Fiberglass pool closing

[ChrisABS]

Just a few questions. Drain the water below the skimmer? How to go about plugging the main drains?

 

[laszlof]

dont need to drain below skimmer. just blow out all the lines and plug the skimmer/return.

Main drains should be air locked with a valve on the equipment pad. Basically just need to blow from the equipment pad/pump out the main drains for a bit, and then flip the valve to the closed position to "air lock" it.

 

[Texas Splash]

It might help to know if this pool has a waterline tile. Also if it will be covered.

 

[Texas Splash]

This article may be helpful.

Closing an In Ground Pool

Winterizing a pool is essential for keeping your in-ground pool protected during cold-weather months. This Pool Repair guide will show you how to do it.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[ChrisABS]

They are all fiberglass pools. I will be closing down several this year. So I don’t need to plug the main drains just blow them and close the valve at the equipment pad? What about antifreeze. I know people use them in the skimmer. I was thinking about using it for the main drains but since I’m not plugging them I don’t think it would do anything.

 

[ChrisABS]

I did read from texasfiberglasspools.com that they recommend draining below the skimmer.

 

[ajw22]

They are all fiberglass pools. I will be closing down several this year. So I don’t need to plug the main drains just blow them and close the valve at the equipment pad? What about antifreeze. I know people use them in the skimmer. I was thinking about using it for the main drains but since I’m not plugging them I don’t think it would do anything.

The frost line in OH is 14"-20". The main drain is below the frost line and will not freeze that deep.

You need to blow out air in all lines so no water is above the frost line.

Water can remain in the main drain line that is below the frost line.

 

[ajw22]

I did read from texasfiberglasspools.com that they recommend draining below the skimmer.

Are you putting a crush cushion in the skimmer? Gizzmo or half full plastic bottles?

 

[ChrisABS]

If I don’t have to drain below the skimmer I will put a bottle in with the skimmer plug/tube thing.

 

[ajw22]

If I don’t have to drain below the skimmer I will put a bottle in with the skimmer plug/tube thing.

Even if you do drain below the skimmer you should put a crush cushion in the skimmer. Rain or melting snow is likely to fill the pool up and get water int he skimmer by the end of the winter.

 

[ChrisABS]

Even if you do drain below the skimmer you should put a crush cushion in the skimmer. Rain or melting snow is likely to fill the pool up and get water int he skimmer by the end of the winter.

Thanks! They all have mesh winter covers except a few have autocovers. Those ones I know I can’t drain any water.

 

[ajw22]

There is little benefit to draining below the skimmer on a pool with a mesh cover and will have water in the skimmer by the end of the winter.

In pools with waterline tile you drain below the skimmer to keep the water level below the tile line. That is not a consideration with the pools you are discussing.

 

[ChrisABS]

So the main drains we install are not on the bottom of the pool. They are on the wall of the deep end. I looked at a couple of different installs and some drains are about halfway down the waterline due to the design of the fiberglass pool, courtesy ledges and rib support structure being in the way. I’m worried they are not below the frost line and that simply air locking them will do. If I can reach them I’m thinking about taking the screen off and plugging them and adding antifreeze. What would be the best way to add antifreeze to any line after I plug them?

 

[PoolStored]

What would be the best way to add antifreeze to any line after I plug them?

There are some differing opinions here on this approach. If the drains are threaded, you can make a short length of PVC pipe and a long PVC pipe. The short is threaded on one end (goes into drain threads), and elbow and female threads on the other end. The long has male threads on one end and female threads on the other end with a threaded cap, and should be long enough to go from the drain level to just under the pool cover. Remove the cover on the drain. Thread the short piece (straight end) into the drain so that it seals and the elbow is facing up. Then take the long PVC and thread it onto the elbow end of the short PVC. Take off the cover on top of the long PVC. Blow out the lines. Put in your antifreeze. Cap. I use these (pic below) to cap it because the rubber seal is nicer to use than a tapered plug/cap.

I have used this approach with my returns and it has worked great.

 

[ChrisABS]

Thank you. Those are the plugs I purchased.

 

[PoolStored]

Those are the plugs I purchased.

I use that plug on top of the long PVC.

 

[ChrisABS]

Oh 1 more thing. Salt water t-cells. Should they be removed completely from the plumbing and the unions plugged at the equipment pad?

 

[PoolStored]

We have member that do both. Some leave them, some take them out and put in plugs, some take them out and put in dummy cell. It really is personal preference.