In some cases, return lines are plumbed into the floor, creating a cleaning system that pushes debris toward the main drain. As stated above, installing a main drain in an above ground pool on your own may not be the best idea as it takes some doing. Once all the piping in the trench is set and glued, go ahead and bury it.
His articles have appeared in major print outlets such as "Popular Mechanics" and "Invention & Technology. " As mentioned above, the main drain is for circulation but every pool will have skimmers that provide that circulation as well. Many pool owners, aware of the potential danger of pool main drains, ask the question "do you need a main drain in a swimming pool? Any good suggestions for keeping them directed to the skimmer and not around me!! The return lines have inlets or jets around the top of the pool in various places. Hayward Max Flo II Pump Parts. I've been in the pool business for a long, long time. Above ground pool main drain. Draining your pool using a submersible electric pump, also known as a sump pump, is significantly faster than using a garden hose. Hayward Universal H-Series Low NOx Heater Parts. Everyone seems to know that all in-ground pools have main drains, but it occurs to just a few that vinyl lined above grounds can have them too.
Beach Blankets & Towels. If you have a separate main drain line (pipe) that runs all the way back to the pump, with a separate valve to control the main drain suction, this can be less safe, as it is connected directly to the pump suction. Above ground pool main drainage. How to Remove the Remaining Water from Your Above Ground Swimming Pool. And since there's no water flowing through it, it can burn out or become permanently damaged. Simply swimming near a main drain poses no concern for entrapment. I live in Middle TN. The main drain should be closed during the winter months after you have shut down your pool and blown out your main drain pipes.
The installation of additional return jets is a good idea as they will stir up the water more, but they'll do little to move the heavier debris that has sunk and collects near the pool's floor. Submerge the pool pump's intake hose under the water – as close to the center of the swimming pool as possible. How to Winterize an Above Ground Pool With a Bottom Drain | eHow. Click Here to Learn More. By using this website you are agreeing to the terms and conditions. Drawing all water through the main drain avoids sucking air into the skimmer inlet. They carry everything from chemicals to replacement pumps to entire pool kits, with free shipping options and more "in stock" items than any other Canadian online retailer.
In three different places, measure from the bottom track inward half the radius of the pool's dimension. A pointer on one side of the valve indicates the setting. Installing a main drain won't be the hardest thing you've ever done that you didn't know much about, but it's that whole "cutting-a-hole-in-the-liner" thing that is spooky. Just keep in mind that your hose won't be sanitary afterward. In a passive main drain there is zero suction from the pump since the skimmer is open to air through the skimmer lid (not closed loop). How to Install a Main Drain into an Above Ground Pool – Above Ground Pools Know it All. Zodiac Salt System Parts. This is a huge improvement in water circulation as opposed to just skimmer the water's surface. But at least it's easy as long as you have the right tools. However, if you need to completely drain a larger pool, you'll want to use a sump pump to speed up the process. Along the way, Gus earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications. Underwater Treasure Hunt Game from Melissa & Doug.
Once the liner at the inside of the ring is cut out, screw down the main drain cover using the two supplied screws. Inground Square L Liners. If you want to determine how safe (or dangerous) your pool main drains are then you need to know whether the pump sucks directly from the main drain (active), or whether the pump only draws from the skimmer and the main drain supplies a non-pressure equalizer line to the skimmer (passive). Once the water is completely removed, your pool liner is at risk of warping and fading from the sun. Consider using multiple garden hoses to speed up the process. If the water level falls below the skimmer line and the pump turns on, it can overheat. What is so dangerous about pool drains? I am very concerned about keeping all of my water moving and keeping it balanced and safe for swimming. Use towels or a wet vac to thoroughly dry the vinyl before storing it. Development of Mold: If you're removing the water to relocate your pool, you must take extra steps to prevent mold build-up on your pool's liner. Please note that these endorsements can include monetary compensation, affiliate links and referral fees to Swimming Pool Steve, however there is zero additional cost to you should you use one of these products or services. This is why there have been changes in the swimming pool industry to how main drains should be installed, specifically to avoid (or at least reduce) the potential for entrapment hazards. There are about 10 screws so get that ring screwed down tightly all the way around.
You need to store your pool for the winter. With having two main drains, no one could get stuck on one drain as the other one would level out the amount of suction coming from it. Leave hose at least 6" long on the outside pool wall for hooking up to the filter. Now that you have found the center of the pool, it's time to dig a hole to set the main drain body. Rotating the valve so the pointer is directed toward the pool diverts all suction force away from the skimmer to the main drain. Onground Kidney Liners. Using strips of duct tape, tape the gasket to the drain body at each screw hole opening. 5 inch 90 Degree Elbow Slip / Slip. New Black + Decker variable speed pumps are available online from and they are a drop in replacement for many popular pump models including Pentair Superflo and Hayward Super Pumps. 8 performance standard is recommended. Actually, of all of the different types of swimming pools, it is only vinyl liner pools that really have the option of no main drain. In-ground pools must have them by code, so that should tell you something. Connect the hose to the fittings and bottom main drains, using teflon tape on all threads. Depending on the size of your swimming pool, you should only need to ever partially drain it, even to fix leaks.
Both methods of draining will not altogether remove all the water. The hose on the outside of the pool needs to be lower than the water level in the pool. Can I adjust the main drain valve? Add to this the very macabre nature of pool drain accidents and you have all of the requisite requirements for full-on phobia development. Aside from drawing in water from the skimmer, swimming pools equipped with a main drain draw water in from the floor of the pool much like inground swimming pools do. Sure the pool is still operating, but that does not mean that the pool is operating efficiently, or at least as efficiently as it could be. You can however delete the suction pipe such that the main drain no longer is connected to the pool pump, but instead only sits dormant as a fixture to hold the hydrostatic relief valve. This is due to safety regulations to help prevent Main Trap Entrapment.