I'm not sure of your setup, but if it is solid pipe from where the lines come out of the ground to the pump and then solid pipe from the filter to the ground, I would put in a union in each line. You must get as much water out of each line as you can. I live in growing area 4a; which is winters down to -25 deg F.
On closing the pool, the water level is taken down to below the returns. The unions allow me to blow out each line from the pump house separately using an air hose from the air compressor in the garage. I set the compressor to 90#; the pool is about 80 feet from the garage. After each line is blown out good, then blown out again. I then plug the returns in the pool and add anti-freeze, 1 gal in the 10 foot return line and 4 gals in the 45 foot return line. Then I bleed the lines by loosing up the plugs until the air stops coming out; then tighten.
The skimmers are blown out from both ends. The gizmos(sp) are put in and 4 gals of anti-freeze are put in each line. (35 foot and 40 foot) I then loosen the gizmos to let any built up air out. then tighten. I then put on the skimmer face plates and then pour 2 gals of anti-freeze in each skimmer basket area. For those that are wondering; I use 20 gals of anti-freeze (RV Anti-freeze, WalMart, $3.49 a gal). Anti-freeze is cheaper than digging for a broken line. On pool start-up, I have a system for getting all the anti-freeze out of the lines, not put in the pool.
The filter is in the pump house; out of sunlight. The pump is brought in to the cellar; 220 volt plug and unions make it easy. The booster pump and the Rola-chem are also brought in.
Right now, it is -2 deg and the wind is blowing. The pool is full, right up to the coping and frozen solid covered by about 14 inches of snow.
When you close your pool; close it to face a record low temp winter for your area.