First real winterizing, oddball setup.

[columbusdan]

Welcome!
I'm not the expert on winterizing pools with underground lines. Generally, though, I'm guessing it would be best if you could fill your underground lines with pool anti-freeze and plug them, disconnecting your pump and filter for the winter, and, perhaps, storing your cartridge in a cleaning bath, since it's in your basement already. You should be able to blow out the lines with a shop vac, rather than a compressor as vacs generally pack more volume and less pressure.

But...I'll let those who know better correct me.

One other follow up....there is really no way for me to get anti-freeze into the return line...unless I screw an "elbow" fitting into the outlet and pour it into that...is that how people do it?

[CarlD]

OK. I need to let the IG people take over.

Personally, I put Quick Connects EVERYWHERE on my pool plumbing, along with ball valve cutoffs (many ball valves double as quick connects) so I can get into any part of the plumbing easily.

Usually, you drain the pool below the returns, then you can plug your vac in there to blow the lines downward. Works with the skimmer, too. But the low drains? I don't know.

If you can cut your pump and filter off and drain them, I guess that's fine.

Again, I'd rather those more familiar advise you than me. I've got an AG pool and I simply remove all the plumbing, plugging the returns and drains. Since most of the plumbing is TigerFlex (flexible PVC) it's easy.

[columbusdan]

Well, things went smooth. Because I have a "flooded" system where my pump and filter are below the skimmer and return lines, all I had to do was open up the filter and pump, then open the valves for the returns and gravity drained the lines for me. The same concept worked for the skimmer, however, I would always see some water in the drain of the skimmer...almost like you would see in a sink drain (due to the trap). Would a skimmer normally be plumbed with a trap like a sink drain? I wanted to be sure it was empty, so I poured in some anti-freeze and had my wife down at the pump to let me know if she was seeing it. It wasn't until I started pouring it fast that it finally "let loose" and got down to her. So, its almost like somewhere in the plumbing (which is all under ground), there is a point where the pipe goes up hill and needs a little pressure for the liquid to drain. Or maybe its just because there was no alternate source of air for the line (rules of plumbing drains). On my returns, since I have two, if you keep them both open, they both will drain. Its a slower process if you don't open both. In any event, all lines are drained, I added some anti-freeze just in case, and all lines are plugged. Installing cover in the coming day or two (not enough hours in the day).

[CarlD]

Again, it's beyond my personal experience.

But skimmers don't have traps. Sinks, tubs and toilets do because the trap is a vapor block to prevent sewer gasses from coming back up into the house, which are disgusting smelling, can be poisonous, and even flammable. Pools are closed systems so traps aren't necessary or appropriate.