Swimming pools blog

get advice about heaters, pumps, filters, liners, chemicals and maintaining private swimming pools

Swimming pools blog header image 2


First time closing in-ground

February 16th, 2005 · 2 Comments

I’m about to close an in-ground for the season.
Got the chems, cover etc.. Used to do an above
ground at my last house with no issues.
Blowing out the lines is what I’m new at. Is there
a particular tool and or process to follow? The
drain line at the deep end concerns me the most. The
returns and skimmer port seem obvious. How is this
all done.
Thanks,
dbc

Tags: pumps

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Colleen Augustine // Feb 17, 2005 at 6:07 am

    On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 12:29:50 -0000, “dbc03848″ <dbc03848@…
    I use my shop vac, setup to blow, instead of vac.
    I bought a little nozzle/funnel attachment for the vac that take the large vac
    hose and tapers it down to an inch or so. Perfect for sliding into where my
    backwash hose connects to the pool filter. I don’t remember what it’s called,
    looks like a funnel. Here is what I do to blow out the lines:
    1)cleaned my filter completely (I have a DE, so this is after I clean the
    grids and drain).
    2)I already have the cover on the pool, just pulled back where the return
    lines are
    3)put filter back together and seal like I was going to use it
    4)set the multiport valve on the filter, to a spot between the normal notches,
    so it’s not locked in a normal spot. This makes it open all the way around.
    5)make sure all the valves to my lines are open
    6)disconnect backwash line

    7)put shop vac hose/nozzel into backwash hose port of multiport
    8)turn on shop vac, and watch the water show.
    9)wait a couple of minutes to make sure all/most of the water is out of the
    lines
    10)prepare to get wet
    11)plug the skimmer, and then the two return jets.
    12)cover pool completely and prepare filter for winter
    I don’t worry about the deep end line, it should be deep enough not to freeze.
    Might have missed a step, but I don’t think so. Haven’t done it in a year.
    Tony

    ajsalerno7(at)comcast(dot)net

  • 2 Neva Marjory // Feb 21, 2005 at 5:24 am

    Another new pool owner doing the first pool closing…have a couple
    more questions:
    How much do I drain the pool. I’m assuming since you are blowing out
    the returns that the level has to be at least below the jets but how
    much below the skimmer or is there a “best” level?? I have some type
    of aqua colored plastic tube thing that I believe gets plugged into
    the skimmer hole and some caps for the jets.
    I will try using the shop vac. Once my husbands compressor is wired
    in next year, would that be able to be used with some type of
    attachment?
    I hired someone to open the pool and unfortunately they had started
    before I arrived home so I missed some of the set up which would have
    helped now.
    Is there a particular time you should put in the closing chemicals?
    Just before covering or should it be uncovered for a certain period

    of time after you put in the chemicals.
    Thanks once again.
    Sue

You must log in to post a comment.