What is the bottom drain in a pool for?

Asked by: Casey Stone

The main drain for a pool is a suction port that should be located at the deepest point on the pool floor. A main drain is responsible for aiding in the circulation and filtration of the pool water. Having a properly working and dedicated main drain line can also allow you to fully drain your pool if necessary.

How does the bottom drain in a pool work?

Rather, a swimming pool’s main drain, if it has one, is a suction device. 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. Once water is sucked into a swimming pool’s main drain, it’s whisked via piping to the pool’s filtration unit.

Should a pool have a bottom drain?

Water always finds the lowest point and if you do not have bottom drains it will take more effort to circulate, treat and heat water in the deep end.

What are the two drains at the bottom of my pool?

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.

What is the drain for on a swimming pool?

A pool’s so-called main drain is not actually a drain; that is, it is not used to drain the pool. 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.

Should pool main drain be open or closed?

For proper water circulation, it is best to position the flap so that it is about 2/3 closed. This will allow for more flow through the main drain than through the skimmer, which will promote a “bottom-to-top” circulation throughout the pool.

How do I know if my pool main drain is working?

The test is as simple as this: put a leaf on your main drain. If it floats around a bit, your main drain isn’t working, which usually means that it’s clogged up with debris. If the leaf sticks, your main drain is in working order.

Where does pool overflow drain go?

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.

Does main drain connect to skimmer?

A main drain is responsible for aiding in the circulation and filtration of the pool water. Having a properly working and dedicated main drain line can also allow you to fully drain your pool if necessary. Main drains on older pools are often attached to the skimmer lines back to the equipment.

Can you plug the main drain in a swimming pool?

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. Plugging a main drain shuts off the suction caused by the drain and prevents water from traveling through the lines connected to the drain.

How do you seal a bottom pool drain?

Because this pool is drained the water is pushing in through this hole. The way I'm going to fix this is by using this cement. All is very fine and I'm going to mix it by hand in this bucket.