How can you unplug the main drain pipe in your pool?
The main drain is the bottom suction typically located in the
deep end often two drains will be tee-d together with just the one
pipe returning to the equipment
While it seems obvios to many of us I wanted to point out that
many people think the main drain is just that a drain. they may be
looking for a valve. I guess the name is a little confusing. in
worrking on thousands of pools i have seen one actual drain it was
on a city pool. for the rest of us a "main drain" is just a
"skimmer" on the bottom it improves circulation and allows you to
run your pool without the skimmers if the need should
arise.(looking for leak ?) and can be used to pump out pool for
liner replacement or plater/tile repair.
Answ:
I would add to that. The main drain, which is not a drain in the
literal sense, like in household plumbing, but another means for
better water circulation. Without a main drain and just the use of
a skimmer or skimmers only the upper two feet of water in the pool
would circulate leaving the lower two thirds of the pool water to
be somewhat stagnate. This lack of circulation, sometimes seen as
sand or dust or bugs are seen to collect in one or two patches of
the floor, can and will cause reduced sanitizer in those areas
resulting in algae in or near those areas. Also, there are no
valves for the main drain in most newer pool construction. Fifteen
plus years ago some builders used valves for many functions on the
pool equipment pad to redirect water flow and there was a valve
specifically for the main drain. The gate valve was mainly for the
pool maintenance tech to help in vac the pool -- by closing that
valve he could vac the pool faster because the closed valve
directed all the flow to the skimmer.
K