I’ve been opening and closing my own pool for about 12 years (since I became a Trouble Free Pool member) and have never had any real issues except when I left water in a line and cracked a valve last year (in my notes section below). I want to share my method and would be interested in seeing if anyone has any suggestions for improvement or sees any obvious mistakes I am making. I know, I know…maybe I shouldn’t have waited 12 years to post this! 
I am always nervous each year at closing time, especially about blowing out the lines properly and getting an air seal.
MY POOL CLOSING PROCEDURE
Two to three days before closing
1. Run pool cleaner a final time and test/adjust all chemical balances (if necessary)
2. Remove timer and let pool pump run 24-7 until closing
3. Shock pool
Day of closing
1. Pour 1 quart of Polyquat in pool and let circulate for one hour
2. Shut off pool pump for final time for the season
3. Drain water below skimmers
4. With all lines open, connect air compressor to pump strainer basket and start to blow out lines. I start by sealing the first to bubble and follow all skimmers and return lines until air is blowing out the main drain.
5. Let main drain blow for at least 30 seconds, then close skimmer valves and main drain valve and turn off and disconnect air compressor. At this point I am done with lines and the pool itself.
6. Remove all drain plugs and seals from pump strainer basket and store in dry pump strainer basket for winter
7. Disassemble and thoroughly clean DE filter system. Reassemble and store filter baffles indoors for winter after soaking in TSP solution overnight and drying.
8. Cover pool pump for winter (I do not remove pool pump and store indoors.)
Some notes:
1. I don’t use a winter cover. I have no children so it’s not a safety issue and we have mild enough days throughout the winter so I can skim leaves and debris and keep pool fairly clean.
2. I use screw-in plugs instead of gizmos in the skimmers. I also place a gallon plastic jug that is filled with about 4 inches of sand in each skimmer openings for freeze expansion.
3. My pool pump and filter sit below the water line for my pool (the ground slopes down from the pool to the pump area).
4. After blowing out lines I used to remove plugs from intakes and add pool antifreeze, but this breaks the seal from the blowing lines process, so I don’t do that anymore. Last year, after doing this, water ran back to my skimmer cutoff valves (remember, they are below pool water line) and froze and cracked one.
Couple Questions:
1. Does it matter what position I set my multiport valve to? I usually leave it in the open position since lines are dry and filter is empty at this point. I’m just curious if there is a recommended position for this or if it even matters.
2. When blowing out the lines, I’ve never been comfortable that I am shutting things off in the proper order to maintain the air seal. Anybody see anything wrong with how am I am doing this is step 5 of closing day?
3. Any other suggestions/feedback?
Thank you!
I am always nervous each year at closing time, especially about blowing out the lines properly and getting an air seal.MY POOL CLOSING PROCEDURE
Two to three days before closing
1. Run pool cleaner a final time and test/adjust all chemical balances (if necessary)
2. Remove timer and let pool pump run 24-7 until closing
3. Shock pool
Day of closing
1. Pour 1 quart of Polyquat in pool and let circulate for one hour
2. Shut off pool pump for final time for the season
3. Drain water below skimmers
4. With all lines open, connect air compressor to pump strainer basket and start to blow out lines. I start by sealing the first to bubble and follow all skimmers and return lines until air is blowing out the main drain.
5. Let main drain blow for at least 30 seconds, then close skimmer valves and main drain valve and turn off and disconnect air compressor. At this point I am done with lines and the pool itself.
6. Remove all drain plugs and seals from pump strainer basket and store in dry pump strainer basket for winter
7. Disassemble and thoroughly clean DE filter system. Reassemble and store filter baffles indoors for winter after soaking in TSP solution overnight and drying.
8. Cover pool pump for winter (I do not remove pool pump and store indoors.)
Some notes:
1. I don’t use a winter cover. I have no children so it’s not a safety issue and we have mild enough days throughout the winter so I can skim leaves and debris and keep pool fairly clean.
2. I use screw-in plugs instead of gizmos in the skimmers. I also place a gallon plastic jug that is filled with about 4 inches of sand in each skimmer openings for freeze expansion.
3. My pool pump and filter sit below the water line for my pool (the ground slopes down from the pool to the pump area).
4. After blowing out lines I used to remove plugs from intakes and add pool antifreeze, but this breaks the seal from the blowing lines process, so I don’t do that anymore. Last year, after doing this, water ran back to my skimmer cutoff valves (remember, they are below pool water line) and froze and cracked one.
Couple Questions:
1. Does it matter what position I set my multiport valve to? I usually leave it in the open position since lines are dry and filter is empty at this point. I’m just curious if there is a recommended position for this or if it even matters.
2. When blowing out the lines, I’ve never been comfortable that I am shutting things off in the proper order to maintain the air seal. Anybody see anything wrong with how am I am doing this is step 5 of closing day?
3. Any other suggestions/feedback?
Thank you!
