a couple inches below the two skimmers. On the day of the closing the builder pour a 5 gal pail of chlorine into the pool, as well as a jug of algaecide. Then they removed the stair handrail, pool ladder, and return jet eye's. All simple and routine.
Plumbing background: I have two Skimmers (Shallow End & Deep End), eight return jet's, and two bottom drains. At my pool equipment I have three return pipes with shutoff valves (Shallow End Skimmer, Deep End Skimmer, and Deep End Bottom Drain). Supplying the pool I have three corresponding pipes with shutoff valves (same as return lines).
Here's where I lost the sequence: The builder hooked up the cyclone to the shallow end skimmer (with a specific sized hose to the hayward skimmer). He backwashed the sandfilter for just a moment to basically put standing water in the discharge hose (pump was obviously shut off afterward). I'm curious to understand which valves were left open and which were closed for the next sequence of events: With the cyclone turned on, water began shooting out of the Deep End Skimmer (remember - air was being pumped into the shallow end skimmer). Once it was mainly air, a black plug was inserted into the Skimmer pipe. Then the chain of return jets around the pool started to discharge water (one at a time they were plug as it turned to mostly air). Once the last return jet was plug the main drains started bubbling like crazy (rather impressive considering). After roughly 1 min, the men closed the bottom drain valve to lock that off, which then caused the sand filter to blow air out of the backwash hose. (The small components of the sand filter were removed prior to this time). In the end, air was gently pushing out of the backwash hose until one of the men turned off the cyclone. They opened the drain on the heater (which was bypassed this entire time), and took off the SWG.
All in all, it took roughly 10 minutes max. The cyclone was only hooked up to the shallow end skimmer. At this point the winterization was done, and I had a new safety cover installed.
My apologizes for the detailed explanation - My question is, does anyone know how or which valves I need to maneuver in order to make that sequence happen next year? Just to note: all valves are now open except the deep end bottom drain (which is closed for air-lock). Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.
I'm one of the fortunate ones down south that doesn't normally have to close. 
I suspect in your case everything was manipulated by the 3-way valves on the suction side before your pump. But pools can be plumbed differently. It might help to post a pic of your equipment pad so we can ask see what you have to work with.
