Hi, all!
I live in southeastern Oklahoma where normally winters are not too bad. However, several years ago, an ice storm shut us down for 3 weeks (0°F) with no electricity. So, I need to close the pool every year because it may or may not get below freezing here. We have a high water table and high moisture in our soil so we never lower the pool water before closing.
Our inground pool is on a slope with one side against the soil and 8 ft from our house. The other 3 sides are covered with a concrete and rock wall. The local pool company sometimes blow out our lines, but I have no idea how they do it. Sometimes, the guy lets gravity drain the pipes. I know they use a gizmo in the skimmer and screw on plugs on the 3 returns, and I know they do not drain any pool water. I have no idea how they drain the lines, and I want to do it myself this year.
Here is what I know: Thanks to TFP.
1. Close the pool when water is 60°F and pH is 7.4-7.6. Then balance TA, bring to shock level, pass the overnight FC test, let chlorine levels go down to halfway normal. Remove any debris and backwash and rinse the sand filter. Remove the metal ladder. Once pool is closed, put the pump plugs and filter plugs in the pump basket. Disconnect unions and take o-rings inside the house and put inside a ziplock bag after lubing them.
2. Because our pipes and 3-way valve are at the same level as the bottom drain, gravity will drain the skimmer line once the gizmo is installed. The 3-way valve gets turned to fully open the skimmer (and fully close the bottom drain). Gravity drains the skimmer pipe because we disconnect the union on the 3-way valve.
3. We disconnect the unions by the pump so the pipes on the top of the deck will drain by gravity.
4. Once we install the screw on return plugs (using Teflon tape), gravity drains the return pipes through the red ball valve.
Here is what I don't know:
1. Gravity doesn't work for the main drain pipe. About 6 ft of the main drain pipe is above ground so it could easily freeze since there is no way to plug up the main drain in order to drain the line. I assume I need to blow air in the line, then quickly close the main drain at the 3-way valve. (Like a straw with a finger on a straw.) Where do I connect the air compressor to blow out the line?
2. Since gravity is draining the 3 return pipes and the 1 skimmer pipe, do we still need to blow those lines? Since we leave the valve open, we don't add RV antifreeze. Should we close them and add antifreeze? Not sure how we could unless we poured antifreeze in the pipes on top of the deck near the pump.
3. What connectors do I need to attach the air compressor?
Thanks for any suggestions.
I live in southeastern Oklahoma where normally winters are not too bad. However, several years ago, an ice storm shut us down for 3 weeks (0°F) with no electricity. So, I need to close the pool every year because it may or may not get below freezing here. We have a high water table and high moisture in our soil so we never lower the pool water before closing.
Our inground pool is on a slope with one side against the soil and 8 ft from our house. The other 3 sides are covered with a concrete and rock wall. The local pool company sometimes blow out our lines, but I have no idea how they do it. Sometimes, the guy lets gravity drain the pipes. I know they use a gizmo in the skimmer and screw on plugs on the 3 returns, and I know they do not drain any pool water. I have no idea how they drain the lines, and I want to do it myself this year.
Here is what I know: Thanks to TFP.
1. Close the pool when water is 60°F and pH is 7.4-7.6. Then balance TA, bring to shock level, pass the overnight FC test, let chlorine levels go down to halfway normal. Remove any debris and backwash and rinse the sand filter. Remove the metal ladder. Once pool is closed, put the pump plugs and filter plugs in the pump basket. Disconnect unions and take o-rings inside the house and put inside a ziplock bag after lubing them.
2. Because our pipes and 3-way valve are at the same level as the bottom drain, gravity will drain the skimmer line once the gizmo is installed. The 3-way valve gets turned to fully open the skimmer (and fully close the bottom drain). Gravity drains the skimmer pipe because we disconnect the union on the 3-way valve.
3. We disconnect the unions by the pump so the pipes on the top of the deck will drain by gravity.
4. Once we install the screw on return plugs (using Teflon tape), gravity drains the return pipes through the red ball valve.
Here is what I don't know:
1. Gravity doesn't work for the main drain pipe. About 6 ft of the main drain pipe is above ground so it could easily freeze since there is no way to plug up the main drain in order to drain the line. I assume I need to blow air in the line, then quickly close the main drain at the 3-way valve. (Like a straw with a finger on a straw.) Where do I connect the air compressor to blow out the line?
2. Since gravity is draining the 3 return pipes and the 1 skimmer pipe, do we still need to blow those lines? Since we leave the valve open, we don't add RV antifreeze. Should we close them and add antifreeze? Not sure how we could unless we poured antifreeze in the pipes on top of the deck near the pump.
3. What connectors do I need to attach the air compressor?
Thanks for any suggestions.
