Winterize Pool Boiler

[TerryHn]

We are in the Pacific Northwest with a fiberglass pool. We keep the pump going all winter on/off about 4hrs a day and with the Pentair Intellicenter there is freeze-protection so if temp drops below zero the pump keeps running.

Question is about the boiler. My last pool had a hayward boiler that we bypassed during the winter and removed the drain plug so it was dry. The bypass values were good so there was no "leakage" into the boiler. I do the same thing to this new Pentair boiler but there is a bit of leaking through the bypass values and a bit of water drips out of the boilers drain value all winter.

My question.. should I
a) keep it bypassed and open drain to let any leakage out.
b) keep it bypassed and close drain so it fills with water (seems like a bad idea)
c) skip the bypass and let the water flow through it all winter

Thoughts please?

Thank you.

 

[ajw22]

Show us pictures of your equipment pad, heater, and bypass valves.

Option 4 is to fix the bypass valves so they do not leak.

 

[TerryHn]

Here are some photos. My pool guy explained to expect some leaking around the values. Not true?

 

[ajw22]

Have you tried moving the valve handles slightly left or right to get a better seal?

Your pool guy did not do you any favors by using two valves instead of a diverter valve and a check valve. As now you have two diverters and don't know which one is not sealing perfectly.

Heater Bypass - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[wireform]

Yes there is still one way to check which valve is leaking, by loosening both collar nuts and back away the plumbing from the heater to see which pipe it drips from.

 

[TerryHn]

>>>>Yes there is still one way to check which valve is leaking, by loosening both collar nuts and back away the plumbing from the heater to see which pipe it drips from

Great idea. I'll try that. Thanks.