Sta-Rite U-3 skimmer > pool closing > main drain

[Cisco1906]

Good morning & Happy Friday.

This is my first doing a pool closing and I have a Sta-Rite U-3 skimmer where the main drain connects back to the skimmer. I do not have any shut off valves. I drained my pool below the skimmer and unless I’m missing something i don’t see of a way to clear out the main drain. I’ve tried using my shop vac to blow out the drain but the second i remove my vac hose the drain fills back up with water. I stuck a 12inch long piece of foam backer rod in the drain and capped it. Is there anything else i can do? A pool company told me they have the equipment to blow out my drain and cap it. For something that will take a few minutes they want to charge me $200. If i don’t need to spend the money I’d rather not.

Thanks for your help as always!

 

[Newdude]

I stuck a 12inch long piece of foam backer rod in the drain and capped it

That will certainly help but ideally you want to be below the frost line which is about 40 inches by you @rdelisa used a reducer fitting to add a 1 inch pipe and ball valve when the bigger ones didn't fit.

 

[Cisco1906]

That will certainly help but ideally you want to be below the frost line which is about 40 inches by you @rdelisa used a reducer fitting to add a 1 inch pipe and ball valve when the bigger ones didn't fit.

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Thank you @Newdude. I will give this a try. Have a great weekend!