Opening pool - which order to remove plugs?

[TimMolina]

Hi Everyone,

Last year, I read about instances where the rubber return jet winterization plug was inadvertently sucked into the piping when pools were reopened. I want to ensure this doesn’t happen in my case.

My pool setup includes a single Jandy valve, with two skimmers connected on one side and a single drain on the other. When closing the pool, I followed this process:

1. Plugged the skimmers.
2. Airlocked the main drain using the Jandy valve and installed a plug inside the pump.
3. Plugged the return jets in sequence—starting with the jet closest to the pump, followed by the middle jet, and finally the farthest jet.

My question is: When reopening the pool, should I follow this process in reverse? Specifically, should I begin by removing the plug from the return jet farthest from the pump and then proceed toward the closest jet?

 

[Newdude]

It doesnt matter how you flood the system, all the plugs need to come out. (And equipment drain plugs in if removed).

If you have any expanding rubber plugs, open all threaded plugs and valves first. It may be under negative pressure and I had one get sucked into the pipe once because it was a bit small and fit. The threaded plugs such as the gizmo do not have that concern. Lol.

 

[TimMolina]

It doesnt matter how you flood the system, all the plugs need to come out. (And equipment drain plugs in if removed).

If you have any expanding rubber plugs, open all threaded plugs and valves first. It may be under negative pressure and I had one get sucked into the pipe once because it was a bit small and fit. The threaded plugs such as the gizmo do not have that concern. Lol.

Thanks for the reply. I only have one threaded return jet (shortest run from the pump) that was the booster pump port at one time. I decided not to use the gizmo's this year in the skimmers but I have the large wedge type rubber plugs that still stick far enough out so i'm not worried about them, but I do have smaller rubbler plugs that fit into the two other return jets that i'm concerned about. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Newdude]

but I do have smaller rubbler plugs that fit into the two other return jets that i'm concerned about.

So do those last and open everything upstream, including any relevant valves on that leg.


I got my plugs out, but it was 30 intense minutes with a shop vac. Equal prayers and adult words were said throughout. Loudly.