I have a very old pool with just one skimmer and one return line. The main drain line comes into the bottom of the skimmer and then there is just one line from the skimmer to the pump. I would like to know if the process I have been following to winterize my pool lines is adequate. The skimmer line is approximately 60 feet to the pump and the return line is about 45 feet to the pump.
I start by dropping the water level below the skimmer (about 8-10") and below the return line. I then use a winterizing plug to plug the main drain line that comes into the skimmer. I have never tried to blow water out of the main drain line and create an air lock. When my pool was professionally closed years ago I don't ever recall the pool professional doing that either. After the main drain is sealed off, I vacuum water from the skimmer and the skimmer line. I usually go to the pump and blow air through the slimmer line (back toward the skimmer) and vacuum the skimmer again to get as much water out as I can. Then I plug the skimmer line using another winterizing plug. The lines into (from the main drain) and out of the skimmer are now sealed. I do the same process with the return line, i.e., vacuum water out of the line at the pool inlet (inlet is now above water level), blow air into the line by removing the return line at the union on the heater and vacuum again at the inlet to get as much water out as possible. Then I plug the return line using a threaded cap. Finally, I add anti-freeze to both lines at the pump until I see it flow into the skimmer and into the pool. I re-seal those lines and keep adding until the anti-freeze flows back out of each line at the pump. I use about 10 gallons of antifreeze in total. Then, I fill the skimmer about half full with anti-freeze and place a half-full jug of anti-freeze in the skimmer. The the pool is then covered.
I doubt that I get all of the water completely out of the lines with this procedure, but each line has about 5 gallons of anti-freeze in the line when I close. Does that sound like enough protection for a Chicago winter? Any suggestions or recommendations for doing anything different?
Thank you.
I start by dropping the water level below the skimmer (about 8-10") and below the return line. I then use a winterizing plug to plug the main drain line that comes into the skimmer. I have never tried to blow water out of the main drain line and create an air lock. When my pool was professionally closed years ago I don't ever recall the pool professional doing that either. After the main drain is sealed off, I vacuum water from the skimmer and the skimmer line. I usually go to the pump and blow air through the slimmer line (back toward the skimmer) and vacuum the skimmer again to get as much water out as I can. Then I plug the skimmer line using another winterizing plug. The lines into (from the main drain) and out of the skimmer are now sealed. I do the same process with the return line, i.e., vacuum water out of the line at the pool inlet (inlet is now above water level), blow air into the line by removing the return line at the union on the heater and vacuum again at the inlet to get as much water out as possible. Then I plug the return line using a threaded cap. Finally, I add anti-freeze to both lines at the pump until I see it flow into the skimmer and into the pool. I re-seal those lines and keep adding until the anti-freeze flows back out of each line at the pump. I use about 10 gallons of antifreeze in total. Then, I fill the skimmer about half full with anti-freeze and place a half-full jug of anti-freeze in the skimmer. The the pool is then covered.
I doubt that I get all of the water completely out of the lines with this procedure, but each line has about 5 gallons of anti-freeze in the line when I close. Does that sound like enough protection for a Chicago winter? Any suggestions or recommendations for doing anything different?
Thank you.