Blowing lines through skimmers

[rjb1211]

When my pool was installed in 1992 closing it the first season was part of the deal. Never having had any experience with pools I watched the technician and took notes so that going forward I could do it myself.

He blew out the lines from the pump, starting with plugging each skimmer and then the returns. A pump was used to get the remaining water out of the skimmers.

I have been doing it this way ever since. I just saw on here that many blow out the lines from the skimmer. That sounds a little easier but I have reservations changing from a method that has worked well for me all these years.

If I try the skimmer method are there any pitfalls to avoid?

 

[Newdude]

What are you blowing with ?

I prefer to blow both directions from the pad myself, but I store my equipment inside so I'm already taking it apart. If I left it out there I'd buy a cyclone and blow through the whole system.

 

[rjb1211]

I blow the skimmer and return lines with a shopvac, and then use a compressor to pressurize the line to the bottom drain.

 

[Newdude]

Then a drain plug adapter will probably work fine. The initial fast blast of high PSI air is enough to push the drain pipe water below the frost line. It doesn't need to be clear, although that's always preferred.

 

[rjb1211]

One of the things I like about the way I have been doing it is that I am 100% sure that the plug in the skimmer does not leak. I can tighten the plug until there are no bubbles. I then know it won't let water back in the line as the skimmer gets water in it over the winter.

When blowing out from the skimmer how do you ensure a good seal?

 

[Newdude]

When blowing out from the skimmer how do you ensure a good seal?

My shop vac hose fit the skimmer pipe like it was meant to be. But if it doesn't, you don't need a tight seal when blowing with high CFM.

 

[rjb1211]

My shop vac hose fit the skimmer pipe like it was meant to be. But if it doesn't, you don't need a tight seal when blowing with high CFM.

I meant after blowing out the line you plug it. How do you know that plug won't leak and let water back in the line when the skimmer gets water in it?

 

[Newdude]

I meant after blowing out the line you plug it.

Ahhhhhh. Gotcha. I use a few wraps of Teflon tape on the gizzmo the tighten it snug. Every spring it has negative pressure and sucks air in upon opening either end, so it hasn't leaked yet.

Speaking of. Always open the threaded plugs before any rubber plugs. One year I by chance opened the rubber plug first and the vacuum sucked it down the pipe and past the first 90.

It took 20 mins with the shop vac for it to jiggle itself just so to come out. I thought I was cutting pipe for sure.

 

[rjb1211]

Ahhhhhh. Gotcha. I use a few wraps of Teflon tape on the gizzmo the tighten it snug. Every spring it has negative pressure and sucks air in upon opening either end, so it hasn't leaked yet.

Speaking of. Always open the threaded plugs before any rubber plugs. One year I by chance opened the rubber plug first and the vacuum sucked it down the pipe and past the first 90.

It took 20 mins with the shop vac for it to jiggle itself just so to come out. I thought I was cutting pipe for sure.

I have never used gizzmos. The original system used by the builder was just to plug the line after blowing it out and then put a rubber tube filled with sand in the skimmer. I was skeptical at first but used that system for 20 years and never had a problem. When those started to crack I got some jugs that fit into the skimmer and partially filled them with antifreeze and water. They took up most of the volume inside the skimmer and let what water was in the skimmer freeze without doing damage.

I can see that blowing out the lines from the skimmer would let me use a gizzmo. That by itself might make that the superior method.

 

[Newdude]

That by itself might make that the superior method.

There's 100 ways to skin this cat and they all work. They closed my pool the first year for free with a safety cover install. They used gizzmos which I kept and kept using. The same as your way worked for 20 years. Lol.

But there's blow though gizzmos for people who don't lower the water, and sealed gizzmos for those who do.

 

[rjb1211]

But there's blow though gizzmos for people who don't lower the water, and sealed gizzmos for those who do.

I am glad you pointed that out. If I do buy them I now know which to get.