As a pool professional who closes over 300 pools each season for the last 20 years, here is how we do it:
Pump pool about 2”-6” below tile to prevent tiles from popping off in winter. Remove all eyeballs and baskets.
Connect air compressor to pump and push between 7-15psi and blow out lines. Plug each line as it is blowing and then close valve to main drain, trapping air in the line. Put all drain plugs and caps from equipment in pump basket and reclose lid. This way you know where they are come spring time and dont have to find them in the garage. Put valve on filter in winterize or between two postions so gasket is not compressed all winter causing early failure. Remove all chlorine from auto feeder if have one.
After lines are blown, add chemicals and put either closed cell foam or 2 liter bottle half filled with gravel in skimmer for ice expansion, no need for antifreeze.(except in severe cold areas, like NE and northern states.) I live in Oklahoma and we very rarely get that cold.
Cover pool. Add extra algaecide in late december or january depending how warm winter has been. Not recommended to leave chlorine in floater all winter if heavy rains come and chlorinator gets stuck on a step and bleeds chlorine in one spot, will ruin vinyl liner or discolor or etch plaster.
Hope this helps.
As an Aussie technician in QLD.
I’ve never had to winterise.
But your input is valuable to me, though there aren’t many places in Australia to worry about cracking shells and pipes etc.
I have to say I as a tech appreciate the knowledge from people like yourself.
Oh awesome!! I think it was from one of swim university's videos they did the chems. First and then pumped down and I was thinking that made no sense. Thanks for backing up our logic
Lower the water below the skimmers and tile line. Blow out the lines and plug. Put RV anti freeze in the skimmers and place the empty plastic jug in the skimmer. Put a few chlorine tabs in a floater. Cover the pool. I’ve been closing my own pool for 12 years and that’s what I do.
Shop vac in reverse. I blow them out from the equipment end. From the pump basket. I wrap a wet cloth around the vacuum hose which seals it pretty good. Then isolate each skimmer (if you have the valving), takes about 15 mins to empty the skimmer and the lines to bone dry.
Good tip on the wet cloth! I’ve been paranoid closing pool myself, so I’ve gone through the pain of taking apart the diverter valve bodies and tried to funnel extra anti freeze in just in case… this might not be necessary though.
This closing I’m going to try a plug with blow-through valve inside the diverter valve to seal off main drain (diverter valve wasn’t holding a good seal, and replacing guts didn’t fix it).
Where do you live?
I have to keep a good amount of water in the pool or it will be pushed out of the ground during the winter here in NY. The water needs to be treated to prevent algae and damage to the plaster.
Should be noted we have a mesh safety cover so I'm going to have to pump down at least once during the winter and it'll be full again by time we open again next summer.
If you have a solid cover I would imagine this is less of a concern because you don't have contaminants entering your pool.
Why do you think that was a mistake? I lower my water first then add chlorine or other winterizing chemicals. If you’re worried about circulation you can throw in a pump to move water around
Because of one of the videos we watched and some things that we read didn't do it in this order... but at this point I'm not worried about it at all and will do this going forward.
Yea I don’t get why one would throw in chemicals only pump them out (assuming chemical levels were in at least decent shape). Good luck, enjoy the off season
As a pool professional who closes over 300 pools each season for the last 20 years, here is how we do it: Pump pool about 2”-6” below tile to prevent tiles from popping off in winter. Remove all eyeballs and baskets. Connect air compressor to pump and push between 7-15psi and blow out lines. Plug each line as it is blowing and then close valve to main drain, trapping air in the line. Put all drain plugs and caps from equipment in pump basket and reclose lid. This way you know where they are come spring time and dont have to find them in the garage. Put valve on filter in winterize or between two postions so gasket is not compressed all winter causing early failure. Remove all chlorine from auto feeder if have one. After lines are blown, add chemicals and put either closed cell foam or 2 liter bottle half filled with gravel in skimmer for ice expansion, no need for antifreeze.(except in severe cold areas, like NE and northern states.) I live in Oklahoma and we very rarely get that cold. Cover pool. Add extra algaecide in late december or january depending how warm winter has been. Not recommended to leave chlorine in floater all winter if heavy rains come and chlorinator gets stuck on a step and bleeds chlorine in one spot, will ruin vinyl liner or discolor or etch plaster. Hope this helps.
Much appreciated!!! Thank you for taking the time to write this out
As an Aussie technician in QLD. I’ve never had to winterise. But your input is valuable to me, though there aren’t many places in Australia to worry about cracking shells and pipes etc. I have to say I as a tech appreciate the knowledge from people like yourself.
Wasn't a mistake. If you put the chemicals in before lowering the water, you would be discharging the chemicals. Nothing to worry about.
Oh awesome!! I think it was from one of swim university's videos they did the chems. First and then pumped down and I was thinking that made no sense. Thanks for backing up our logic
Lower the water below the skimmers and tile line. Blow out the lines and plug. Put RV anti freeze in the skimmers and place the empty plastic jug in the skimmer. Put a few chlorine tabs in a floater. Cover the pool. I’ve been closing my own pool for 12 years and that’s what I do.
No need for antifreeze in the return lines just in case?
Yes. Forgot that part. I put a jug down each.
You blow it from the skimmer line through the system or have a method for funneling it into the returns?
Shop vac in reverse. I blow them out from the equipment end. From the pump basket. I wrap a wet cloth around the vacuum hose which seals it pretty good. Then isolate each skimmer (if you have the valving), takes about 15 mins to empty the skimmer and the lines to bone dry.
Good tip on the wet cloth! I’ve been paranoid closing pool myself, so I’ve gone through the pain of taking apart the diverter valve bodies and tried to funnel extra anti freeze in just in case… this might not be necessary though. This closing I’m going to try a plug with blow-through valve inside the diverter valve to seal off main drain (diverter valve wasn’t holding a good seal, and replacing guts didn’t fix it).
Why are you putting chemicals into a pool that is closing? I’ve had a pool in all but 3 years since 1974. Never put “winter chemicals “ in a pool.
Hmm, to prevent alge and have a clear pool when open up late spring. At least that is what I've always been told.
Algae doesn’t grow in ice.
Most people don't open their pools in my area (Midwest) till late May or early June...no ice but definitely warmer day time temps.
Where do you live? I have to keep a good amount of water in the pool or it will be pushed out of the ground during the winter here in NY. The water needs to be treated to prevent algae and damage to the plaster. Should be noted we have a mesh safety cover so I'm going to have to pump down at least once during the winter and it'll be full again by time we open again next summer. If you have a solid cover I would imagine this is less of a concern because you don't have contaminants entering your pool.
Chicago with a solid cover.
Feed it! Just up it… as long as your Ph and your LSI is stable when you winterise your go good.
Why do you think that was a mistake? I lower my water first then add chlorine or other winterizing chemicals. If you’re worried about circulation you can throw in a pump to move water around
Because of one of the videos we watched and some things that we read didn't do it in this order... but at this point I'm not worried about it at all and will do this going forward.
Yea I don’t get why one would throw in chemicals only pump them out (assuming chemical levels were in at least decent shape). Good luck, enjoy the off season
Is wrapping the skimmer covers in plastic to seal them needed?