Here are some general in ground and/or on ground pool tips for winterizing a swimming pool. Swimming Pool Winterization should only be done with great care and caution as serious bodily harm, injury or otherwise and/or property damage could occur.

Winterizing the pool perimeter plumbing

• Thoroughly clean your filter, usually a typical backwashing of the filter will do.
• Water lowered and kept about 4"-6” below the skimmer through out the winter
• You will need to have on hand rubber expansion plugs which fit all water inlet and outlet fittings for the pool. (Skimmers, Returns, Cleaner, Jets, etc.)

• An expansion plug is a tapered rubber plug which uses a large flat “washer” plate on top with a wing nut. When the wing nut is tightened it pushes the washer plate downward, expanding the plug and creating a seal.
• All water should be evacuated from the pools plumbing lines as follows.
  With the pump off, the multiport valve in the filter position and all pool system valves in the open position, this is a typical water evacuation(winterization) process.

• Remove the drain plug from the front of the pump
• Attach an air compressor hose into the same threaded port on the front of the pump
• Usually the size of the pump port and an air compressor hose are the same, so adaptors may not be required
• Open the valve on the air compressor to allow the air to pass through the hose and into the pump as much as possible. The more air which passes through the system the fastest is most effective. The air compressor will usually turn on producing more air during this entire process.
• The skimmers will usually “blow” first, meaning that the water is pushed out of the lines, up through the skimmer and air is flowing out. To properly blow the line(s) out, the plug can be placed into the port for a few seconds and ONLY held in place, then removed. This will allow water to collect in the plumbing and more water to be evacuated. This is called “burping”. Once this is done, secure the plug in the port by tightening the wing nut until the plug is expanded as much as possible. Never let go of a plug or place your face or any body parts over the plug during this process.
• If there are no step jets or cleaner ports, the next port to blow should be the pool returns. Follow the same burping process, above.
• After all of the ports are plugged, the next to blow should be the main drains. Let the drains continuously blow air for a few minutes. Then simultaneously close the main drain valve and discontinue air to the filter system.

Winterizing the pool filter system

• Depress the multiport valve handle and rotate it to either “winterize” or position the handle so it is between any two locations and release the handle.
• Remove the drain cap from the bottom of the filter
• Remove the drain plugs from the front and side of the pump
• Remove any other drain plugs from other filter system equipment (heaters, cleaner pumps, etc.)
• Place the filter drain cap and pump plugs in the pump basket for the winter. That way you know where they are come spring time.

Got any questions, thoughts or ideas? Just give us a call at 888-352-7582 or send us an email to [email protected].