Where to blow out line (picture)

[mlh]

Broken link!
I disconnected mine at the pump to blow the main drain and skimmer lines and at the swg to blow the returns and steps. Worked quite well for me.
Mike

[Charrua2]

Thanks for the feed back. Unfortunately, all my PVC pipes are glued together so discconnecting anywhere is not an option for me since I wouldn't know how to put them back together.

I believe I've fixed the link.

Thanks again

[waste]

Welcome to the forum, link is now working. If you have a large enough blower, you can put the multiport on "recirc" and blow everything via the skimmer (if you go with A, you'll only get the suction lines). If you lower the water below the skimmer mouth and attach the compressor to the skimmer pipe with the mp on recirc, you'll blow across the system and clear all the lines (pull the 2 pump plugs before doing this or you'll just push the water in the pump through the lines). The returns and polaris port will start to bubble, when they have a good steady airflow, plug them (you will get wet doing this!!), then the MD will start to bubble, go to the Jandy valve andshut off the MD side with the air still on - then turn off the compressor, add antifreeze to the skimmer line and install the Gizzmo.
Winterize is the setting to use once the lines are blown out to prevent the unit from getting damaged by any water still in it or from having the gasket 'bond' to the pressure plate and rip at the first turn next spring.

[Charrua2]

Thanks for the reply and apologies for the ignorant follow-up questions. Anyways, here they are:

1. My intention was to lower the water below the return ports (I believe that's what the pool company has done in the past). Would this change anything to the process you described?

2. When do I remove the cap/plug and the pressure gauge from the filter (before or after blowing the lines)?

3. There are two plugs in the skimmer. One is easily removed and the other does not seem to come off. I read previously that this is normal. What is the purpose of this second plug?

finally,

4. I also read somewhere that antifreeze isn't necessary (I live in MD) but I'll take your word for it. So how much antifreeze should I put in?

Thanks again for the help.

[waste]

Charrua, no appologies necessary when good questions are asked !
1) As long as there is no danger to the pool, nor the security of the cover, the water is customarily lowered to below the returns by many people. In some areas with a high water table, pools can suffer from having water removed from them (as you've safely lowered yours below the returns before, I'd assume that it's ok to do it as part of your closing)
2) You can do that at any point after you're done using the 'backwash' or 'filter' function of your multiport. I usually wait until I'm done blowing out the lines and setting the multiport to 'winterize', but you can do as you wish (unless the pressure gauge doubles as a drain port for the multi, in which case you want to leave it in to ensure that you get enough pressure to blow the MD) (BTW - some multiports do have a separate drain plug [9/16" wrench removes it] that should be removed if the unit is going to stay outside)
3) The purpose of the second plug is to keep you from losing the water in your pool. As a fine point, the purpose of the second 'port' is to allow you to connect either the main drain through the skimmer line ( !!!!!!!!), a 'bounce/ ballance' line (an open pipe into the bottom of the skimmer that will "supposedly" keep the skimmer from drawing air if the water level gets too low vs. the skimmer opening) or a reserve line that is plumbed in at the time of construction to allow a 'quick and easy' skimmer line replacement in the event that the main line breaks (it's plumbed up near the main, ie working, line, but not plumbed into the pump unless the primary line fails). I'll assume that the pool builder didn't use the port for any of these, so glued the plug in, often from the bottom.
4) http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=5973 - this gives my take on antifreeze and amount needed.
Again, welcome to the forum - I look forward to seeing your 'answering posts' next year, as you learn more from the forum and about your pool, and as always, feel free to call upon the great(!) folks here to help you with any questions you may have - Waste

[Charrua2]

Thank you very much for the clear answer.

[mizzouguy]

WASTE-thanks for the skimmer info for blowing out all lines. I have a lot more questions for you if you have time:

1. (pull the 2 pump plugs before doing this or you'll just push the water in the pump through the lines). Sorry, I'm not clear what you mean by this? To be sure I'm clear, I remove the small plugs that are the pump, correct? I guess I'm not sure what water I would be pumping through the lines.

2. Heater and slide. I know my heater has a plug, so I remove this when blowing, correct? Any think special for the slide lines? I think in the past they just blow it out and possibly keep the valve open that is located right before it goes into the cement to attache to my outlet lines.

3. What about antifreeze in the main drain? I assume this isn't needed since it's so deep as long as I blow it out. (9ft in the deep end)

4. What is your take on the polyquat stuff? Everyone seems to have a different opinion.

5. What is the best way to hook up the air compressor or shop vac to the skimmer? I have to go buy one anyway, any attachments I need to be sure to get?

6. Will the main drain blow through this as well or do I need to try to do it last through the main drain pipe...if I can get it hooked up. This is probably based on how powerful of shop vac or compressor I can get.

7. Just to summarize a bit to be sure I have everything....pull on the plugs on the pump and heater, open up the slide valve, blow the lines through the skimmer and then pull the bottom plug on the sand filter?


thanks for any help!