First Time Closing Pool - Main Drain - Blow our (air lock) vs. fill with antifreeze

[abegregory]

Hello,
This is my first time closing our pool (18x38 liner pool with auto-cover). I ordered a Cyclone blower, and I am pretty comfortable blowing out the return lines and the skimmer lines. But, I've heard different approaches with the main drain, and I'm lost at which approach I should take:
(1) Blow out the main drain and air lock, or
(2) Don't blow out main drain, but dump up to 12 gallons of pool/rv antifreeze into the main drain line until you start seeing it come through the main drain at the bottom of the pool.

I'd appreciate feedback on these two options, and which would be "best".

One final question: Any suggestions on the best way to connect the Cyclone blower (1.5 inch) to my 2 inch pool line?

 

[Newdude]

Blow out the line and air lock it. It remains open in the pool so any antifreeze added at the pad will ooze out in no time. When blown and airlocked, the downward section of pipe to the pool will act like sticking your finger over a straw and dunking it. The water can't displace the air and it remains empty.

Keep your finger on the same straw and turn it sideways and water glugs in no problem. The horizontal pipe under the pool will fill like that when airlocked, and your antifreeze is in the pool before you know it.

Any suggestions on the best way to connect the Cyclone blower (1.5 inch) to my 2 inch pool line?

If shoving it in a skimmer pipe, fatten up the hose with duct tape. If going 1.5 inch hose to 2 inch pipe, duct tape the connection. Several wraps is fine, with so much CFM, some can escape without harm.

External duct tape method seen here.

Closing with shop vac.

Today was the day for closing and it went great with a 6HP shop vac. I hooked my blower up for fun after, and there really wasn't much left but some spray. Anywho I wanted to do a write up for all the folks wondering if they could save a chunk of change and tackle their own closing...

www.troublefreepool.com