Where do you buy your good quality expanding rubber winterizing plugs from?

[ffabcd4]

I'm looking to buy some standard #10 expanding rubber winterizing plugs with nylon wing nut. Where do you buy yours from?
I've seen them range from $3.50ea -$12.50ea! Is there really a difference between them.
Online reviews are all over the place.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ajw22]

How many plugs do you need of what size?

I would buy one plug of each size and type and then if they fit and work buy the rest.

I have had my plugs for 20+ years as they don't wear out.

Inyopools sells quality parts...

Winter Accessories for In-Ground Pools | Inyo Pools - INYOPools.com

Prepare your pool for the winter season with our range of accessories suitable forin-ground ground pools at Inyo Pools. Products: Winter Closing Kits, Winter Plugs, Water Tubes, Skimmer Freeze Guards, Pool Cover Pump, Pool Line Blowers and More.

www.inyopools.com

 

[ffabcd4]

How many plugs do you need of what size?

I would buy one plug of each size and type and then if they fit and work buy the rest.

I have had my plugs for 20+ years as they don't wear out.

Inyopools sells quality parts...

Winter Accessories for In-Ground Pools | Inyo Pools - INYOPools.com

Prepare your pool for the winter season with our range of accessories suitable forin-ground ground pools at Inyo Pools. Products: Winter Closing Kits, Winter Plugs, Water Tubes, Skimmer Freeze Guards, Pool Cover Pump, Pool Line Blowers and More.

www.inyopools.com

Thanks for your reply. Looking to buy 2 of them. As mentioned, price range varies a lot with inyopools being the most expensive, plus they want another $10 for shipping. Seems excessive compared to others for a rubber plug, that's why I asked the question. Is there really a difference between them? Happy to pay more for a quality product, but not happy to pay x2 or x3 price for same product. Thanks.

 

[ajw22]

I don't think any of us have bought a range of plugs at different price points to have an evaluation.

For two plugs, I would just buy some reasonably priced ones and see how they work. When you get them, test them, and if they do not seal well, then return them.

 

[PoolStored]

For the price of the plug quality vs. the cost of digging up pool plumbing I would not be concerned about the cost, I'd be concerned about the quality.

I prefer to use a straight sided plug vs. a wedge plug.

Oatey Gripper 1-1/2 in. Plastic Mechanical Test Plug 33400D - The Home Depot

Choose this Oatey Gripper Plastic Mechanical Test Plug to seal piping or to hold pressure while testing your piping system.

www.homedepot.com

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/37036696

Not like these:

 

[ajw22]

These have worked on my pool for 20+ years.

A good plug is not a high-tech device.

 

[TDK_WPG]

I've had very poor success with purchasing this style of plug from Amazon - sizes have not lined up with advertised sizing, and the few I've tried have poor return policies - costs more to return than the plug is worth. Local pool stores/hardware stores have worked out way better. If someone has a good Amazon version I am open to trying, but mine all sucked.

 

[ajw22]

I've had very poor success with purchasing this style of plug from Amazon - sizes have not lined up with advertised sizing, and the few I've tried have poor return policies - costs more to return than the plug is worth. Local pool stores/hardware stores have worked out way better. If someone has a good Amazon version I am open to trying, but mine all sucked.

View attachment 640548

Yup, that is an Amazon problem.

 

[trivetman]

Ive done ok with what I’ve found on amazon. The sizing can be off so buy a few and see what works. They’re cheap enough to just buy a selection. I am guessing one listing measures at the wide part of the taper and the next looks at the narrow.

Make sure the hardware is stainless. The straight-sided Oatey is not and rusted out on me. I think its meant for plumbing short term use and not to sit outdoors. The amazon cheapos haven’t lied to me about being stainless (yet!)

 

[ffabcd4]

For the price of the plug quality vs. the cost of digging up pool plumbing I would not be concerned about the cost, I'd be concerned about the quality.

I prefer to use a straight sided plug vs. a wedge plug.

