Pool guy closing this year, but next year I'll try it.

[jdsaengine]

Pool was installed last fall, so I got a free closing. They blew out the lines and put in antifreeze. They said they put in 50 gal of AF at $15 per gal so next year it would be $750 for AF + $400 labor.

This year I'm paying them $450 to just blow out lines only. Planning on videoing them and trying to do it myself next year and buy a cyclone blower. Should I be thinking about antifreeze?.

See my system pic

 

[PoolStored]

50 gallons of AF is ridiculous...

Looks like you have two skimmers and two returns?

How are they plugging the skimmers and the returns? Where are they putting all this AF?

If the lines are plugged properly, then a gallon per pipe should be sufficient. I am confident with my cyclone that I've evacuated water and I'm confident with my seals/plugs/Gizmo, and I only use 1/2 gallon per pipe. You should need no more than a gallon per 10-15' of pipe...

 

[jdsaengine]

Correct, two skimmers. the two lines on the left go to two bubblers on a baja deck. Only one return line on the right going thru the black SWG then to 3 wall returns.

I was assuming all the above ground lines and thru the heater got AF, then all the other lines got AF till it started coming out the returns at which point they put in plugs. At least as I watched them thats what it looked like. That would have been every foot of pipe was full of AF.

You say just dump a little AF into the pipes? Would that not just flow down to the low point and not protect any above grade equipment?

 

[Newdude]

Would that not just flow down to the low point and not protect any above grade equipment?

The low point is where it's needed, and only as insurance in case of condensation collecting there. If there was a big enough leak for the pipes to fill again, it'd probably push the antifreeze out in the process.

If the equipment / pad plumbing is above the water level, you'd need a big leak to fill it with rain, and you'd probably notice the damage or that your pump lid was missing before then.

 

[jdsaengine]

Well the pool guy just finished closing and he used the Cyclone blower + poured a gallon of AF into the SWG. Other than that I took pics of everything he did in just 10 min. So next year I'm buying a Cyclone and doing it myself and saving $450