Background:
17,000 gallons, chlorine, Virginia, 2 return lines (via cartridge filter), 1 pool cleaner return line, 1 skimmer, 1 main drain. I am planning or replacing filter, pump, plumbing in pool shed, and adding a heat pump for next season. Reasons: filter cartridges are old & want to go SAN, pump is causing suction side air leak and plumbing has some leaks, and pool only gets 80+ on very sunny and hot VA days.
I have closed my pool three times by myself but now I am starting to question how I am doing it and how I did it this month. I made an error during blowing out the lines this time and I want to see if it is an issue and how to address if it is.
My written instructions for how I blow out my lines based on observing a professional:
• Blow out pool cleaner return on near side of pool
o Front lever pointed left (toward skimmer)
o Back lever pointed right (toward pool cleaner)
• Blow out two returns on far side of pool
o Front lever pointed left (toward skimmer)
o Back lever pointed left (toward returns)
• Blow out main drain
o Back lever pointed down? Toward pool cleaner? Does it matter? (see last question in question section)
o Front lever toward main drain
Dilemma:
Prior to blowing out the lines, I drained the water from the pump and filter to lessen the amount of water I have to blow out. But then I forget to put the plugs back in the pump and filter. I did not realize it until I put antifreeze down the skimmer. I did see water come out of the lines when I blew them out but it is difficult to judge compared to years past because I have never drained the filter and pump before (i.e., it seemed like less water than in the past but that is probably largely due to the draining I did).
Questions:
Do you think it is possible or likely that there is water sitting in my return lines because air probably escaped through the filter and pump plug opening while I was blowing out the lines?
If you think there is water in the lines, is it not a big deal anyway because I put antifreeze down the skimmer (but I don’t see how that would get to the return lines) or it is just an extra precaution?
If you think I should blow out the lines again, what should I do about the antifreeze? Suck it up with some sort of wet vac? Just blow it in the pool because it is harmless?
It is my understanding that you plug the return lines after you blow them out. But how does that work when you are blowing out the main drain? Wouldn’t air get trapped? I got nervous about this and unplugged pool cleaner line and pointed the lever toward it when blowing out main drain. I did not notice a big air bubble coming out of the main drain when blowing it out but I could be mistaken.
Thanks!
17,000 gallons, chlorine, Virginia, 2 return lines (via cartridge filter), 1 pool cleaner return line, 1 skimmer, 1 main drain. I am planning or replacing filter, pump, plumbing in pool shed, and adding a heat pump for next season. Reasons: filter cartridges are old & want to go SAN, pump is causing suction side air leak and plumbing has some leaks, and pool only gets 80+ on very sunny and hot VA days.
I have closed my pool three times by myself but now I am starting to question how I am doing it and how I did it this month. I made an error during blowing out the lines this time and I want to see if it is an issue and how to address if it is.
My written instructions for how I blow out my lines based on observing a professional:
• Blow out pool cleaner return on near side of pool
o Front lever pointed left (toward skimmer)
o Back lever pointed right (toward pool cleaner)
• Blow out two returns on far side of pool
o Front lever pointed left (toward skimmer)
o Back lever pointed left (toward returns)
• Blow out main drain
o Back lever pointed down? Toward pool cleaner? Does it matter? (see last question in question section)
o Front lever toward main drain
Dilemma:
Prior to blowing out the lines, I drained the water from the pump and filter to lessen the amount of water I have to blow out. But then I forget to put the plugs back in the pump and filter. I did not realize it until I put antifreeze down the skimmer. I did see water come out of the lines when I blew them out but it is difficult to judge compared to years past because I have never drained the filter and pump before (i.e., it seemed like less water than in the past but that is probably largely due to the draining I did).
Questions:
Do you think it is possible or likely that there is water sitting in my return lines because air probably escaped through the filter and pump plug opening while I was blowing out the lines?
If you think there is water in the lines, is it not a big deal anyway because I put antifreeze down the skimmer (but I don’t see how that would get to the return lines) or it is just an extra precaution?
If you think I should blow out the lines again, what should I do about the antifreeze? Suck it up with some sort of wet vac? Just blow it in the pool because it is harmless?
It is my understanding that you plug the return lines after you blow them out. But how does that work when you are blowing out the main drain? Wouldn’t air get trapped? I got nervous about this and unplugged pool cleaner line and pointed the lever toward it when blowing out main drain. I did not notice a big air bubble coming out of the main drain when blowing it out but I could be mistaken.
Thanks!