How To Winterize a Basic Inground Swimming Pool / Closing a Pool for Winter / Pool Closing Tips

How To Winterize a Basic Inground Swimming Pool
This video will show you the basic ways of closing an inground swimming pool. Look over our other videos on pool closings and you might find the pool equipment you have.
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[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

Want questions answered in more detail? Check out our Patreon: LINK: patreon.com/user?u=50270990

[@icedarcade218]

finally a useful video that shows the lines. and Canadian!

[@roberthenderson9259]

I used this video to close my pool, I didn't use duck plugs, but drained below the jets then capped. I also didn't have a floor drain, so I skipped that step :). This video was extremely helpful.

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

There's so many ways of closing a pool. You just have to find the best way for your pool and the plugs you have. I just keep the water high because most of our pools have a safety cover and find if the water is high, the cover will flood higher and not get pulled down into the pool during winter. If the water is low, this can damage the coping or worst, bend it inward. All depends on snow load.

[@ab29086]

Hey, thanks for your video. Subscribed to your channel. I am new to pools and winterizing them. I find them very overwhelming! Located in GTA, Canada. I wish, I came across your video earlier. My inground pool return lines are like 10-12 inchs below the half level of the skimmer and I drained water all the way till the return jets. Feels like such a waste now after seeing your video. I did that cause when I tried blowing out the return lines, the water wouldn't just stop coming out. I thought I was doing something wrong. Should I have done something differently while keeping water level intact? While currently, the water level is way lowered. It felt like my return jets still kept pushing out water at lower pressure now. It wouldn't stop though. I tried for like 3 mins or so. Am I missing out something? My skimmer doesn't have a shut off valve, just the main drain and return jets have shut offs. I have been unplugging the valves and trying to blow out lines from there. Wasn't aware of the guidance on unplugging and blowing out at the sand filter end. I am using a RIDGID 5 hp shopvac. Does that seem sufficient power, or should I be using something else? Would appreciate your guidance. Thank you 🙏

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

You might have to watch a few of my videos. You have to lower the water below the jets when using a shop vac. It doesn't have enough power. The blower that you should have is linked in the video description.

[@alondrita47]

BEST EXPLANATION EVER!! Thank you so much!

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

Glad it helped!

[@kyleshea22]

Great video, thanks buddy. I have a Hayward Max-Flow pump, which looks fairly similar to this SuperPump. Do you happen to know if the 1 1/2" kreepy end fits nicely into the suction side as it did here? Does it have to be perfect for an air-tight seal there or is even loose fit good enough? Thanks again!

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

It will somewhat fit. You'll figure it out

[@mikefitzpatrick43]

Use a little duck tape around it to help seal it. Best thing is to make a filter lid to attach to.

[@jyotik4794]

Hi! T couldn't have been simpler, crisp and straightforward tips on how to close the pool. I see that you have not blown air into main drain and just pushed some foam and closed it. What happens when the water in the line freezes? Just confused after getting thru different advices on different forums. Mine is the exact configuration (main drain into skimmer). Also curious on how do u take out the foam from it when you open the pool. Tia

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

For a main drain going to a skimmer you could try and blow out the pipe. In Canada, the frost line on average goes to 4 feet. The skimmer is 2 feet and the foam you put in will be around 2 feet. The chances of that pipe breaking is slim. I tested this about 15 years ago and it never froze. Not even close.

[@rcknrbn01]

Nice video. As a new pool owner, it will help. Thanks!

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

You bet! Make sure to like and subscribe, it helps me out a lot. Thanks

[@FixItWithMe]

How often do u need to replace the gizzmo with a new one? Do u need a new one every year??

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

If you can crush the gizzmo with one hand, replace it. The idea of the gizzmo is that the ice will squeeze it preventing the skimmer from cracking.

[@protectionman]

Did you blow out the main drain and add anti freeze to the main drain line?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

Have to watch this video and others to know how to winterize a pool skimmer that fits your pool. I have never put anti freeze in a main drain plumbing line.

[@edatt.7264]

What psi are you running on that blower? Can I use the blower on my wet/dry vac?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

@@edatt.7264 most shop vacs don't have enough blowing power to get all the water out. If you drop the water below the returns and shop vac out all the water from the skimmer, then you'll have enough blowing power to get a lot of water out.

[@mortalstorm]

Thank you for the excellent video. You show how to pour the antifreeze into the skimmer line, but you don't show how to apply to the remaining lines. If I remember correctly, pool companies I have used always state that they winterize all my lines including the application of antifreeze. How would that be done to the lines, particularly the returns? Also missed the point about removing the weir. None of the services I have ever used removed the weir. Thanks again for your time and effort in producing this video. Subscribed and liked.

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

First. Thanks for Subscribing to the channel. There are different ways of closing an inground swimming pool. For me, All depends on the coping top finish around the pool and the type of skimmer. Also depends if it's a vinyl, concrete or fiberglass pool. Some weirs "skimmer flap" will be removed and some not. We normally just put in the empty jug of antifreeze into the skimmer to hold it down. As for antifreeze in the return lines. We never put in antifreeze into the lines. If you feel that you should, you can do that. We blow out the lines so well and we use duck plugs, we know it 100% sealed and good to go. We are in Canada and I've never had a cracked line in any of the pools we have serviced the past 30 years. If you follow my videos, have the proper blower, use the right plugs and did I say follow my videos? lol The reason I have so many different closing videos is because there's no pool the same.

