Clogged Dual Main Drain - How can clear it out (snake)

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J

jcgaustin

0
Jun 29, 2018
7
Dripping Springs
Our main drain has never worked. We are finally getting to the troubleshooting of it. It is a dual drain main - 3 feet apart that join at a T then go to the pumps...we assume this....as when we use the hose with the bulb or the snake it just comes out the other end - the snake we have isnt something we can use or know how to use to make the turn towards the pumps. 0 water comes out when set to main only. The clog is after the turn. How can we snake it? What do we use?

I see lots of threads saying you dont need the main drain - I dont disagree as we have used the pool for 2 years without it but the water has tiny particles in it that I feel will only come out with a flock and then sweep into the main drain. I think it is useful for sucking up what I brush towards it and really want to fix it. That is not the part I want to debate - I want to understand my options to unclog the dual main drain please.

Thanks
 
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If your standard snake DIY won't get to the clog, I'd be inclined to call a professional. Along with more snaking equipment options, many also have scopes so that they can see what the snake is doing. Sure, you pay for it, but in the end it may just be worth the extra $$$.
 
jc,

Main drains really don't clog very often, so tell us again why you think it is clogged.. What pool function is not working without the main drain?

Also, there are thousands and thousands of pools out there with non-operational main drains and most pool owners don't even know it.. In most cases a main drain is not even needed. I can't see spending a dime trying to get one working.. :scratch:

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
I can tell you how I cleared a spa return that was 80% clogged..I replumbed by old pump ( was replacing it ) to pull in one drain and blow back out the other..PVC is cheap and easy to work with :)
At first I did a quick 2 second on and off and when some junk blow out I let it run for 30 seconds and all kinds of broke up leaf's and even a soda can tab came out :)
Before that I paid a pool company $250 and they came out with snakes etc and cut the line at my pump but only got it slightly better. That's after I had spent days using all kinds or tricks my self :)

If your handy and can do it without redoing everything give it a try..May even try renting a pump and running a input into your pool??
 
You will need a long snake, but you could try pushing from the pump side. There will be a few 90degree bends to navigate but those are easier than blindly hitting the ‘T’ by the main drains. If you can’t get it through the pump side, bend just the tip of the snake and try to catch that at the ‘T’. Sometimes it grabs with a few pushes or twists and if it hits the right spot it will guide itself the rest of the way.
 
You’ll know if you hit it right because it will either keep going in or pop out the other drain.
 
Jimrahbe said:
jc,

Main drains really don't clog very often, so tell us again why you think it is clogged.. What pool function is not working without the main drain?

Also, there are thousands and thousands of pools out there with non-operational main drains and most pool owners don't even know it.. In most cases a main drain is not even needed. I can't see spending a dime trying to get one working.. :scratch:

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...

Why do I know its clogged? It has 0 suction when turned to main drain only. We have removed the drain covers and put the hose bladder thing in and the water just comes out of the other hole, when we put one in both of the holes one busts which means the water is NOT going anywhere. I fear the worst ....that there is full on plaster or gunite in there. And like I said its not an argument of needing it, I need it so I can slowly brush the bottom and have it go into the filter rather than the fine particles flow through the pool....and WANT it to work.
 
So the ask here is how do I get past the T - is there something we can rent? The bending the end of the snake didnt work to make the turn. Is there something we can feed into one side so the snake or power thing is blocked at the T and has to make the turn? There is the cloghog we can rent for $50 but can it make the turn?
 

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Yes, it runs out of water - not just 0 suction. No water in pump when turned to main drain. 1000% positive the main drain is clogged and not working. The rest of the equipment and skimmers work fine. It doesnt sound like there is something that will get into it from the drain side with the T. We will try from pump side but pushing anything against 17,000 gallons of water probably isnt a breeze.
Thanks
 
My spa return was 75% blocked and after paying a pool company $300 to get it t0 60% and giving up i replumbed by pump and blew water backwards and it spit out 3 small rocks.
If you can isolate it you may try a attachment that expands and hooks to the water hose
 
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They have such a wide angle for suction they don't pull that much at all. To get a real feeling on this put your hand next to a return (supply) vent on your house air, you don't feel much.

If you ever had a lot of particles in your water and you can see the skimmer pull them in from far away, you get much more done by brushing towards the skimmer.
 
The first time I did it I made the mistake and only let it run for 10 seconds at a time ( worried I would break or blow up something ) and it blew out chopped up leaf's and Crud..Then a couple months later it stopped up and again and I decided no holding back and let it run for a minute and out came 3 pieces of plaster
 
I'm new to pools but not plumbing. I think you should try what has been suggested for reverse flow. Buy $20 in PVC and maybe some flexible PVC to make it easier to make the joints and plumb your main pump to pull from the returns and push to the main drain. You aren't pushing against 17,000 gallons of water, water pressure works on pump head, or stated similarly, the differential between inlet and outlet pressure. At your pump (with the pump off) the difference between inlet (return) and outlet (drain) is zero psi, because they are both at the same height over the free surface of the water. If running the pump in reverse doesn't fix it, you can call a plumber and have them run a drain snake down the 1-1/2" pipe to your main drain and see what they can push out. Then plumb the pump back in and run again, cycling the pressure on and off with the switch or a valve. If they don't make any progress allow them to run a scope down the drain to see what the real problem is. I strongly suspect that cycling that main drain in reverse is going to free up the clog.
 

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