How To Blow Out Pool Filter Lines

How to Winterize & Shut an Inground Puddle

Whether you're a new pool owner with a stunning pool blueprint or veteran dwelling house puddle pro, this guide contains important information for all classes of pool ownership.

Steps to winterize a pond pool: The method described below whereby pool plumbing pipes are blown out and sealed showtime was most widely performed in New England and the Due east coast of the The states. It is now becoming common to perform this method throughout the Usa and in other countries.

A slight variation of these steps can exist performed where the pool is partially tuckered and an anti-freeze production is added to the lines instead of blowing out the lines and sealing them. Some of the trade-offs with that slightly different method are discussed below when that step is outlined.

NOTE: A swimming pool winterization of this type is rarely done in Texas or some of the other southern states considering the weather typically does not stay below freezing for plenty days to freeze the basis to a depth where there are benefits from bravado out the lines or having anti-freeze in them. We have a separate mail near how most puddle owners commonly deal with how to winterize a swimming pool in Texas.

How to winterize and close an in-ground swimming pool.

Assemble supplies
First try and find whatever chemicals and supplies used from previous years such as the cover, cover weights, skimmer plugs (also called gizmos sometimes) antifreeze, and flotation devices for a encompass. For a full winterization you lot volition also typically want to apply an air compressor to blow out your swimming puddle lines.
Filter grooming
If you take a sand or DE filter information technology is important that you starting time by backwashing information technology. And so pull the filter plug to drain the main tank. You will also want to pull open the backwash valve and leave information technology open if it is a "push-pull" or slide mode backwash valve. If you accept a "dial" or multiport backwash valve information technology is generally not a practiced idea to remove the top and betrayal the spider gasket to ice buildup – all the same information technology is recommended to make sure information technology does not have water in it.
Sand filters should also have the main drain plug removed and water tuckered out. It is important to get air inside the filter. If you lot accept a small filter that can be drained and carried into a warm area where it will not freeze this is preferred. If you are taking a DE or cartridge filter inside, this is an opportune time to clean the cartridges or DE grids beforehand. If you lot use Acid on the DE grids be sure to fully rinse them so the acid does not keep to corrode the grids when in storage.

You can besides unthread the filter unions that connect it to the plumbing pipes to further drain h2o from the filter and backwash valve.

Note: Many swimming puddle companies put the bleed plugs for all the equipment items in the pump basket.
Blow out the lines at the puddle equipment
Use your air compressor or a shop vacuum to accident out the lines if possible and plug them. This is a two person chore.
Pump preparation
Disconnect the drain plugs on your pump and put them in the pump handbasket. If your pump has unions you can completely disconnect information technology from the plumbing and plow information technology up-side down to get any remaining water out of it.
Heater training
Pull the drain plugs on the front and back "headers". Not all heaters have multiple drain plugs. If you lot have an air compressor try to blow any remaining h2o out of the heater. It is generally not recommended to remove a heat exchanger or burner tray.
Additional equipment
If y'all have whatever additional equipment like an in-line chlorinator, booster pump, auxiliary pumps or valves with drain plugs it is helpful to apply the same steps outlined above to these. Unscrew and loosen any quick disconnect fittings or unions at your pump and filter system.
Return jets and skimmers
Remove any return jet fittings. Also remove the skimmer baskets and weirs (weirs are the little flappers at the pharynx of a skimmer that function equally a door).
Accident out return lines
Utilize an air compressor to blow out all the return jet pipes. Make sure to keep the air blowing until the air is visible coming dorsum into the jets of the pool. Put a plug in the plumbing equipment under the water when you run across the bubbles blowing at full strength. Doing this correct can get over 95% of the water out of the return lines.
Notation: At that place are some companies who recommend draining the h2o down below the skimmer throats. At that place are some potential trade-offs here in doing this but you will not have air bubbles coming out if the water is below the return lines.
Accident out suction lines
Also use and air compressor to accident out all the return lines. Use a Gizzmo-fashion spiral to plug the skimmer when bubbles are visible. Be very conscientious to get the Gizzmo-style screws installed properly. Put PTFE tape on the Gizzmo threads before installing to ensure a tight seal.
You can also utilise black rubber-blazon plugs instead. They volition work if there is something in the skimmer to allow for water expansion when information technology freezes. Usually a airtight plastic empty soda-type canteen will piece of work. Information technology is crucial that you have those bottles in place to avoid bang-up your skimmers.

If you take a slide, an auto vac system or a waterfall, you volition take to drain and blow out those suction and render pipes also.

Annotation: Suction and return lines that are properly blown out do not require anti-freeze type products in the pipes. Anti-freeze type products can be a lot of work to clean upward in the Bound then it is preferable to avert using them if possible.

Blow out main drain suction line. No pool diving is needed. When you see bubbles coming out of the bleed simply close the master bleed valve to create an air lock.

Additional line training: Embrace or cap whatever exposed pipes at the equipment. Remove dive lath and ladders. Put them in a safe spot such as a shed or the garage along with the pool pump and filter.
Chemistry preparation
Pre-deliquesce whatever shock or granular based winterizing chemical products i at a time in a bucket earlier adding them to your pool water. If whatever granules are undissolved make sure to brush them till they are fully absorbed into the water. If y'all take a pool liner this is actress important as residual chemicals tin bleach or damage a liner. Brand sure the chlorine is over 3ppm.
Test the pool for pH and Full Alkalinity. Suit to normal levels using pH PLUS or MINUS and ALKALINITY PLUS. pH should be betwixt 7.2 - vii.half dozen and Alkalinity between 80-120 ppm.
Water level
In that location are differing opinions on this topic. In the New England area many puddle owners practice not drain whatsoever h2o out of the pool. This works if all the lines have been effectively diddled out and sealed as described. If a pool has ceramic tiles it is recommended to drain the water a few inches below them, just not further.
Some pool owners swear by having their pool drained downwards past the skimmer. This is unremarkably done instead of blowing out the pipes and using gizzmos.

Here are some trade-offs:
- Pools that are drained cause a lot of undue stress on the pool encompass shortening its life by exposing the pool liner to the air. The additional air exposure will cause it to prematurely dry out.
- Pools that are drained are also at risk of any water buildup on top causing the encompass to somewhen fall in.
- Besides if a pond puddle is partially tuckered you have to remove or "lower" the pool light.
Install the pool cover
Audit the embrace before installing. When inspecting the encompass, if y'all find and rips or tears try to patch or repair them ahead of time. A swimming pool patch record or heavy duty duct tape can be used to patch lightweight covers. A vinyl pool patch will be needed for vinyl covers. Place the encompass on the pool.
If yous are using water tubes identify them through loops on cover. Fill up tubes with h2o till they are ~ 85% full. When water tubes freeze yous do not want the water in them to expand and split the tubes. Lay the tubes out end to end no more than ane foot apart. Any leaking tubes must be replaced.

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