What is the purpose of a pool main drain?
5 min read
Asked by: Todd Ingram
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.
What does the main drain do in a pool?
Main drains in swimming pools sit in their lowest points. A swimming pool main drain uses suction to pull pool water through it. Heavy particulate matter that sinks to a pool’s bottom is often sucked away through a main drain.
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.
When should I use main drain on inground pool?
Main Drain: The main drain is typically located at the deepest point of the pool and is used to lower the water level, however its primary purpose is to circulate water from the bottom of the pool. It is recommended that about 1/3rd of the circulated water come from the main drain.
Can a pool work without a main drain?
Main drains are not required in an inground swimming pool, however, they are strongly recommended and can be extremely useful in some circumstances. The advantages of main drains are to give you the ability to drain the water from your pool without the use of a sump pump. This is useful when replacing your pool liner.
Why do pools have 2 main drains?
When constructing a new swimming pool, if you are going to use a main drain it is required that you use two. This is due to safety regulations to help prevent Main Trap Entrapment. 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.
How do I know if my pool main drain is working?
you can tell if your main drain is working by perhaps putting a leaf on it. If it sticks, its working. In any case though, the main drain is not why your pool is having a problem. It has nothing to do with your pool turning green.
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.
How do I turn off the main drain in my pool?
We can switch that to point the off towards the MD MD for main drain and that means all our water is now coming from this side which is SK I am the skimmer side. So by having this drain.
Why are there 2 holes in my pool skimmer?
A skimmer is a necessary element of keeping a pool clean. The skimmer sits at the waterline and catches leaves, bugs and trash so they do not clog the filter. Skimmers with a second hole help keep the pump from running dry if the water level is unstable.
How do I clear my main drain in my pool?
- To prevent clogs from occurring in the first place, regularly remove debris from the top of the pool with the skimmer. …
- Unscrew the drain cover and place the pool plunger over the drain. …
- Pour the organic pool drain cleaner into the drain. …
- Place the drain cover back on the drain and refill the pool.
How do I close the main drain in my pool?
Turn the blower on and wait for the bubbles to emerge in the main drain. Let that continue for 30 seconds or so and with the blower still running close the valve.
How do you drain a pool with a main drain?
Well a main drain is the little white thing that's on the bottom of the deep end of your swimming pool or if your pool was built more. Recently there will be two of them at the bottom of the the deep
Why are there 2 holes in my pool skimmer?
A skimmer is a necessary element of keeping a pool clean. The skimmer sits at the waterline and catches leaves, bugs and trash so they do not clog the filter. Skimmers with a second hole help keep the pump from running dry if the water level is unstable.
Does main drain connect to skimmer?
Because the main drain is not tied into the skimmer in this set-up, pool systems using this configuration usually also have a separate valve to control a separate main drain line that runs from the pool to the pump.
How do you increase pool skimmer suction?
And then use the dial on top of the skimmer side to adjust how much power your cleaner has versus how much you're drawing from the skimmer. There are some new innovations coming to the skimmer.
How many returns should a pool have?
While many professionals install two returns, some prefer more as a general rule. Builder Guy Wood, for instance, often will place four returns in pools that measure 250 to 600 square feet. A vessel of 600 to 800 square feet will generally have six returns to start.
How deep should pool pipes be buried?
How Deep Should Pool Plumbing Pipes be Buried? Your plumbing lines should be about 2 ft underground to protect them from surface soil slip and shift and from freezing temperatures.
Should pool jets be pointed up or down?
The best way to position your pool jets is angled slightly downward and all pointing at the same direction or depending on the shape of your pool, that will create one “flow” or circular motion in your pool. The direction should be away from the skimmers.
