How do you blow out the pipes on an Hayward DE Earth Filter system on an inground 16 x 32 pool with 2 skimmers and a bottom drain when closing the pool for the season?

Answer 1

The easiest method is to remove the pressure gauge from the top of the filter, and insert an adapter into the female threaded fitting to allow you to introduce compressed air. The female threads are most likely standard 3/8" pipe thread or something similar. The adapter you make depends on the air compressor you use, but usually a small pipe nipple and some clear plastic tubing of appropriate size will work. Use Teflon tape to prevent the steel pipe nipple from damaging your filter's threads. Any small, portable compressor will do the job. It doesn't take a lot of pressure to do this. Be sure to open all valves to floor drains, returns, spa jets, skimmers, etc., etc. As the air pushes the water out of the pipes, the highest fittings in the pool will begin to expel air bubbles (usually that will be the skimmers, and that's because they have the lowest amount of water above them to push back against the air). When a steady supply of air is coming from a fitting in the pool, insert the plug until the air bubbles stop. In turn, the next lowest fitting will begin to expel air and repeat the previous procedure. The bottom drain will be last. Close the valve on this drain when a steady supply of air is coming from it. Lastly, open any bleeder valves from the pool heater until you get air only. Close them and open the drain plugs on the pump/basket housing (usually there are two around the pump/basket). Replace them, and remove the main filter drain cap and allow the compressed air to force water from the filter. Remove the compressor. Leave the main filter drain cap off, and remove the caps from the pump/basket area. Best place to put these plugs is in the basket leading to the pump. That'll make them easy to find in the spring. Turn the main pump handle to "winterize" or its equivalent. That's it, you're done. If you have a pool heater, you may have to remove header plugs and disconnect the water line leading to the sensor.

I have the exact same pool and I live in NY. I have to take apart my equipment and store it. First I backwash the DE out of my filter and then open up the filter plug to drain all the water out. I then disconnect the filter from the multi port. I then disconnect my pump unions and take my wet dry vac and place the vacuum hose on output of the vaccum. I stuff the hose into the suction line that I just disconnected from the pump. I then blow the lines in reverse and plug each including skimmers first and then returns and finally the main drain by closing off the valve. My skimmers and main drain are one 3 port jandy valve. One side closes the skimmers, one side closes the main drain and one side closes both off. Once you plug the skimmers close the skimmer side and work on the main drain. Once that is done close the valve completely. Next are my returns which also work on a jandy port valve. I do the same thing to the returns and stair jets. Don't forget to also blow out the water from your pump and heater. I hope this helps just in case you live in the northeast or where you have to take apart your pool equip. every winter.