Closing Concerns

[Lpv77]

Just finishing the first season with our pool. I want to close it myself, I've done everything else myself. One part I'm nervous about is the main drains.
I see the method of airlocking it but I'm nervous about that. What if the valve leaks? I also saw that you can put backer rod in the pipe. I havent tried that but won't it be difficult to push that in a pipe full of water?
I'm pretty sure that when they closed my pool last year after completion of construction they removed the valve that would be used to air lock the main drain so I'm not sure how they did it.
My neighbor had the same company close their pool for 3 years and said he never saw them blow out the lines. Im assuming theu didn't on my pool either.

 

[Texas Splash]

Let's start by posting some pics of your equipment pad. That will help everyone here give you some good options ahead.

 

[Lpv77]

Let's start by posting some pics of your equipment pad. That will help everyone here give you some good options ahead.

I'll get that later. Basic set up. No heater. Main drain and skimmers feed to either side of a jandy 3 way than to pump to cartridge filter than out to returns. There is a booster pump for a polaris.

 

[Lpv77]

Let's start by posting some pics of your equipment pad. That will help everyone here give you some good options ahead.

Sorry for the delay

 

[Edge70]

First blow out you skimmer lines and get the water drained below your pool returns. Then when the skimmer line is blown out and winterized you direct that jandy valve so that it's solely on the main drain. Blow that main drain line out until you see air bubbling from the bottom of your pool. Once that happens close that main drain line off by turning the valve to your skimmer only. This creates that air lock. Here's a video that summarizes it pretty well:

This is how I've always done mine and I've never had an issue. I guess it's possible that the valve could leak but I believe this is the most common method and certainly the one that most pool companies use to close pools.

 

[wireform]

Don't forget you have to winterize the the pressure side cleaner line.

 

[Lpv77]

Don't forget you have to winterize the the pressure side cleaner line.

Yes, I was just going to blow that out and plug it as well