Help, new pool owner, no drain valves?!

[corsara]

Hi everybody,

I am a proud owner of a new to me house with a pool. The pool is old though---built about 35 years ago. It is an 18 x 36' pool with vinyl lining.. I will be opening the pool for the first time (we moved in during the winter), and I have a couple of newbie questions:

1) After I remove the cover and fill the pool to the top, would it be OK to leave it like that for 2 days before treating the water with the chemicals? Would that destroy the water even more? The reason for asking this is because a guy who knows these things will help me with the chemicals and train me, but I have time to deal with the cover about 2 days before that.

2) Looks like the skimmer and main drain of the pool have no valve, and run together into one pipe (going to the pump). Is that possible, or it could be hidden somewhere? The pump is disconnected now (for the winter), so I wonder---if there is no valve to stop the drain, then how come the water is not coming out from the pipe? Am I missing something?

Thank you in advance for the answer to my questions. I am looking forward to more participation in this forum in the time to come as I pick up the skills

[MirandaJ1223]

My pool is like yours in that the drain and skimmer both run together into the same pipe. The way I understand it, as long as the backwash valve is closed, the system is closed. Open the backwash valve and all water will be pumped out.

[corsara]

My pool is like yours in that the drain and skimmer both run together into the same pipe. The way I understand it, as long as the backwash valve is closed, the system is closed. Open the backwash valve and all water will be pumped out.

Thanks. But right now, the pump is not connected, so the pipe coming from the pool (the drain + skimmer) has nothing that is connected to it. Therefore, the valve on the filter plays no role at all... I am confused..

[MirandaJ1223]

In northern climates I believe you need to plug the inlets at the skimmer and drain when you close your pools to prevent the pipes from freezing and breaking. Do you have plugs your returns and the skimmer?

Look up closing a pool for the winter and you will see that it is mentioned to plug them.

[corsara]

In northern climates I believe you need to plug the inlets at the skimmer and drain when you close your pools to prevent the pipes from freezing and breaking. Do you have plugs your returns and the skimmer?

Look up closing a pool for the winter and you will see that it is mentioned to plug them.

Yes, I know for a fact that there are plugs in the inlets and the skimmer. Not in the main drain though!

[Xclusive]

In northern climates I believe you need to plug the inlets at the skimmer and drain when you close your pools to prevent the pipes from freezing and breaking. Do you have plugs your returns and the skimmer?

Look up closing a pool for the winter and you will see that it is mentioned to plug them.

Yes, I know for a fact that there are plugs in the inlets and the skimmer. Not in the main drain though!

If your main is tied to the skimmer, and the skimmer is plugged, in essence those lines are plugged

[corsara]

In northern climates I believe you need to plug the inlets at the skimmer and drain when you close your pools to prevent the pipes from freezing and breaking. Do you have plugs your returns and the skimmer?

Look up closing a pool for the winter and you will see that it is mentioned to plug them.

Yes, I know for a fact that there are plugs in the inlets and the skimmer. Not in the main drain though!

If your main is tied to the skimmer, and the skimmer is plugged, in essence those lines are plugged

Hmm, I think that explains it. Also, the pipe (combined skimmer and main drain) is somewhat higher in elevation... thanks! Some clarity in my brain at last

[Xclusive]

Yes I was going to ask that next. If your equipment was at a higher level than your pool

[swimnsaveusa]

you should have some sort of skimmer plate that will have a hole in the middle where you can turn the cover to either cover the main drain hole to suck from skimmer/vac, or open it then plug the hole at the top of the plate to suck from main?