Cannon University

Inground Pool Closing Instructions

Materials

• 2 Threaded Plugs
• 1 Skimmer Plug (Gizzmo)
• 1 Gallon Pool Line Anti-Freeze per each 20 feet of distance to pool edge from filter system
• 1 Gallon Shock per 15,000 gallons of water
• 1 Gallon Liquid Pool Winterizer per 15,000 gallons of water
• 1 Gallon Algaecide per 15,000 gallons of water
• Winter cover
• Water bags 8′

Deck Hardware and Preparation

1. Start the process by adding all chemicals to the water.
2. Take care of all of your deck hardware:
   • Ladders – Push the rail ring over the top of the ladder and loosen the socket nut approximately 5 turns. Tap the nut with a wrench or a hammer and lift the ladder straight up. After the ladder is out of the water, remove the ladder bumpers and make sure that all water is drained from the ladder. Replace the bumpers and bring ladder inside.
   • Diving board – Removal is optional, but if you are going to leave the board attached through the winter, make sure that you use a car wax on all fiberglass parts or wrap the board in plastic.
   • Safety line – The safety line is permanently attached at one side, so full removal is not possible. Remove the hook end and coil up the line near where it is attached. Put the line in a garbage bag on pool deck.
   • Remove skimmer basket
   • Remove return jets. There are 3 parts to this: the threaded adapter, the eyeball, and the collar. It is important all 3 are removed. After removal, place all the parts into the skimmer basket so that you can easily find them in the spring.

Filter And Pump

1. With the filter left in the back wash position, turn off pump at the breaker panel.
2. Release the short pipe from the port control to the pump. (Typically, a union nut) Loosen the clamps that holds the clear hose to the pump and filter. Remove the hose and slide the pump back.
3. Insert one end of the clear hose into the opening on the port control.
4. Pour 1 gallon of pool line anti-freeze into the hose.
5. Attach shop vac to hose and blow anti-freeze for approximately 3 seconds.
6. With shop vac running, turn port valve to full skimmer.
7. When water begins to bubble out of the skimmer, put in the Gizzmo. NOTE: With 2 skimmers do each skimmer one at a time. Leave port valve in full skimmer position for winter.
8. Congratulations! The suction side of the pool is now complete.

Pump

1. Open the cover of the pump and remove the pump basket and empty it.
2. Disconnect ground wire from side of pump.
3. Remove both the front and side drain plugs. Put them into the pump basket. Put clamps from clear hose into the basket.
4. It is best to bring the pump inside, but if you need to leave it outside for the winter, cover it with something to protect it from the elements. A recycling bin is ideal for this.

Filter

1. Remove the sight glass, put this into the pump basket.
2. Remove the filter’s bottom cap and put it into the pump basket.
3. Sand Filter – turn the filter valve to recirculate
   Earth Filter – disconnect the union at the top of filter
4. Attach the shop vac to the grey fitting on the filter head labeled pump, turn it on and let it run for a while as returns boil up.
5. Screw the threaded plugs into the returns on the side wall of the pool. Turn the shop vac off when the last plug is in place.
6. Take off the pressure gauge and put it into the pump basket.
7. Turn the filter valve to the winter setting or between settings. You will notice that the handle stays up instead of dropping like the other settings. This is normal.
8. Turn the shop vac on again and let it blow through the filter for a few seconds.
9. Place a large garbage bag over your sand filter. Make sure it is drained or it will freeze and crack. Bring your earth filter inside.
10. Latch the pump cover back down and put the pump basket where you will remember where it is.
11. The light can stay in the pool, but tape over the switch so that it cannot be turned on during the winter.

Cover

The cover is a two-person job for both installation and removal.

1. The empty water bags should be placed around the pool. Then, stretch out a hose and fill the bags half-full. Fill them so that you can step on them in the middle; if you fill them too full, they will expand and burst when frozen.
2. After the water bags are done, stretch out the cover and place the water bags on top of the cover. There are loops on the cover for the water bags. Use as many of these loops as possible.