[@mortalstorm]

@@VIPPoolsandSpas I started to backwash my filter and noticed that some of the backwash was entering the pool thru one of the return jets. Does that mean its time for a new multiport valve? It's about 20 years old so I wouldn't be surprised if it's malfunctioning. Thanks again for the help.

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

@@mortalstorm yes. That's not normal.

[@owirocks22]

New pool owner! It looks like we have the same pool set up. We blew out the line away from the pool completely put some antifreeze down it and plugged it up. We put the gizmo on the equalizer valve closets to the pool. Should we not have?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

You normally put the gizzmo on the suction from the pump. The other should be plugged already or its your main drain.

[@cwsosby]

This is a great video!!! I have a question. When adding anti freeze to the skimmer basket without lowering the water level below the skimmer opening, doesn’t the anti freeze just mix and get diluted with the rest of the pool water it is constantly exposed to?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

The anti-freeze is for inside the plumbing and the gizmo is when the water freezes around it. The antifreeze around it will help a bit.

[@ehRalph]

I cut 2 ft. of a bicycle tire inner tube and tie a knot in one end, then I filled the inner tube with antifreeze and tie off the other end. Then tie a string & float to the top end and put the inner tube full of antifreeze down the skimmer hole toward the pump as freeze expansion protection. Similar to your pool noodle idea.

[@dsunshine23]

Great video. The duck plug didn’t fit. I’m going to head to hardware store and see if I can find coupling. Hoping that works so I don’t have to drain below lines.

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

the duck plugs do fit on most but I guess yours doesn't. Most times its Jacuzzi returns that the duck plugs can't seem to screw onto.

[@LetsDIYIt]

Is a shop vac on blow powerful enough to blow the lines out?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

The short answer. NO.

[@anonymoususer1231]

What about the pool lights do you leave them in or do you sync them to the bottom?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

All depends on the light and if Im going to drop the water below the jets. Most of my pools, I just twist off the light so the 2 tabs arent hooked on and just leave them. Some I will sink them. Its all up to you. As long as they dont break when the water freezes.

[@yovalks]

Love that bracelet. Gold. Question: What's that blower you used? Dumb questions because I really don't want to mess up my gear: 1. Can I just put the sand filter on waste to drain it out, or does it need to be on backwash? 2. If you don't use duck plugs, and the pool is drained below the jets, do you still need to put the pool pump on recirc? Thanks. Great video!

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

Blower link is in the video description. For Question1 - you can drain on waste or baskwash. I just backwash it because it really cleans the sand. Question 2 - Yes. put it on recirc. or blow out the lines on the out side of the filter (return line).

[@rupakshrestha6701]

The one in description is a cyclone blower, which one did you use in the video?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

I've had that one for around 15 years. Even my supplier doesn't have those anymore. It's a mighty vac. The blower is a great investment. Also works for a liner vac. That's if you wanted to put in your own liner.

[@SS-ch9fn]

Hi why are you blowing the lines in water as to lowering the water?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

Can see if its leaking. Lowering the water below the return then "capping" them, you can't say if they are 100% sealed. My way. you can say its 100% sealed.

[@bridgetk9282]

It would be helpful to show how to do it without duck plugs.

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

There's a few ways of closing a swimming pool. Have to find the right video and best way for your pool. See our other pool closing videos to see if there's something there that will help you out. Thanks for the comment.

[@israelclayman4489]

I've never heard of a duck plug plug what would be a pool or a situation to where you would not want to use one of them?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

Most pools you can use a duck plug or just a normal plug. A duck plug is used when you don't want or can't lower the water down below the Skimmer / Jets. Some people also have ground water issues and lowering the water will force the water behind the liner. Just use what you think you should use. Thats why there's so many videos on closing a swimming pool that people watch many videos just to get an idea on how to close it.

[@lizfezzuoglio6889]

Where did you get the duck plugs?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

There is a link in the video description

[@bradosborne9299]

Am I completely not seeing where you blew the jets out?

[@thomassexton4571]

What type of blower do you recommend?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

I have a link in the video description.

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

There are so many different types of pools, pool equipment and the setup of this equipment, that its hard to make one video that fits what your looking for.

[@wmwm2194]

Why not just leave the pump running to prevent freezing?

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

Why would you do that when you can close it down like in the video and save money on electricity? Never heard of leaving a pump running in a pool just to keep it from freezing.

[@jasonjanes3256]

@@VIPPoolsandSpas Yep - it works well, moving water is much harder to freeze and on VS pumps you can set a low rpm 24/7 -

[@bridgetk9282]

That would be really costly and I don’t think it’s going to work in Wisconsin where we get well below freezing for several weeks at a time.

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

In Canada, if a pump stopped and you couldn't get it running within a day it would freeze and brake the pipe. Bad idea to keep it going if someone lives in an area where things freeze. Would need lots of money, an extra pump and a back up geny.

[@williampier3250]

I did this and the pipe busted from freezing and pumped all the water out of the pool causing the liner to rip. $7000 mistake

[@bill-nj6fc]

looked at 20 video none of them helped with my pool , so damn confused

[@VIPPoolsandSpas]

What are you confused about?