Completed! First time closing solo- how's my plan?

[Newdude]

If the plug fits the big hole, yes. If it fits the little hole, no.

*stating the obvious (apologies) that needs blowing too.

 

[sande005]

Ditto to Newdude - slightly better to plug the big hole - one less plastic thing that might leak. Unlikely, but if you have a plug on hand that fits....

 

[B.lu]

1) I had a really hard time getting the black rubber plugs with white plastic spinners to stay plugged in. Eventually got them but I am worried now about what if I don't have them in good enough at the end of the closing and they pop off during the winter. Any advice?

2) I sort of forgot about the suction hole inside the skimmer. I never use it. When I turn the plastic to open the hole, it was filled with dark very smelly liquid. I tried sticking the cyclone in there but it mostly sprayed all the water on me. I had main drain closed at that point. Was that an error? There is still some liquid in there, nervous about it freezing.

3) I only blew out main drain for a couple of minutes. Is that enough? If not, I guess I might have to redo the whole process tomorrow?

4) Before I add the antifreeze, I'll take the lowest plug off something on the equipment pad to blow out air. That seems like a lot of air with only a small space for it to go through. Am I misinterpreting how to do it?

Side note: the short tube I have for the cyclone does not screw into the skimmer or to the cyclone itself. That meant someone had to manually hold it in both places while it was on. Im guessing there is a better way.

Second side note: there was still like a very small drip of water coming from the returns/side suction port after I blew out each line. It was nearly nothing, but not nothing. Am I looking for absolutely nothing?

Thanks!!!!

 

[Newdude]

I had a really hard time getting the black rubber plugs with white plastic spinners to stay plugged in

Did you loosen them first ? If so they could be brittle/shot. Hardware stores sell them, or Google plumbing supply stores. Ferguson is one that's most places. The # stamped on the bottom is the size, for example a #10.

I sort of forgot about the suction hole inside the skimmer. I never use it.

The 2nd hole ? It is plugged and only a couole inches deep. And yes, it gets some nasty sludge.

I only blew out main drain for a couple of minutes. Is that enough? If not, I guess I might have to redo the whole process tomorrow?

Once bubbles are shooting out, it's good. It takes seconds, like 3, not minutes. But you got it, so yay. Extra air is free, no harm done.

4) Before I add the antifreeze, I'll take the lowest plug off something on the equipment pad to blow out air. That seems like a lot of air with only a small space for it to go through. Am I misinterpreting how to do it?

You read it right but I've never done it that way so I can't speak to its effectiveness. I remove all my plugs after blowing and let gravity do its thing.

the short tube I have for the cyclone does not screw into the skimmer or to the cyclone itself. That meant someone had to manually hold it in both places while it was on. Im guessing there is a better way.

That's why you had *3* kids.

There's an adapter piece that I thought came with it, but maybe you need to buy. @PoolGate knows. Hang tight.

there was still like a very small drip of water coming from the returns/side suction port after I blew out each line. It was nearly nothing, but not nothing. Am I looking for absolutely nothing?

There will always be drips flying out as you can't get it all. For the last bit up the vertical pipe to the returns, the air just pushes the water out of the way to escape. That water will recollect in the low spot, well below the frost line, and mixed with antifreeze. It's fine.

 

[B.lu]

Seems like I didn't do as bad as a thought! yay!

Did you loosen them first ? If so they could be brittle/shot. Hardware stores sell them, or Google plumbing supply stores. Ferguson is one that's most places. The # stamped on the bottom is the size, for example a #10.

I did loosen... I was able to eventually get them all to hold while undoing one at a time. I'll try to grab some replacements tomorrow though to be safe

The 2nd hole ? It is plugged and only a couole inches deep. And yes, it gets some nasty sludge. \

I was wearing that sludge. Yuck. Yes, it was the second hold and did not seem to go anywhere when I tried to blow it out. That's why it blew on my face

 

[Newdude]

Seems like I didn't do as bad as a thought! yay!

You did GREAT. Seeing it work by doing it probably taught you more than we ever could have. Now you're a pro at it.

 

[Casey]

There will always be drips flying out as you can't get it all. For the last bit up the vertical pipe to the returns, the air just pushes the water out of the way to escape. That water will recollect in the low spot, well below the frost line, and mixed with antifreeze. It's fine.

Once I add antifreeze to my capped lines, I always give it another shot of air to force it to mix with any water left in the line. It makes me feel better. Just don't blow to long because itll spit at you!

 

[sande005]

As far as the Cyclone and your tubing - you can buy hose clamps at the hardware or auto parts store. Put around the tube, and tighten with screwdriver or wrench. For this, tight enough to hold, but don't have a friend with a gorilla arm tighten so much you risk breaking the plastic.

Link to show the item, but they are available in all sorts of sizes. Amazon.com

 

[B.lu]

I'm done (relatively speaking!)

Huge thank you to this community, with past threads and support on this one! This morning I took out the equipment plugs (surprised to see how much water was in the filter), did the antifreeze thing, blew a little air in the lines one last time, had the dolphin running for a final sweep while doing everything else, and then put the cover on. By myself! I believe Casey did the same in the past and that gave me confidence to give it a try. It was not easy. I did think about how I maybe would be willing to pay someone ANY amount of money before attempting to repeat on my own. But then I realized I could loosen the straps some more and that made all of the difference. Initially I didn't want to do that because I figured that's how they held well last winter but half the cover was falling into the pool, taking on water, and I had to get it out. I'll have my husband try to tighten them up later. I have 8 anchors that I couldn't turn and need to replace. All but one of the 8 can pull out with the whole column so I'll go that route, although the column currently in the ground is huge and the replacements look to be like 2 inches.

So Im considering the difficult challenge completed! The rest is piecemeal and unstressful.

I'll replace anchors, finish cleaning filters, rinse robots, and do something with the heater. I read I need to remove a copper pipe inside the control panel perhaps and then put plastic on the grill?

I'm just so relieved.

MVP for equipment category- Cyclone
Runner up- hand truck, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to carry my cover alone
Second runner up- a dolphin that my friend's mother just gave me because she moved! That let me clean the pool when I couldn't use the pump and did a very nice job

MVP TFP member- Newdude, but in reality you're all amazing!

 

[B.lu]

Spring goals- will I ever get the cover in such a tidy bundle? Pool guys did it last year

 

[B.lu]

Just donated to TFP, much cheaper than paying a pool company I wish I had done it during the summer campaign but I guess my pool situation was going so 'swimmingly' I hadn't even been on TFP to notice it. I sure would have liked that special badge.

 

[Newdude]

All but one of the 8 can pull out with the whole column so I'll go that route,

Once out, bang the sides of the head end of the pipe on something hard that you won't mind dents in. Start gentle and increase the love taps with the realization you'll be replacing those anyway and have nothing to lose.

It was not easy. I did think about how I maybe would be willing to pay someone ANY amount of money before attempting to repeat on my own

But yhen you remembered mid 700s. Plus tax. And rolled up your sleeves with a renewed vigor.

The kids can help lay the cover on the water next year. You can tie a 10 ft rope to the corner spring so they can stand comfortably on the patio without getting pulled in as you 'walk' it across the pool.

then put plastic on the grill?

Many cover the top just to keep the bulk of rain/snow out. But you want it to breathe so leave the sides open. And I believe most gas heaters have solid tops unlike HPs and central AC units, so you're probably already good.