A little plumbung help, please!

[Ken and Laura]

I'm replacing a dead pump and including a new three-port Jandy valve in front of the pump. The pool is slightly below the level of the pool, and if/when I cut the PVC supply lines from the pool to install the new valve, the water will flow out - making it impossible to apply primer and solvent glue. I can plug the skimmer to stop the flow from that line - but not the main drain. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

[mshumack]

You can stuff a rag in the skimmer to slow down any flow. If you use the blue PVC glue any water left in the pipe won't hurt anything. You can wipe the primmer on everything before cutting pipe. Don't worry if you mis some places with the primmer. I've done sprinkler repairs where water was gushing out of pipes and after adding a splice with blue glue - no more problems.
Good Luck

[Ken and Laura]

What is the "blue glue"? I have standard PVC cement, purple primer and clear glue stuff.

[MarkC]

How about laying a trash bag over the main drain and then put a sand bag over the grate and bag to hold it down.

[duraleigh]

If the valve you are installing is only "slightly below" the pool level, the easiest solution would be to drain the pool slightly below that level.

I have no knowledge of blue glue......I thought any good pvc joint has to be BONE dry for a good weld.

[CarlD]

Blue Glue seems to be recommended for pool plumbing joints, espec TigerFlex.

It's basically PVC glue but it's bright blue. I gather it's also more flexible, making it ideal for TigerFlex. Further, you can CLEARLY see (and so can the inspector) that the joint is completely glued. You work with it EXACTLY as you do with clear glue.

You can see it on the joints around my filter and pump.