How many drains should a pool have

Deck-O-Drains are also low maintenance. Cleaning one is much easier than a traditional grate drain. Most often, a deck contractor will integrate these kinds of drains into the patio design. During construction, crews will pour concrete around each drain to hold it in place. In the case of a paver stone deck , they will set pavers in a manner to hold each drain in place.

Permeable pavers are porous molded structures that replace traditional concrete pavers. However, unlike their conventional concrete cousins, they also serve the function of controlling excess water. The design structure of permeable pavers actually catch and absorb incoming water. Each one stores the water inside its configuration. If you open up the top of a permeable paver, you will see a layer of open cells. These cells collect the water and allow it to drain into a layer of gravel or other composites that lie at the bottom of the paver.

Beneath the paver, the soil exists as it normally does. Essentially, permeable pavers work by mimicking the way the earth naturally absorbs water—versus the way that wood, concrete, or other materials allow water to collect on their surface. As a result, the pavers deliver a drainage solution. If excess water from rain or other sources is present, the pavers can store it in their cells until all of it all absorbs into the soil below.

This dry-out process can take a lot of time. Overall, a permeable paving system provides an install-it and forget-it option. Now, if you live in a particularly rainy region or have a backyard with certain conditions producing excess water in your property, take note: You might need an additional drainage solution for the yard. As previously discussed, various backyard designs, features, and elements impact drainage needs and configurations.

The good news is that comprehensive permeable pavement solutions for total yard drainage are available. So, you can effectively cover your entire outdoor space with this system and achieve a drainage solution for not only your pool but for all of your outdoor space. Several kinds of permeable pavement options are available. Among them: permeable concrete, grid pavers, and interlocking pavers. Choosing one will come down to your aesthetic and functional preferences.

A third drainage solution represents another solid choice for efficiently preventing unwanted puddles of standing water and associated hazards. Catch basin drainage systems, such as a French drain, provide a tried-and-true drainage option for backyards and pools. Compared to Deck-O-Drains and permeable paving, these systems involve a more complex installation and a few moving parts. This installation begins with digging trenches in the ground.

They are dug to slope in desired directions. The slope means gravity will help move the water in a specific direction. Next, multiple pipes go into the trenches. Often, a layer of gravel or crushed stone will be laid beneath the pipes in the trench. This is called suction entrapment, and it can be fatal.

From to , there have been 83 incidents of suction entrapment in the US, resulting in 69 serious injuries and 11 deaths, with most of the victims being young children. Pool drains often have pool grates on top of them.

However, in many cases, the holes on these grates are too large, or they are not installed properly, and accidents still happen. Since then, all public swimming pools needed to include back-up anti-entrapment systems to prevent the risk of suction.

Other regulations include the presence of anti-entrapment covers and pool grates on suction outlets and the ability to disable or reverse the suction flow for public pools. Operators of public pools are also required to inspect their drains daily and ensure that they are in good condition. One of the things that make pool drains a cause for concern is the fact that they can be installed in many different ways. There are several methods you can use to prevent pool drain suction, including:.

This goes to show just how important it is to be careful when you have children in and around the pool. If you have a pool in your home , there are several things you can do to make your pool as safe as possible for kids.

Apart from ensuring that your drain is compliant and meets VGBA requirements and that you have an SVRS filtration system in place wherever possible, here are a few more things that you should consider:. There are two main plumbing configurations for swimming pools: active and passive plumbing. Of these two, an active suction system is more dangerous.

It has a single main drain that is connected by a single pipe to the pool pump. An analysis of past suction entrapment cases revealed that active suction systems are the ones that are most likely to result in entrapment. Passive plumbing configurations, on the other hand, are a lot safer. In this system, the main drain is used as a non-pressurized equalizer connected to the pool skimmer.

There is zero suction from the pump because the skimmer is open to the air, so there is no closed loop. Compare that to the active plumbing where there is a closed loop from the pump to the main drain. To find out whether you have an active system or a passive one, you need to determine whether the pump sucks directly from the main drain or if the pump only draws from your pool skimmer. The short answer is no. Without them, that inevitable underground water would create enough pressure to make your pool pop.

Follow these steps to drain your pool as safely as possible. No doomsday scenarios here! Making sure that the power cord is long enough to reach from the bottom of your pool to your outlet, place the submersible pump on the floor in the center of the deep end.

Turn on the submersible pump and start draining. One task you can do while your pool is drained is switch over to saltwater, so that your chlorine is operating at the lowest, safest, and most consistent levels possible. At a certain point, the water will be so low that the submersible pump is no longer pushing any of it out of your pool.

Go ahead and turn off and remove your submersible pump. Make sure to open these hydrostatic pressure relief valves and keep your pool from popping up. If you drained the pool to fix the chemical balance, immediately proceed to these next steps. If you have work to do—such as repairing or painting your pool—go ahead and do that now. In the rare case that you need a totally dry floor to work, use a heavy-duty and durable cover pump like the Brute Force Pool Cover Pump.

Go ahead the restore those relief valves. Tightly twist the plug into the valve with Teflon tape on the threads. Using one, or two, or three, or however many garden hoses you have, refill your pool.

This is the toughest part of refilling your pool, but clean, sparkling, and safe waters will soon be the reward. Now that your water is balanced, take a deep dive and relax. Everything is back to how it was meant to be. Unsubscribe anytime. Free Shipping on all orders! Create your account Lost password?

First name. Last name. Your cart is empty. Seriously: Avoid the Inground Pool Pop! Thanks for the Memories: Remove the Submersible Pump At a certain point, the water will be so low that the submersible pump is no longer pushing any of it out of your pool. Do What You Need to Do If you drained the pool to fix the chemical balance, immediately proceed to these next steps.

Replace the Relief Valves Go ahead the restore those relief valves. Refill Your Pool and Turn on the Pump Using one, or two, or three, or however many garden hoses you have, refill your pool. Tags: Above ground pool , Above ground pools , In-ground pools , Pool accessories , Pool equipment , Pool maintenance.

Previous article Next article.