Closing Pool - Prep for Next Year

Ok - I've been reading a lot in this section on closing the pool. I just had mine closed yesterday by pool company and next year want to save the dollars. I have a main drain, 1 skimmer, 2 returns, sand filter, in-line chlorinator, and heat pump. The suction side of the pump goes out to a T with valves from the skimmer and MD. So - from what I read, here are my steps. Would love for comments to see if I am missing anything or if I have some steps in the wrong order.

1) Lower water below the 2 return jets by setting filter to WASTE and using MD.

2) Turn off pump. Set filter to RICIRCULATE. (Is this right?)

3) Attach air compressor to hole inside of pump basket that goes to suction side. Close off SKIMMER valve and turn on MD valve. Turn on air compressor to blow out MD. When MD bubbles, close off MD and immediately turn off air compressor. From what I read, this will create an air lock.

4) Open SKIMMER valve (leaving MD closed) and turn on air compressor to blow out SKIMMER. Once skimmer is blown out, pour some antifreeze down skimmer hole and cap with winterizer plug. Leave SKIMMER valve open. (I also read some folks blow the skimmer line by attaching the compressor to the skimmer hole, but I think I can do this from the pump basket, right)?

5) Attach air compressor to hold inside of pump basket that goes to pressure side. Turn on air compressor to blow water from the two return jets. I am assuming the air will be blown from the pump, filter, heater, and inline chlorinator, as well. Turn off air compressor and cap both return jets with winterizer plugs. (The company that did it yesterday actually connected their vacuum to the return lines directly (had to break a union), bypassing the filter, heater, and chlorinator because they said they could net get enough air to the returns when attempting to do it first from the pump filter basket. But, they did try to do it first through the pump basket. I also read that some folks put anti-freeze in the return lines, so I may consider doing this - thoughts?

6) Remove pressure guage and glass jar from filter.

7) Remove plugs from pump, filter, and chlorinator. (Please let me know if I should do this at earlier...)

8) Put filter to WINTER.

Ok, folks - is this right? Are the steps in the right order?

Appreciate all the feedback.

Lotsa stuff there Skill,
My only comment would be that if you really mean "air compressor" you're patience will be severly tested. You need to move a large volume of air (and thereby water), not necessarily requiring high pressure. Most here would suggest a ShopVac, or similar.

My setup's pretty simple so it may not comapre, but I'll put my procedure out there and maybe there's something useful. I have a DE filter on a 22K gal. inground vinyl. So at the pump I only have three lines; two suction for a skimmer and MD and one return for three inlets. Also, I live in an area where frost line is typically indicated at 54" underground for building purposes. While I'm pretty sure only a part of my main drain's below that, through two winters I haven't had a problem.

After taking care of the chems and circulating for the winter, I lower water below the skimmer.
Pull the pump/filter for cleaning and storage.
Start blowing out the three lines with the Vac:
-attach it to the returns and replace each eyeball with a screw-on cap.
-attach it to the skimmer line, attach gizmo after the geyser ends. (if you can find a favorite someone to 'keep their eye on it' before you blow, there's a piece of pie for you in the kitchen!)
[ahem]
-attach it to the MD. This requires a quick hand. When bubbles emerge at the deep end, I quickly plug it with a rubber stopper. No antifreeze for me, thank you.

The other lines are also stoppered and then duct taped to secure the plugs.

HTH.
C.

Chuck - thanks for the response.

When you are talking about the MD, what exactly are you plugging with a stopper?

ALso -in your last sentence, what other lines are stoppered?

Thx!

There are three 1-1/2" PVC running underground between my pump/filter and the pool. Two draw water from the pool (one for the skimmer and one for the MD, main drain). They meet at a three-way Jandy valve on the pump filter basket. There are quick-connects (unions) as they emerge from underground to make disconnecting the pump easy. These each get a rubber stoppper.

There's also one that returns clean water to the three inlets in the pool. That's blown out and stoppered.

The reason for the quick plugging of the MD line is once you stop blowing the air, the water will obviously be forced back thru (to a level even with the level of the water in the pool). It's not foolproof, but I'm not comfortable with the idea of antifreeze in my pool water either.

That help?