Winterizing the Heat Pump, DE Filter and Antifreeze questions

[patplh]

I finally bought a cyclone after 15 yrs of opening/maintaining the pool ourselves, but always hiring someone to close it. Today, I successfully blew out the lines through the skimmer. In total, we cleared 4 wall returns and 1 waterfall plus airlocked 2 in-ground returns and 1 main drain. Feeling pretty good about all those steps, but second guessing myself about a few things:
1. Pool Pump - I need to troubleshoot my pump b/c the digital display stopped working this summer. So I'm planning to bring it indoors. Should I plug the 2 PVC pipes that connected to the pump so water/snow doesn't get in them during the winter?
2. DE Filter - When I blew out everything, I had the multi-value set to Recirculate, so air never went through the filter. I've already removed the drain plug, rinsed and removed the filter cartridge - do I need to do anything else?
3. Heat Pump - I blew out with multi-valve set to Recirculate so it should have blown out all the water from the heat pump, right? I don't see a drain plug and the companies who closed for us never removed a drain plug. Any concerns here?
4. Antifreeze - I'm planning to add 1 gallon of antifreeze to the skimmer furthest from the equipment pad and then add 1/4 gallon to the Skimmer closest to the pad - my notes say I should add the remaining 3/4 gallon of antifreeze to the pump basket, but I'm removing the pump - where should I pour the remaining antifreeze?
Thanks so much - really excited that I finally had the balls to close the pool myself this year but worried I missed something.
Patty

 

[PoolStored]

1. Pool Pump - I need to troubleshoot my pump b/c the digital display stopped working this summer. So I'm planning to bring it indoors. Should I plug the 2 PVC pipes that connected to the pump so water/snow doesn't get in them during the winter?

That would be prudent, even a couple layers of saran wrap and some rubberbands should work.

2. DE Filter - When I blew out everything, I had the multi-value set to Recirculate, so air never went through the filter. I've already removed the drain plug, rinsed and removed the filter cartridge - do I need to do anything else?

3. Heat Pump - I blew out with multi-valve set to Recirculate so it should have blown out all the water from the heat pump, right? I don't see a drain plug and the companies who closed for us never removed a drain plug. Any concerns here?

4. Antifreeze - I'm planning to add 1 gallon of antifreeze to the skimmer furthest from the equipment pad and then add 1/4 gallon to the Skimmer closest to the pad - my notes say I should add the remaining 3/4 gallon of antifreeze to the pump basket, but I'm removing the pump - where should I pour the remaining antifreeze?

You should use Gizmos in the skimmers, and some cut up pool noodles in the skimmer and the skimmer mouth. I would put 1/2 gallon in each skimmer through the gizmos.

 

[patplh]

That would be prudent, even a couple layers of saran wrap and some rubberbands should work.

You should use Gizmos in the skimmers, and some cut up pool noodles in the skimmer and the skimmer mouth. I would put 1/2 gallon in each skimmer through the gizmos.

Thanks so much for replying... I'll plan to cover the pump pipe openings and try to find the drain plug for the heat pump. For the skimmers, I was planning to use the empty (and capped) antifreeze bottles as my gizmos since that's what our pool closers have always done.
Thanks again!