Help. Pool company closed pool with auto cover today and I have issues. Gizzmo doesn't fit.

[stoles]

Hey! Hopefully someone can help out with this. I apologize in advance for any typos - my hands are frozen. Pool company came today and closed the pool. We thought about DIYing but just didn't have the time. I say that to point out that I had already researched and watched probably 100 videos about closing.

First - we have an autocover. They lowered the water to winterize and did not raise the water back up. I asked when they were done if I needed to refill (fully expecting a yes), and they told me no. Strange, but whatever. I figured I would just go peek in the pool, make sure everything is capped, and then add water to support the cover. Everything looked good until I opened the skimmer box.

Second, and my main issue - the gizzmo looked crooked so I just lightly touched it to make sure it was installed. It popped right out of the hole. I see that the line is completely pink with antifreeze, so that's reassuring. However, the gizzmo will not go in the hole correctly. The hole has the lip from the bottom of the skimmer box area coming right up to the edge, and the right sized, threaded portion of the gizzmo isn't long enough to lock in. I have tried multiple times. It feels like it grabs just a bit, but any amount of touching knocks it right out. (I'll reply with a pic).

Obviously I need to fill the water back up to a point where water is going to be in the skimmer box and the gizzmo should be what is keeping that water from going back into the plumbing, right? Is there a different version of the gizzmo that I need? This is the same one that was taken out after the installer closed our pool last January, so I'm not sure if it just barely sat in there for the end of 2022 winter or what.

Also, should this have pipe thread tape on it? Because it doesn't.

Thanks!!!!

 

[stoles]

Here are the pics.

 

[JamesW]

You probably need a regular plug and then use a bottle of antifreeze half full in the skimmer to absorb any freeze like a Gizmo would do.

 

[stoles]

are there plugs that will fit in that hole with the lip there? I tried the plugs we have from last year for the returns and they also wont screw in because of the same issue with the edge of the hole being partially covered.

 

[JamesW]

There is a plug in the other hole.

You need a plug like that.

Make sure that you remember in the spring which plug to remove and which one to leave alone.

 

[stoles]

I'll never forget after this ridiculous experience. IDK why I even paid someone.
That said, the other plug actually goes up under that lip of the skimmer box though, so I'm not sure I could get one of those in this hole if I had one.

I guess this hole is slightly less covered though. Where would I get that?

 

[Newdude]

I'd try some Teflon tape on the lower threads (red line). If you can get that to grab, the extended body (yellow line) might not hit the lip that's in the way.

 

[JamesW]

A plug with no lip like a cleanout plug will work.

Use Teflon tape and nonhardening sealant to make a good seal.

NIBCO 2 in. PVC DWV MIPT Cleanout Plug C4818HD2 - The Home Depot

NIBCO - 2 in. PVC DWV MIPT Cleanout Plug - Temporarily cap your non-pressurized sanitary drain, waste, and vent system with this sturdy stopper. Item features male pipe thread and solvent-welded connection.

www.homedepot.com

 

[stoles]

A plug with no lip like a cleanout plug will work.

Use Teflon tape and nonhardening sealant to make a good seal.

NIBCO 2 in. PVC DWV MIPT Cleanout Plug C4818HD2 - The Home Depot

NIBCO - 2 in. PVC DWV MIPT Cleanout Plug - Temporarily cap your non-pressurized sanitary drain, waste, and vent system with this sturdy stopper. Item features male pipe thread and solvent-welded connection.

www.homedepot.com

Thanks! I'm going to head by my local Ace to see if they have one there. Definitely want to do the most responsible, safe thing if I'm doing it myself. Any particular non-hardening sealant? My only pvc sealant experience is teflon tape and the purple stuff (obv not using that). lol

Im still floored that they told me the autocover didn't need water under it.

 

[stoles]

I hope this is my last question...

If I'm using the flat cap and I need alternate ice protection but I don't have an empty antifreeze jug (I have unopened and empty but nowhere that i need to pour half a bottle since the pool people emptied all theirs), will any sort of big plastic jug do? I recall a video saying you could use a 2 liter half full of extremely salty water. Also have a ton of pool noodles I was about to toss.

eta - I actually dont have empty. I thought they threw away one or two in my trash but apparently not.

 

[Newdude]

I prefer the 'stuff the box and mouth full of noodle' method, but any kinda jug would work also. The half full rec comes from not wanting it to float completely.

Half full of water would kinda defeat the purpose when THAT froze.

 

[JamesW]

A big plastic bottle will work.

You can fill it with antifreeze or pool filter sand etc. to keep it weighed down some.

You can use foam in the skimmer as well, but it is hard to keep down.

 

[stoles]

Thank you all!

I called the pool company earlier to see if there was like another gizzmo or something and they just called back. They said they would send someone here tomorrow, but I feel like all they would do is attempt to stuff this gizzmo back in sloppily again. Makes me wonder about all the other steps they did to winterize being accurate.

 

[Newdude]

If you have tape on hand, give post #7 above a try. Wrap it 3 times and see if it grabs. Then wrap it 3 more times if not. It won't take much to make the bottom of the taper grab the threads, leaving the gizzmo body corner above the protruding lip. If it doesn't work, you lost a minute and I'll mail you one for compensation.

