Closing Pool for 1st time and a couple of issues...

[mrcoop22]

Attempting to close my pool myself for the first time. I have read through the forum and posts from many including @Newdude . Good with the chemical aspects. I have a solid cover and when the pool company has closed before, they haven't drained below the returns due to a sun ledge steps that sit up pretty high. In the past they have used what seems like an insane amount of antifreeze compared to what I am reading here on the forums. Like upwards of 24 gallons. The different issue with my pool from what I am seeing here is that my pool equipment sits below the pool level (about 4 feet below the top of the pool). So, I don't think I can blow the lines out from the equipment pad as water would be rushing in that direction from the returns and main drains.

I have 1 skimmer (1 line with shutoff) , 2 main drains (feed to 1 line with shut off), 2 returns and 1 Bubbler on sun ledge (with shutoff).
So, my thought from reading was that I could drain below the skimmer and then use a 2" pipe with threaded end to screw into the skimmer pipe, put the pump on recirculate and blow out from there. When air was coming out of the returns and bubbler, I would cap those and shut them off. Then, with air coming out of the main drains I could shut that off to airlock the main drains. I would then pour antifreeze into the skimmer until it reached back to the pump as that would be the low point.

#1 - Thoughts on this process?
#2 - I have a leaf blower. It is a mutli-tool attachment for a gas trimmer that says 500 CFM. So I tried using this into the skimmer pipe with the filter on recirculate and was getting nowhere. After, I put my hand over the opening of the pipe when I took it out and it and I could easily do it with no effects, so I just don't think it has the pressure needed. I only have a 3hp shop vac with blower - nothing there either. Do you think a 6 HP shop vac with blower would work? Cheaper and could be used for other things. Or, do I need to bite the bullet and get the cyclone blower (still cheaper than paying the pool company to close the pool)? Thoughts here?

Thanks for any and all help!!!

 

[Newdude]

#1 - Thoughts on this process?

You did GREAT with the general theory of it all. Well done !!! Couple of thoughts to keep in the back of your mind as you experiment with it to see what works best. (It takes a few tries to dial in your process.)

With a blow through gizzmo or a home made DIY skimmer pipe extension, you wouldn't even have to lower the water.

Use bungee plugs at the returns which are self sealing. They will allow you to blow from the pad. The blow through gizmo, DIY pipe, or lowering the water will allow you to blow towards the skimmers. If you end up with a cyclone you can blow the whole system in one shot and just cap the returns with threaded plugs while air is bubbling out.

I like 1 gallon of antifreeze per pipe, half added from each end. You won't be able to add from the return side under water but you will be able to add at the skimmers. Once the pool side is all capped, you can add from the pad to the part which goes into the ground by pulling the pump and SWG.

My 6HP shop vac did surprisingly well, but I don't think it makes a dent in the main drain. My commercial backpack blower can't get the drain clear either but i do believe it pushes the water below the frost line. Your drain line will immediately fill with water being 'down pipe' to the pad. The finger over the straw (airlock) only works on the high side. Flip the straw sideways or upside down and it fills right up. But that last section of upwards pipe to the pad will remain airlocked.




Here's my process if you didn't already see this :

Closing with shop vac.

Today was the day for closing and it went great with a 6HP shop vac. I hooked my blower up for fun after, and there really wasn't much left but some spray. Anywho I wanted to do a write up for all the folks wondering if they could save a chunk of change and tackle their own closing...

www.troublefreepool.com

I'm stuck in my ways on year 11 with pool #2. If I was starting out I would totally buy the cyclone and I may still do that one day. With some adapter Macguyvering it can do in ground sprinklers also, which is a similar annoying expense each year for many of us.

 

[mrcoop22]

Thanks @Newdude! I had read your closing post, that’s why I was thinking about the shop vac. I just wasn’t sure with my Pad being lower, but your suggestions with the bungee plug and blow through gizmo make sense.

After reading your comment and thinking through things, I decided to go with a cyclone blower and make that investment. I like the idea of the one shot through the skimmer. On hold while I wait for that to get here in a couple days. Once it is here, I will blow from the skimmer use my threaded plugs to cap he returns and bubbler under the water.

Just want to make sure on the main drain. The pad is about 3.5 feet below the top of the pool, while the main drains are about 5 feet below the top of the pool. So I think my equipment might actually be higher than the main drains. But either way, I’m just going to blow what I can and then airlock them, is that right? it should air lock where it comes back up towards the surface and the rest of the pipe should be below the frost line, so it should be OK? No antifreeze in the main drain, is that right?

Thanks for the help!!!!

 

[Newdude]

But either way, I’m just going to blow what I can and then airlock them

Yup.

1) Close the drain and blow the returns straight through from the skimmer (MPV in recirculate).

2) cap returns in order of closest to furthest so air makes it to the last one.

3) open drain with cyclone blowing or else you'll flood the system, blow the drain and close the valve under pressure.

4) add antifreeze to the skimmer line and pull all the drain plugs.

it should air lock where it comes back up towards the surface and the rest of the pipe should be below the frost line, so it should be OK?

That's our hope and about all we can do about it.

No antifreeze in the main drain, is that right?

Correct. It's open on the pool side with nothing to keep the antifreeze in place. Plus, being open on the pool side, and downhill to the pad, if you open the valve you're going to flood the system again.