Does my pool have an overflow drain? - Project Sports
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Does my pool have an overflow drain?

7 min read

Asked by: Dylan Brightblade

Swimming pool builders often install overflow drains near the rim of the pool that prevent flooding most of the time. If you don’t have an overflow drain, or if it is clogged, it is possible for periods of unusually heavy rain to overflow your pool.

Does every pool have an overflow drain?

There are also overflow drains. Some pools have a drain built into the water so when the water level reaches it, the water simply drains out. What is this? However, dealing with pool overflow is good and all but you wouldn’t need to even worry about it if you can prevent it.

How do I know if my pool has an overflow drain?


This pool was actually overflowing. And we back washed it to get it down a little bit and now it's at the right level you can see here's a drain right here and it actually has a clean-out cap.

Should my pool have an overflow?

If the overflowing water is likely to cause flooding or damage anything then you should empty some water to avoid this. If the pool has been well-built it should have adequate drainage in the surrounding area to avoid flooding.

How do I drain my pool overflow?

Draining Your Pool

  1. Siphon the water to lower the levels. Do be aware of where you’ll put the water. …
  2. Use your pump drain. Some pumps have drain spigots, and using this is much easier than siphoning. …
  3. Try a submersible pump. …
  4. Call us.


Where are pool overflow drains located?

Slot Drain Systems offer a pool overflow drainage system that is installed around the rim of the pool. This drainage system helps manage and prevent water overflows in and around pools.

Do pools overflow when raining?

We get asked this question every time there is a heavy rain. That answer is pretty simple when you think about it. The pool will only overflow by the amount of rain in excess of the amount of rain needed to fill the pool to the top.

Why does my pool lose water when it rains?

Pool Losing Water After Heavy Rain



Due to a heavy rainstorm, water loss is more common with vinyl liner pools that can be damaged, come loose, or float to the top. With other types of inground pools, it is vital to get the water level down. If not drained, the water balance will change, causing cloudy water and more.

What is the drain at the bottom of the pool?

main drain

Drains and Skimmer



The main drain is the primary way that water is drawn from your pool into the pump and filter. The main drain is located on the bottom of the pool in the deepest part. Most pools have one, but larger pools may have multiple main drains. Main drains must be protected by an approved cover.

What happens if pool is too full?

You don’t need to drain your pool, as there is no risk to your pool by it being full. The only thing you lose with a pool filled to the rim is your skimmer’s surface cleaning action. Overall, it still draws water and the equipment is just fine.

What happens if above ground pool overflows from rain?

But large quantities of precipitation combined with an overflowing pool and poor drainage can cause problems such as flooding, structural damage to the surrounding buildings as well as out of balance swimming pool water chemistry. No fun.

What happens if pool water level is too high?

If the water level is too high the debris floating next to the opening may pass by without being pulled into the skimmer. However if the water level is too low it may cause the skimmer to suck air into the system. If this happens you may run the risk of burning up your pool pumps motor.

What happens if inground pool overflows in winter?

Overflowing water can damage the pool wall structure by corroding and weakening the walls of the pool. The water can cause also cause decks to rot and patios to sink around the pool. Another concern from overflowing water is ice damage, which can cause: Cracked skimmers.

How does an overflow pool work?

With an overflow pool, instead of having the water sucked in by the skimmer, it is collected in a “water tank”. The water is then filtered and redistributed to the pool through a mixture of different return inlets ( floor & multi-flow).

How high should pool water be in winter?

Water Level: The water level in your pool should be kept at or just below the skimmer when the cover is in use. However, the water level should not be lower than 18″ from the top of the pool.

What is a perimeter overflow pool?

A perimeter overflow pool is like an Infinity pool in the sense that it has a glasslike, or mirror-like surface. However, unlike an infinity pool, in an overflow pool the water is recycled into basins or underground tanks on all four sides, or the entire perimeter of the pool.

What is the difference between skimmer and overflow type swimming pool?

The skimmer can be found under the top edge of the swimming pool. This is the main distinction between the skimmer pool and the overflow poo,l where the surface of the water is even with the edge of the pool deck. With smaller skimmer pools, water is drawn from top to bottom in order to be cleaned.

How do infinity pools not overflow?

The catchment and recirculation systems in an infinity pool add a degree of difficulty—and expense—beyond a basic swimming pool. To prevent pool water from flowing in the wrong direction, you also need a vacuum basin, plus a special filtration system to remove leaves, bugs, and other debris from the pool’s edge.

What are flush walls in a pool?

In flush or zero edge pools, the water reaches the limit of the wall, flushes with the edge beyond, before falling by gravity into a small slot and reaching the overflow tank. This achieves a clean and modern visual effect. It is also possible to customize the edge by choosing different materials for its building.

How do swimming pools drain?

During normal operation, water flows to the filtering system through two or more main drains at the bottom of the pool and multiple skimmer drains around the top of the pool. The main drains are usually located on the lowest point in the pool, so the entire pool surface slants toward them.

Does backwash drain the pool?

It is not recommended to drain a swimming pool through the backwash valve. While sucking from the main drain and putting the water down the backwash line will work in some scenarios it puts your pool pump at risk of losing prime and running dry.

How do you clean pool walls without draining?

If you have a stubborn pool stain, an acid bath is another option. This allows you to remove the stain without draining the swimming pool and uses strong acidic solutions to basically burn-away the stained surface spot. The acid removes the stained concrete surface from the pool.

How can I clean the bottom of my pool without a vacuum?

Right now so one thing you want to remember when you put it in the pool you want to put it on the outer edges. And walk around it because the um the solution is going to spread in the pool. Better.

Can you power wash a pool with water in it?

Can You Use A Pressure Washer Underwater? As stated above you probably can technically use your pressure washer underwater. However, it will not be able to actually clean much. The water that is already in the pool will zap the strength and power of your system and it just will not be able to do much of a clean.

How do you get dirt off the bottom of a pool?

The first is you hook your pool vacuum up to your pump. And you pump it through that way that works if it's a light dirt or a light debris.

What is the brown stuff at bottom of pool?

The appearance of brown algae on the bottom of the pool is a sign of the beginning of an infestation of mustard algae. This is one of the most difficult types of algae to get rid of, and gets its name from its yellowish-brown color.

When I vacuum my pool the dirt comes back in?

Reasons why dirt might return to your pool through the jets during vacuuming or after backwashing include not rinsing after backwashing, a damaged spider gasket, damaged filter or the pool pump being too large for the filter.