Should I Use main drain or skimmers?

Author: Odell Carter  |  Last update: Friday, April 8, 2022

Skimmer Vs. Drain. If the pool receives a lot of leaves and other debris, more suction may be required at the skimmer than the main drain to adequately strain debris floating on the surface. Conversely, if dirt on the bottom of the pool is the principal contaminant, more suction is required at the main drain.

How much is a skimmer VS main drain?

For me personally, I have found running around 60%-75% suction from the main drains and 25%-40% from the skimmers is adequate for proper skimming and adequate filtration.

Do I need a main drain in my swimming pool?

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.

What is the purpose of the main drain in a pool?

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 skimmer and main drain be open?

For the cleaner to operate at maximum efficiency, only the skimmer and cleaner valves should be open. So it is either main drain+skimmer or cleaner+skimmer. Never main drain+skimmer+cleaner all open at the same time.

Explanation of Skimmer and Main Drain

Why does my pool skimmer have no suction?

When your pool skimmer has no suction, the cause is most likely a blockage. This can put the entire filtration system of the pool into question, as there will be low water pressure.

Why are there two main drains in my pool?

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 many skimmers should a pool have?

How many skimmers do I need? The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP) advises that there should be a minimum of one skimmer per 400 sq. ft. of pool surface area.

Are pool drains always on?

Most of the dirt and debris that sinks exits the pool through these drains. To keep people from getting their hair or limbs caught in the plumbing, the drains are almost always covered with grates or antivortex covers (a cover that diverts the flow of water to prevent a dangerous vortex from forming).

Do all pools have a drain at the bottom?

Many pools do not have them. They are not required. They might add slightly improved circulation and can be helpful for removing debris, but there are ways to counter these without the floor drain.

Should main drain in pool have suction?

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.

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.

How far apart are pool main drains?

MAIN DRAIN INSTALLATION:

The two main drains should be at least 3 ft apart from each other at the bottom center of your deep end hopper pad.

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 clean the main drain in my pool?

  1. To prevent clogs from occurring in the first place, regularly remove debris from the top of the pool with the skimmer. ...
  2. Remove the pool drain plugs and let it drain. ...
  3. Unscrew the drain cover and place the pool plunger over the drain. ...
  4. Pour the organic pool drain cleaner into the drain.

Can a pool drain disembowel you?

Pool suction drain injury, also known as suction entrapment, occurs when the drain of a wading pool, swimming pool, or hot tub suck in a swimmer's jewelry, torso, limbs, hair or buttocks. Evisceration, also known as disembowelment, could happen in case of buttock entrapment.

How do I turn my pool skimmer on?

To turn on your skimmer valves, slowly make the handle go in line with the pipe. Now, this is the correct position for both skimmer(s) and floor drains to be bringing water to the filter pump.

How do pool skimmers work?

When the pool pump is running, the skimmer works by pulling water and floating debris from the pool surface through a pivoting flap called a weir. After the debris passes through the weir, it gets collected by the skimmer basket. This continues until the pool pump is turned off.

Should pool skimmer have suction?

If a skimmer is working correctly you should not see a swirling toilet-bowl like view. In theory, your pump should not be able to pull more water out of your skimmer than is coming in, unless the water level is really low or your Weir door is stuck in the up position.

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