Oatey Gripper 1-1/2 in. Plastic Mechanical Test Plug 33400D - The Home Depot

Choose this Oatey Gripper Plastic Mechanical Test Plug to seal piping or to hold pressure while testing your piping system.

www.homedepot.com

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/37036696

View attachment 640444



Not

For the price of the plug quality vs. the cost of digging up pool plumbing I would not be concerned about the cost, I'd be concerned about the quality.

I prefer to use a straight sided plug vs. a wedge plug.

Oatey Gripper 1-1/2 in. Plastic Mechanical Test Plug 33400D - The Home Depot

Choose this Oatey Gripper Plastic Mechanical Test Plug to seal piping or to hold pressure while testing your piping system.

www.homedepot.com

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/37036696

View attachment 640444



Not like these:
View attachment 640442

Interesting, never seen one like the top one before. I assume you use these, under water, and you like them? I am more concerned about quality, that's why I'm asking. Don't want to continuously buy plugs if people know of good quality ones, and where to buy them. I actually used the below pictured one (the 'not like these' one) last season. There was just one left over from the last homeowner. It did work fine but looks a little brittle now. I looked around and saw it ranges from $3.50-$12 ea. Was trying to figure out if there is a difference in quality between them all. Mine doesn't have a brand name on it but does show #10 on the bottom (like the inyopool one). Inyopools show them at $35 for 2, includ shipping! Other places $3 onwards. Are they all the same? I'm open to other suggestions too. I recently tried testing the cone shaped one, but the test did fail twice. Not for sure that it failed at that side, but willing to try another before inyopool. 'Feels' like a rip-off at $35???

 

[ffabcd4]

Ive done ok with what I’ve found on amazon. The sizing can be off so buy a few and see what works. They’re cheap enough to just buy a selection. I am guessing one listing measures at the wide part of the taper and the next looks at the narrow.

Make sure the hardware is stainless. The straight-sided Oatey is not and rusted out on me. I think its meant for plumbing short term use and not to sit outdoors. The amazon cheapos haven’t lied to me about being stainless (yet!)

Thanks for your response. Yeah, maybe a better idea than paying $35 for 2 from Inyopools. I was trying to figure out if those cheaper ones were exactly the same, just marked up at Inyopools.

 

[ffabcd4]

I've had very poor success with purchasing this style of plug from Amazon - sizes have not lined up with advertised sizing, and the few I've tried have poor return policies - costs more to return than the plug is worth. Local pool stores/hardware stores have worked out way better. If someone has a good Amazon version I am open to trying, but mine all sucked.

View attachment 640548

My single one like this that worked previously (but now is a little dried out) shows the size (10) on the bottom of the plug, on the metal. The ones on Amazon that you can see the bottom don't show the size. Maybe the one with the size shown is the original and the others are copies? Inyopool has the size shown on the bottom at $35 for 2.

 

[ffabcd4]

These have worked on my pool for 20+ years.

A good plug is not a high-tech device.

Does yours show the size of the plug on the bottom of it?

 

[trivetman]

Mine from amazon have had the size marked.

Theres a lot of different sellers for buying anything on amazon. Some good some not so much. Its always a bit of a gamble but its just a plug

 

[ffabcd4]

How many plugs do you need of what size?

I would buy one plug of each size and type and then if they fit and work buy the rest.

I have had my plugs for 20+ years as they don't wear out.

Inyopools sells quality

These have worked on my pool for 20+ years.

A good plug is not a high-tech device.

Agree, that's why it's interesting to see similar products that range so much in price.just markup, or quality? It IS just a plug. That's why I asked the question.

 

[ffabcd4]

Ive done ok with what I’ve found on amazon. The sizing can be off so buy a few and see what works. They’re cheap enough to just buy a selection. I am guessing one listing measures at the wide part of the taper and the next looks at the narrow.

Make sure the hardware is stainless. The straight-sided Oatey is not and rusted out on me. I think its meant for plumbing short term use and not to sit outdoors. The amazon cheapos haven’t lied to me about being stainless (yet!)

Interesting, thanks.