Preventing the pool from overflowing

[Apoolperson]

Hello- we live in Florida and down here when it rains it pours! As new pool owners the problem we are having is that our pool can fill up past the coping in a matter of 10 or 15 minutes. The pool is only 8 feet from our house so if it is to overflow it can compromise the integrity of our actual house. We are very concerned about this! Realistically we will not be able to monitor the pool at all times such as if we are at work or gone vacation. What does everyone else do to prevent their pool from overflowing? Is there any type of automatic release function that is available to drain water when it gets to a certain level? Thanks

 

[ajw22]

Am overflow drain can be built into the pool or skimmer when the pool is constructed.

Depending on what is now accessible maybe something can be retrofitted.

 

[TampaKathy]

It sounds like your pool wasn't built with an overflow pipe. Mine has a pipe that when the water rises, it drains into the grass. Someone who knows better than me will have to chime in but I *think* overflows can be built into some skimmers but I don't know the amount of work that would take...I imagine at least part of your deck would have to be dug up.

 

[Apoolperson]

Am overflow drain can be built into the pool or skimmer when the pool is constructed.

Depending on what is now accessible maybe something can be retrofitted.

Thank you for the info! We just completed our build last month. Our builder didn’t mention anything about that to us. I guess we just thought things like that were done by the equipment some how. We will have to start making calls to see how much it cost to add that on because we can’t have a hose down our driveway indefinitely. We also aren’t home 24/7 so the second we get a good Florida rain our house will be flooded!

 

[Apoolperson]

It sounds like your pool wasn't built with an overflow pipe. Mine has a pipe that when the water rises, it drains into the grass. Someone who knows better than me will have to chime in but I *think* overflows can be built into some skimmers but I don't know the amount of work that would take...I imagine at least part of your deck would have to be dug up.

Sorry one more question… any idea how big of a project that is? How much the cost would be? I just want to be prepared for my calls.

 

[ajw22]

Sorry one more question… any idea how big of a project that is? How much the cost would be? I just want to be prepared for my calls.

Depends on the difficulty to get a pipe to the top of your pool or back of your skimmer.

 

[.ben]

Does your contract mention overflow?
Is it possible you actually have an overflow drain that is inoperable for some reason?
First thing I would do is call your builder and ask why your 1 month old pool is flooding and what was his plan for drainage.

 

[kimkats]

I hear you about the big rains here in Florida! Got to have a plan on how to get the water out.

Look all along the waterline tile. See if you can see an opening with something over it at the top of the tile somewhere in the pool.

If you don't find something there look in you skimmer. See if there is a hole on the upper part of the skimmer opening. It should be above the water.

Let us know what you find or do not find.

 

[Toxophilite]

It would be unconscionable for a builder to put a pool by the house and not plan and protect the house and pool from run-off. He may have been inept and didn't put one in, or it was made too small and ineffective, or it's plugged. If you do end up having to put one in, the main cost is going to be determined by what has to be removed in decking to plumb it. That cost cannot be determined till someone comes out and looks at what needs to be done, first. But., a pool drain is not the issue with water backing into toward house.

While they are out, get the whole plan of drainage between house and pool, as it could be more than just an overflow needed to maintain water level in pool. Typically, even if the pool overflowed the drainage between house an pool would have diverted the water elsewhere, at least, it should be designed that way if a proper drainage plan. I mean, who wants their house house flooding dependent solely on a pool drain?

 

[SoDel]

Is there a place in your pool where you can set a cover pump? I have a couple of these pumps for my covers and a large step area where the height happens to be perfect to pump excessive water levels. https://www.amazon.com/Little-APCP-...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

When you are not there to monitor, you could maybe set a similar pump on a step or on some bricks at the right height to pump off excess water? I haven’t had a need to do this completely unattended but when we get noreasters here, I remove the aftermath excess water this way and I don’t need to monitor it much or worry about being forgetful.

 

[kimkats]

@SoDel that is what I was going to suggest after they look for the real overflow.