New build - diverter or ball valves

[samholton]

Inground pool is being built and I'm thinking about winterizing in a year before I've even been in for a swim. Currently there is a single diverter valve between the drain, skimmer and pump input. Most of the pictures I've looked at have a ball type valve used to air lock during winterization. Just want to make sure this diverter valve can hold and air lock while they are still doing construction.

 

[ajw22]

Diverters only, no ball valves. Ball valves will stick and break after a few years. Diverters are repairable.

Diverters can hold an air lock. But winterizing will be easier if you have a 2 way diverter in each line. Then you can blow out each line individually and airlock it.

 

[samholton]

Diverters can hold an air lock. But winterizing will be easier if you have a 2 way diverter in each line. Then you can blow out each line individually and airlock it.

Thanks for the confirmation. I was thinking about that. If I lower the water below the skimmer and blow it out and put a gizmo in the skimmer, I should then be good to blow out drains and just close drain line off.

Originally I was thinking I would blow both and shut off pump side, but that would open drain to skimmer and mean the gizmo would need to be air tight.

 

[ajw22]

Good to see you are considering winterization during the build. Many folks don't and then have difficulty with their setup.

 

[wireform]

Skimmers are usually not air locked because the lines can be above the frost line and by just blowing them dry and plugging them below the skimmer basket you'd be good to go. On the other hand the md is deep and plugging it would be a chore at minimum so by blowing out the md till air comes out then locking it off via the valve should keep it safe over the winter.