Getting ready for first close, what is this thing?!

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M

mbeezie

Well-known member
May 14, 2021
82
CT
Pool Size
36000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Hi all,

With the help of TFP i have finally gotten the courage after 3 seasons to close my own pool. I have done all other maintenance on the pool with the help of this site required to close it other than removing the return eyeballs and blowing out the lines. Today my pool temp is 62F and the chlorine has come down from his SLAM level. I added polyquat and am letting it circulate.

I took note of where my return jets are. I have 6. And then i have these two things. I am not sure what they are or what they do. Seems like they should come off for winter and get plugged up too.

Can anyone tell me what they are?

Thanks!

https://imgur.com/a/jiz6hcR
 
I believe those are suction lines with anti entrapment covers. They are usually in a spa or on the floor.
IMG_7814.jpeg
They come off by removing the screw & then unscrewing them.
Lets ask @Newdude what should be done with them/how to plug/blow them out
 
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+1. Some pools have wall suction lines.

If you remove the cover (looks like that one screw) there will be a pipe that likely isn't threaded and will need a expanding rubber winterizing plug. Most hardware stores have them in various sizes. Blow the lines like any other and plug them while air is shooting out. It seems like it would be hard to do but it really doesn't take much to stop the airflow. Then put the cover back on and move into the next step.
 
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Mdragger88 said:
Would you recommend leaving the covers off so you remember that the lines are plugged?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't because depending on the water height the rubber plugs might be ripped out by the ice if it's a cold year. I'd rather possibly have to replace the cover than risk pipe damage.

But I would leave myself notes to remember them with the equipment drain plugs and anywhere else I had stuff squirreled away for the spring.
 
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thanks for the insight!

So it seems they should be on the suction side of things, however, i cannot get them to 'suck'. No combination of valve positions on my suction side gives me suction to these two things.

I also went on the return side in case maybe the pool company put them in the wrong places, but no combination of return valves pushes anything through these two things. As far as i can tell, they don't actually seem to be connected to anything at all!

I'm thoroughly confused. I guess i can hook up the cyclone directly to these things with their covers off and see where the air ends up coming out?
 

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mbeezie said:
Hi all,

With the help of TFP i have finally gotten the courage after 3 seasons to close my own pool. I have done all other maintenance on the pool with the help of this site required to close it other than removing the return eyeballs and blowing out the lines. Today my pool temp is 62F and the chlorine has come down from his SLAM level. I added polyquat and am letting it circulate.

I took note of where my return jets are. I have 6. And then i have these two things. I am not sure what they are or what they do. Seems like they should come off for winter and get plugged up too.

Can anyone tell me what they are?

Thanks!

https://imgur.com/a/jiz6hcR
Click to expand...
I have 2 of those and I just blow out the line till I see air coming out and turn off the valve. They are 4+feet down so no worries on ice in my inground pool.
 
Ok, I don't know how you would remove that part or plug it with the part in place.

It might unscrew, but I do not know that it will unscrew without causing a problem.

Most likely, you will have to blow it out and airlock it like a main drain.

1696868796013.png
 
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kjfrazi said:
They are 4+feet down so no worries on ice in my inground pool.
Click to expand...
For you, yes. For OP they are about 2 ft down from the top of the wall, or 18 inches underwater. If they lower the pool a foot to close, that's 6 inches. Also, Welcome !!! :wave:


JamesW said:
Most likely, you will have to blow it out and airlock it like a main drain.
Click to expand...
I don't think airlock will help as the pipe likely goes down on the other side of the wall. You need upward pipe for an air lock.
 
Last edited:
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What about cutting a few skinny strips of pool noodle to go into the spaces of the fitting ? Cut them a foot long and bottom them out into the fitting. Trim any excess, but leave 2 or 3 inches sticking out of the wall so you have something to grab in the spring. Then put the cover back on so they can't pull out if the ice grabs them.
 
kjfrazi said:
I have 2 of those and I just blow out the line till I see air coming out and turn off the valve. They are 4+feet down so no worries on ice in my inground pool.
Click to expand...

That was my plan, but i cannot figure out which valve goes to these things. I have gone through all the combinations by my pump and i just don't see what controls these things.
 
Ok, so that internal fitting unscrewed pretty easily by hand. I have my pump on full bore with all the skimmer valves open. There is no suction here.

But at least i can lower the water level and stick the cyclone in here and see if i can blow it out tomorrow

https://imgur.com/a/m9gX4r5
 
They might be what is called a "Low suction" or an equalizer line, which goes to the second hole (Front hole) in the skimmers.

Put a garden hose into the skimmer hole to see if the water comes out of the wall holes.

The purpose is to provide water if the skimmers run low on water.
 
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JamesW said:
They might be what is called a "Low suction" or an equalizer line, which goes to the second hole (Front hole) in the skimmers.

Put a garden hose into the skimmer hole to see if the water comes out of the wall holes.

The purpose is to provide water if the skimmers run low on water.
Click to expand...
Here is what my skimmer box looks like with the basket out. I'll try the hose thing now

https://imgur.com/a/7GljF4i
 
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