Have I missed anything?

This is my first year closing on my own. I'm in Toronto so I have to winterize thoroughly.

I've lowered the water level to just below the returns (even though I have read that this shouldn't be necessary).

I inserted some thick foam roam (about 2 feet long) into the main drain and plugged it. I blew out the skimmer line until there was nothing but a very fine mist. I even left it for a while and came back to make sure any water that collected again would be blown out.

I blew out the return lines. I first plugged the returns then opened up the heater and blew it out. Then I plugged the heater, opened one of my returns, and blew it out. Then I capped that return, opened the other, and blew it out.

I inserted my gizmo in the skimmer.

I removed the plugs from the pump and filter, and I removed the pressure gauge, sight glass, and sight glass washer from the filter. I set the filter to "winter".

I removed the plug from the heater. I also disconnected a piece attached to a very tiny pipe inside the heater. Not sure what this is, but I know my pool guy told me to disconnect it when closing.

I plugged my returns with teflon-wrapped plugs.

I removed the pool light, wrapped it in plastic bags, and placed it on the deck. I filled the light housing cavity with foam rope (my light house cracked my first year).

Last step, I checked the water chemistry and my CL level is around 4.

• Does this sound complete?
• Should I have placed a piece of foam rope inside my returns? I can't remember, but I think my pool guy had done this (tied one end in a knot).
• I didn't do anything to the main drain except stuff some foam rope down it. The water level in the pool is higher than my main drain so blowing it out would be difficult. Is this sufficient, or should I do more?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I live in Thornhill. Your procedure sounds almost identical to mine.

You didn't mention a slide, but if you have one don't forget to blow out the water line to it.

Also, if your pump is like mine there should be 2 drain plugs to remove.

I usually raise my chlorine higher than 4, even as high as 10ppm. It will disappear over the winter, anyway. Did you cover the pool?

One other thing is to turn off the circuit breaker for the pump at the panel.

From what you have described you should be good.

Thanks for the reply.

Yep, removed the 2 plugs from the pump.

No slide, but I removed the ladder.

I covered the pool, but I think I want to insert a "pillow" or something to help support the cover this year. What do people typically use for this purpose?

I was thinking of raising my CL and I suppose I should.

I think my main worry right now is the main drain since it is basically just filled with water. I don't think the pool guy ever did anything but put some foam rope into it (which I did as well).

Can't you pressurize your main drain line (from near the pump) until bubbles start coming out of the drain? Then turn off the valve.

If the drain line was properly installed, it should run downhill from the pump all the way to a low point, and then run uphill all the way to the drain. That means that once bubbles are coming out of the drain, the section between the pump and the low spot should be completely filled with air. (It should take about 5 psi to do that if the water is about 10 feet deep at the low spot) At that point, while it is still bubbling, turn off the main drain valve. In theory, air should remain in the line all winter if the valve and pipe don't leak.

I don't have experience with this, so don't take my word for it. I do intend on doing my pool this way unless somebody knowledgeable says that it's a bad idea. (Then I'd like to know what you're "supposed" to do.)

In my case, my main drain runs from the bottom of my pool to a second opening in my skimmer. My skimmer goes down below the current water level in my pool so as soon as I open the main drain, it starts filling the skimmer.

I suppose I could lower the water even further, pressurise the main drain, then raise the water level up a bit.

Can anyone tell me if this is necessary? I know the pool guy didn't do that.