You can drain your pool without the main drain. Usually the port farthest from the pool edge is the pipe that goes to the pump, and the port closest to the pool goes to the main drain or equalizer line. The first step is to verify that there is indeed a problem. A clogged drain can make it impossible to keep the water in your pool clean and properly balanced. I noticed that dirt around the main drain doesn't get sucked in and also confirmed that the main drain doesn't seem to be working. Ask the Pool Guy® All rights reserved. The Pool Pump Basket Does Not Fill with Water. Although the rest of the pool's parts, such as the filter, may seem to be working just fine, the drain is always at risk of getting clogged. The main drain in your swimming pool is very easy to locate â it sits right at the bottom of the pool. An equalizer line is simply a pipe that extends from the skimmer bottom down 18 to 24 inches and through the pool wall just below the skimmer. you can tell if your main drain is working by perhaps putting a leaf on it. A main drain, although it is called a drain, is actually rarely used to drain the pool. Instead, it is an outlet, where water leaves the pool to reach the pump. There is also a pressurized clog remover that you can use on the main drain in your swimming pool to unclog any debris from the main drain with a highly pressurized blast of air. Clean the Filter. This reduces the time it takes to find the leak and reduces the risk of damage often associated with finding and repairing foundation, slab, spa tub or pool leaks. So, when they start sucking air, thatâs a problem. But locating them isnât actually the problem with swimming pool main drains. 4.0 out of 5 stars 44. If the pool pump is not working correctly, the pool water cannot be filtered or circulated properly, which can lead to dirty and cloudy water. *American National Standards Institute and ⦠The main drain We follow a routine process and know exactly what to look for and what to ask when examining your swimming pool or spa. Fill the main drain line through the pump basket for five minutes. Repairing Your In-ground Swimming Pool Main Drain Pipe. Although it is called the main drain, it's not a drain at all. It takes some experimenting to find the balance point for your pool. Let's take a look at the language on swimming pool circulation and swimming pool drains for most of the United States from 1928: Unfortunately, since it is not visible, the main drain is also something most people donât know much about. An inground swimming pool's main drain is located in the deep end of the pool. The main drain, a suction system, may be covered with a plastic screen for safety and to ⦠How to Correct Pool Water Circulation. As part of a pool renovation, I drained the pool, removed the main drain cover, and found it filled with dirt and worms. Attach a product called Drain King to the hose, insert it into the pipe, and unclog your pool drains with the force of the water. Instead, it is an outlet, housing a pipe that runs to the pump, which sucks water through a skimmer, then through a filter, then through a heater (if you have one), and then back to the pool via multiple inlets. Solution: If your main drain is clogged or has been capped off, call a ⦠If one drain is slow, then it could be a clog in that specific pipe drain, but if the drains are slow throughout the house or in multiple locations, it could indicate your septic tank is full and needs to be emptied. The drain is designed to suck water into the plumbing system through the PVC pipes. Cleaning the swimming pool main drain is important so that it doesnât become clogged and so that it can continue to perform its job properly. In most cases, when a pump truly "goes bad" it means that there are problems with the electrical motor that powers the whole system. Pool Troubleshooting: Bottom Drain Clogged. Salt Generating System â Pentair intelliChlor, Tru-Tile by Latham Industries in Vinyl and Hybrid Pools, Variable Speed Pump â Pentair intelliFlo, Weekly Cleaning â Weekly Service â Weekly Cleaning Service, Happy Valentines Day Swimming Pool Owners. You might have a problem with a dirty filter and not a clogged drain. The main drain for a pool is a suction port that should be located at the deepest point on the pool floor. Rather, a swimming pool's main drain, if it has one, is a suction device. Your swimming pool's main drain requires regular maintenance. If you think the main drain line is the problem then I would recommend that you have a pool professional pressure test the line for you. A main drain is responsible for aiding in the circulation and filtration of the pool water. If your swimming pool has a main drain, ensure, at minimum, that it has a suction entrapment-proof cover. My state for the last 60 years has required main drains in every real pool for this reason. I see small bits of debris on the bottom of the pool, but they don't seem to be moving towards the drains⦠These are "3-way" style valves. Crystal clear pool water is a science -- literally. A main drain is responsible for aiding in the circulation and filtration of the pool water. Place the filter multiport valve in the Recirculate position and turn on the pump, after you roll-out the backwash hose; monitor pool draining closely. I will tell you that I KNOW my main drain "works" as in it does draw water BUT it does not really "suck" Even when I have my skimmer valve shut off so the pump is only drawing from the main drain I can put my feet, hand, left, whatever and it will not pull or hold it on the drain top AND I only have one drain. There they stay, damaging the pool floor without a main drain. Usually, itâs because of a bad thread sealant, crack in the pump, an air leak in the suction line, a plumbing issues on the suction side of the pump, or a leaky valve stem. Swimming pool main drain - how to tell if its pulling water? If the flow is completely cut off at that point, then the clog is obvious. With no main drain, your swimming pool is operating at half the capacity that it should be. If a pool has no floor suction, you usually get chemical hot spots. If the pool receives a lot of leaves and other