#POOL OVERFLOW DRAIN HOW TO#

In order to understand why this seemingly harmless feature has caused these tragedies, consider how a main drain works. Here’s the immensely unfortunate thing about main drains: they have actually been the culprit for a fair amount of tragedies, specifically the drownings of humans and animals. If the leaf sticks, your main drain is in working order. If it floats around a bit, your main drain isn’t working, which usually means that it’s clogged up with debris. The test is as simple as this: put a leaf on your main drain.

And if you’re still not sure whether or not your main drain is pulling in water, all you need is a leaf to be sure. If you’re not sure that your main drain is working, well, make sure the pump is on first! Again, it’s the pump that powers the drain.

#POOL OVERFLOW DRAIN HOW TO#

How to Tell If Your Main Drain is Working That’s why it’s important to plug your drain before the winter-and I’ll explain how to do that later. Instead, it’s more or less stagnant on the drain, though without plugging the main drain entirely, some water will lazily work its way into the pipes. When the pump isn’t on, water isn’t actively being sucked from the main drain. But how it actually works-just like every other part of your circulation system-is entirely reliant on the pump.

Much like a skimmer, your pool’s main drain is an outlet that houses a pipe which runs to the pump and connects to the larger system. Check out this user review to see it in action.Īgain, your pool’s skimmer comes in handy when describing how a main drain works. It includes a warranty, qualifies for utility rebates, and pays itself off in up to 80% energy costs saved in all stages of operation. Stay in top shape with the ultra-powerful Black & Decker 2 HP Variable-Speed Pump. Thankfully, your pool’s main drain makes it happen.Įverything that happens in your pool relies on your pump. Your pump needs to be able to suck in a lot of water to keep its turnover rate on the mark. Without the help of a main drain, your pool wouldn’t be as efficient. Now consider the fact that most pools contain around 30,000 gallons of water-that’s a lot of movement! Ideally, your pump’s turnover rate is about eight hours, which means that all of the water in your pool goes through the above steps in that time. It might be hard to see, but your pump is moving an intense amount of water through your system-especially if you have the right-sized pump for you. Finally, the water passes out of the filter and back into the pool through the pool jets. It also passes into the filter, which cleans the water of microscopic debris and contaminants. Next, water passes through the pump’s strainer basket, which catches large debris like leaves. Spoiler alert: the main drain is the first step to circulation (though circulation by definition is ongoing!).įirst, your pump sucks in water from the pool through the main drain (!) and the skimmer. In order to understand how your main drain connects to your pool’s circulation system, let’s debrief on how water moves through your plumbing and equipment. How Does Your Main Drain Connect to Your Pool’s Circulation? Your pool’s skimmer gets a lot of air time, but the main drain is the primary way that water is drawn from your pool into the pump and filter. In fact, the skimmer and your pool’s main drain work together to keep your pool water circulating, healthy, and clean. Basically, it sucks in water, similar to the skimmer on the side of your pool. The main drain is that vent-like square or circle located at the bottom of your pool, though ideally yours has more than just one-more on that later. Get ready to know the answer to all your main drain problems. We’ll also go over how to fix a clogged main drain and how to plug it up for the winter. I’ll explain what exactly your pool’s main drain is, how it connects to your circulation system, how it works, and how to assess whether or not yours is safe for swimmers. It might seem like a simple device and easy to overlook, but that feature actually contributes to a vital part of your pool’s overall health-and you’re about to learn all about it. Below those waters, you should also be able to locate a drain at the bottom of your pool. If you stand at the edge of the deep end of your pool and look down, you should see beautiful, clear waters-that is, if your maintenance routine is on the mark.

Pool overflow drain