Even with vigilant pool maintenance, main drains will become blocked. Replace the main drain lid if needed.Justin A. Mann has been a freelance writer since 2007. This is the plumbing line to the filter. When a pool does not have a working main drain it simply settles to the bottom where it will sit until vacuumed out. 6. Most swimming pools also have a … Plugging a main drain shuts off the suction caused by the drain and prevents water from traveling through the lines connected to the drain.Lower the water level of the inground swimming pool so the main drain is easily reachable. With no main drain, your swimming pool is operating at half the capacity that it should be. A blocked main drain is not the end of the world, all that is needed is a stiff CO2 blast of the line.A CO2 blast is done from the pump back to the pool.
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. Some newer main drains have a rotational setting that acts as a plug. This eliminates the suction on the blocked drain. 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. The main drain for a pool is a suction port that should be located at the deepest point on the pool floor. Solution: If your main drain is clogged or has been capped off, call a professional to your home to fix the problem. A vacuum plate will block the port in the skimmer that the main drain line is attached to and isolates the skimmer to provide the suction necessary to effectively vacuum the pool.As of December 27, with the passage of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act, all public pools should be equipped with anti entrapment/anti vortex main drain covers. An inground swimming pool's main drain is located in the deep end of the pool. A main drain is responsible for aiding in the circulation and filtration of the pool water. Plug the small hole with an expandable rubber plug or a plastic threaded plug, if the hole is threaded. Mann is experienced with computers and all things relating to swimming pools, and he uses his knowledge in these fields to write articles for various websites. Mann is an English major at East Central University. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. The main drain for a pool is a suction port that should be located at the deepest point on the pool floor. When this configuration of the plumbing exists, a vacuum plate is necessary in order to vacuum to pool. Pools with a dual main drain system, two main drains measuring 36” apart (three-feet from center to center) or more are exempt from the addition of a Safety Vacuum Release system.Once suspended material in a pool drops below the level of the skimmer(s), the only way for it to find its way into the filter is through the main drain. The end result is the capping of the main drain line.Main drains in the Austin Metro area often become blocked due to the tremendous amount of debris that our trees rain down every spring and fall. Your circulation is low, thus your pool water is filtering too slow to keep your pool clean. The location of the line makes it expensive and unfeasible to repair.
If your pipe has an elbow, you can still try to use the hose to blow the debris or material into 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. A vacuum release system is capable of providing vacuum release at a suction outlet caused by a high vacuum occurrence due to a suction outlet flow blockage. Pull gently up on the lid until it pops out of place.Locate the small hole at the bottom of the main drain. In a safe pool, there are always multiple main drains as well as several skimmer drains, so if somebody or something blocks one drain, the pumping system will pull water from one of the other drains. The main drain of an in-ground swimming pool is one of the most crucial parts of the pool’s mechanics. Main drains can produce very powerful suction that can endanger your life.An inground swimming pool's main drain is located in the deep end of the 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. The hose is attached to an 1800 psi CO2 tank, which is slowly opened to begin to pressurize the line. While main drains do assist in the circulation and filtration of a pool, many pools have a disabled or capped main drain line.In the Austin metro area which includes Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park and Pflugerville, soils shrink because of persistent drought and then swell after a heavy down pour. Ensure all pool equipment is turned off.Use a screwdriver to unscrew any screws around the lip of the main drain lid. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story.