Does a 1 1/2" fitting port extension exist?

[Mark McLeroy]

Last year I used Bungee Plugs to seal my pool fitting ports for the winter. They worked very well. However, I was only able to use them on my pool's return ports; I was unable to use them on my Spa's ports. The threads of the spa's ports were recessed too deep into the spa walls for the Bungee Plug to reach. Does anyone know if there is a PVC fitting that is about 6" long with male threads on one end (that would thread into the spa's ports), and female threads on the other end (that the Bungee Plug would thread into). Of course both ends would need to be 1 1/2" diameter. Also, if such a fitting does exist, would I need to be concerned of it cracking if the waterline is at their level when the winter freeze hits?
By the way, the 6" length is a guess. It could probably be a little shorter and still work.
Thanks.

Mark McLeroy

 

[sande005]

You could try one of these: https://www.plumbingsupply.com/pvcnip.html#150
They also sell a 1-1/2" FIPS Threaded Coupling which may work on the pool side end for the plug, but is a bit pricey.
Or cut off the threads on one end of the nipple, and glue on a standard 1 1/2 slip x 1 1/2 FIPS adaptor (any hardware store)

Me? The plugs sound interesting, but with our (Minnesota) really bone chilling cold that penetrates the ground deeply...I'll continue lowering the pool, blowing it all out, and pouring a gallon of -70 antifreeze into each pipe run....

Most pipe bursting is not due to the ice, but to the air trapped between something and the ice inside the pipe. The ice compresses the air, sometimes to extremely high levels.
In this case, while generally the pool ice has easy places to expand to (like up), I would think there could be scenarios where it might crush/crack the air filled pipe submerged in it. But have no knowledge if that could happen, or not.

 

[Bama Rambler]

In your location, if the ports are underwater, for recessed ports in your spa (or pool for that matter) I would use something like a Gizzmo plug. I wouldn't use a hard pipe extension due to the fact that when the water freezes it could break the fitting because it won't be able to collapse a hard pipe.

 

[sande005]

In your location, if the ports are underwater, for recessed ports in your spa (or pool for that matter) I would use something like a Gizzmo plug. I wouldn't use a hard pipe extension due to the fact that when the water freezes it could break the fitting because it won't be able to collapse a hard pipe.

Gizmo sells an "Ultra" version that they say is for blowing out and protecting suction lines without lowering the water. But the instructions I found online are pretty unclear as to how to use it. They talk about putting a plug in the end after blowing out the line - but that would seem to allow water to enter, since everything is below the water, defeating the blowing out. Hopefully, someone that actually has used one will chime in. Unclear whether it would fit the OP's recessed threads in the spa. Having a crushable device is a good idea, there may be other brands out there that serve the same thought.

 

[sande005]

Or, bring just the spa water level down below its jets, and use a regular Gizmo (if it fits). Then if the spa refills over the winter with rain/snow, you get the crush protection.