debris, more suction may be required at the skimmer than the main drain to adequately strain debris floating on the surface. I know you can tell I'm a newbie by this question - how do main drains work? In 2007 the United States passed the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. Leak in main drain pot Hi all, A few months ago I was brushing my pool when I hit the main drain cover pretty good. Main Drain Adapter - to adhere Cover on Swimming pool's Main Drain. ; Relieve any existing pressure by turning the air relief valve counter ⦠In this article Iâm assuming that youâre looking to find and repair a main drain line leak at the very bottom of your pool, and that it has a deep end. Your pool may have a spa, which is known as a "pool-spa combo" so there will be another valve for the main spa drain. In any case though, the main drain is not why your pool is having a problem. Because of these temperature parameters, the best time to year to drain a pool is usually in the spring or fall. In the photo below, there are four valves. Swimming pool main drains are much more than just that circle with all the little circles sitting at the bottom of your pool. Main Drain Safety. Your pool may have a spa, which is known as a "pool-spa combo" so there will be another valve for the main spa drain. Because it is located at the bottom of the center of the pool, it can easily become clogged by debris that sinks to the bottom of the pool. $7.99 $ 7. First thing you need to do, is verify that your main drain line is leaking. The pool doesn't get very clean, and I don't really see material seeming to gravitate toward the main drain. Swimming Pool Main Drains must be installed in accordance with the VIRGINIA GRAEME BAKER POOL AND SPA SAFETY ACT and all applicable ASME/ANSI safety standards. Most of the dirt and debris that sinks exits the pool through these drains. Main drain entrapment occurs when the suction is so great through a single main drain that a person can become stuck on or in the drain. During winter months or periods of non-use, most pool drains do not need to be plugged, but in some cases plugging a main drain is required or recommended. The problem is that they can be very dangerous pieces of equipment in the pool, and that many pool owners donât realize it. I want suction from skimmers, main drain, AND spa drain - bad idea? An inground swimming pool's main drain is located in the deep end of the pool. A main drain circulates the pool's water by pulling water off the bottom of the pool and sending it to the filter. The main drain in your swimming pool is very easy to locate â it sits right at the bottom of the pool. The water is pulled into the filter and the heater and returned to the pool. Any real pool with no main drain is unsafe. The system is the same for inground spa tubs. 6. Maintaining a clean and unobstructed main pool drain is essential to the prevention of debris buildup and potentially harmful algae in your swimming pool. The slow drains could be a symptom of a back up from the overfilled septic tank. During winter months or periods of non-use, most pool drains do not need to be plugged, but in some cases plugging a main drain is ⦠Many pool leveler systems connect to a garden hose or they come with their own control box and solenoid valve. . This is one of the reasons why pools are filled with water year-round -- there needs to be roughly equal pressure on each side of the pool. Your pool equipment is too small. If you have separate main drain and skimmer valves, close the skimmer valve (or plug the skimmers) and leave the main drain valve open fully. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. But locating them isnât actually the problem with swimming pool main drains. Having a properly working and dedicated main drain line can also allow you to fully drain your pool if necessary. This eliminates the suction on the blocked drain. One of the biggest misconceptions about swimming pool main drains is that they actually drain the pool. An improperly functioning or broken drain can be an ownerâs worst nightmare because usually the pool must be completely drained and the concrete or plaster at the bottom must be destroyed in order to fix the leak. What they would do when the water started to get bad was open the drain at the bottom of the pool and drain all the water out then refill it until it got ⦠Pool pumps are supposed to be completely airtight: this is what keeps them primed and sucking water properly. A pool cleaning guy suggested that I test it by putting in a tennis ball to cover the skimmer hole to see if the main drain would then start to suck. The pool usually has to be drained completely, and the job involves destroying concrete and plaster to expose the leaking section so it can be repaired. A pump is located underneath or near a swimming pool equipped with a main drain and it's used to pull water down into the drain. When I did so I also noticed that my two pool skimmer/filters worked better. If we suspect a problem with a skimmer line, we will shut off the other intakes and try to run the pool pump off of that skimmer line alone. Because of this, the best time to drain your pool is when the weather is mild. . By rdkelley in forum In-Ground Pool Construction and Repair, By joelq in forum Pool Equipment & Operations, By bubsmit in forum Pool Equipment & Operations, By KirstenHW in forum Pool Equipment & Operations, By nicole712 in forum Pool Equipment & Operations, Pool Construction, Equipment, Operations, Seasonal Care (P), http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Should_the...r_have_suction, Pool Water: Treatment, Testing & Problems (P), Testing and Adjusting Pool Water Chemistry, Using Chlorine and Chlorinating Chemicals, Salt Generators (SWCG) & other Chlorine Feeders. The suction from the pump draws water out the drain and towards the pump. The sewer main drain is a crucial part of a homeâs plumbing system. I have a new (to me) house with an in-ground pool with two skimmer drains and a main drain. Thing you need to do, is verify that there is a science -- literally have two main drains n't! 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