 

[stoles]

If you have tape on hand, give post #7 above a try. Wrap it 3 times and see if it grabs. Then wrap it 3 more times if not. It won't take much to make the bottom of the taper grab the threads, leaving the gizzmo body corner above the protruding lip. If it doesn't work, you lost a minute and I'll mail you one for compensation.

Thank you! I did go ahead and try that before going to the hardware store. I figured the same, I'm not out anything but a couple of minutes and some tape if it doesn't work. It did grab a lot better with the tape layers on there, But it still feels like it's not as snug as it should be. I probably went around it at least eight times. Lol. It definitely feels like if it were to get knocked around by ice and/or freeze and move a bit, just a small amount of pressure could pop it out of the threads. I can definitely rock it back and forth with my hand and make it pop out Without a huge amount of force. Am I just worrying too much?

I cut up one of the pool noodles I was about to throw away and wedged some pieces around The Gizmo (tall enough to be held down by the lid). I was just thinking that also gives more place for the ice to expand and will brace that gizmo so it's not as likely to move around and pop out if ice knocks it sideways a little bit??

I'm sure I'm overthinking this - because that's just what I do. This gizzmo was in our pool from January to March last year and the water froze solid at the top. I didn't open the pool so I don't know if it was still in place but at least none of the lines frozen caused any trouble. If I were to make an educated guess about the people who closed our pool last year, I'd say that it's probably in their better now than it was then.

 

[stoles]

And I guess I have another question while I'm on the topic of closing the pool.

As much as I've watched and read and researched, there are still a few aspects of closing that I'm unclear about. Mostly because All of the people giving advice and making videos have a slightly different configuration than ours.

Is it too far fetched to attempt to post pictures of our equipment here and get help figuring out the process? I really wanted to DIY this year, but time got away from us and then it got super cold super fast.

 

[Newdude]

I can definitely rock it back and forth with my hand and make it pop out Without a huge amount of force. Am I just worrying too much?

If you can easily break it free, it's not in there enough. It was worth a shot. I'll drop the minute in the mailbox first thing in the morning.

Find a plug that works. Ice only expands about 10%, and mostly upward, so one piece of pool noodle, a jug, a gizzmo, etc will keep you covered there. But you do NOT want the pipe to fill and also expand 10% if that freezes.

If I were to make an educated guess about the people who closed our pool last year, I'd say that it's probably in their better now than it was then.

You can get lucky many years in a row. But it's better not to play the odds.

As much as I've watched and read and researched, there are still a few aspects of closing that I'm unclear about. Mostly because All of the people giving advice and making videos have a slightly different configuration than ours.

No 2 are exactly the same, and there are several ways that work to choose from, complicating it further for a first timer.

Is it too far fetched to attempt to post pictures of our equipment here and get help figuring out the process?

Did you NOT see us doing exactly that for dozens of others this year alone ? Cuz we did. We got you, across the board if you need.

 

[stoles]

I actually didn't see any of those posts because I've been so wrapped up in both of my kids being involved in fall sports this year.

I had plans to get started on this a lot sooner, but I feel like the last time we swam in the pool in the end of September was just a few days ago. Then it was 20 degrees and snowing.

What I should have done is figure all of this out in August but I've been using all of my energy up trying to get rid of yellow algae all summer.

 

[Newdude]

I had plans to get started on this a lot sooner, but I feel like the last time we swam in the pool in the end of September was just a few days ago. Then it was 20 degrees and snowing.

My AC was running 2 or 3 days ago. Yesterday morning I woke up to this. I feel ya.




And yeah. We help oodles of folks learn how to DIY, in the fall and the spring. Have you opened the pool yourself yet ? It's best to try that one first when possible. It's alot easier as gravity fills the pipes and does most the work for you. Once you can do that, closing is the exact opposite and we only have to teach you how to blow out the lines.

Check in when it's time in the spring with any last minute questions and we'll walk you through it.

 

[stoles]

My AC was running 2 or 3 days ago. Yesterday morning I woke up to this. I feel ya.


And yeah. We help oodles of folks learn how to DIY, in the fall and the spring. Have you opened the pool yourself yet ? It's best to try that one first when possible. It's alot easier as gravity fills the pipes and does most the work for you. Once you can do that, closing is the exact opposite and we only have to teach you how to blow out the lines.

Check in when it's time in the spring with any last minute questions and we'll walk you through it.

Sounds like you must live in a similar area as us. lol. We were outside all last week enjoying the warmth, almost turned the air back on.

We haven't opened yet, so that'll be another adventure. I'm just over paying people to do things, and they don't do a thorough job. Pool builder, different pool professionals, no one has gotten anything completely right. What if I had just left the autocover unsupported all winter because they're the "professionals", and I didn't know better? What if I had just started filling the water back up without noticing the gizzmo was just barely chilling in the hole?

Definitely just need to DIY like everything else around here.


PS - is this a good thread sealant? autozone was the first link i found.

https://www.autozone.com/sealants-glues-adhesives-and-tape/sealant/p/permatex-2-form-a-gasket-sealant-slow-dry-non-hardening-3-oz/526681_0_0

Thank you!!