Problem draining pool

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raysmithtx

Member
Nov 1, 2024
9
Dallas
I need to drain my pool. It's a 30+ year old inground pool with a spa. The pool has one main drain and 1 skimmer basket. There is no valve to control to close or open the main drain or the skimmer flow. When I turn on the pump and put the valve on the filter to the waste position it pumps until the skimmer is empty then sucks air. There are two open threaded holes in the bottom of the skimmer, I bought plugs for both. When I plug one of them, there is no difference, so obviously there is no water being sucked through that hole. I can feel the water being sucked into the other skimmer hole (until the skimmer is empty and it sucks air). When I plug both holes in the skimmer, the pump does nothing since it cant get any water. This pool is old and I have no idea how they plumbed it.

As a complete newbie it seems to me that the main drain is completely clogged. Or am I miss diagnosing the problem? All suggestions/recommendations welcome?
 
+1 on submersible pump. That’s what I use when needed and it works fine. I usually use it during the heavy rains to help with overflow.
 
raysmithtx said:
I need to drain my pool. It's a 30+ year old inground pool with a spa. The pool has one main drain and 1 skimmer basket. There is no valve to control to close or open the main drain or the skimmer flow. When I turn on the pump and put the valve on the filter to the waste position it pumps until the skimmer is empty then sucks air. There are two open threaded holes in the bottom of the skimmer, I bought plugs for both. When I plug one of them, there is no difference, so obviously there is no water being sucked through that hole. I can feel the water being sucked into the other skimmer hole (until the skimmer is empty and it sucks air). When I plug both holes in the skimmer, the pump does nothing since it cant get any water. This pool is old and I have no idea how they plumbed it.

As a complete newbie it seems to me that the main drain is completely clogged. Or am I miss diagnosing the problem? All suggestions/recommendations welcome?
Click to expand...
The holes in the skimmer are for pump suction (hole farthest from the pool) and the main drain (hole closest to the pool). There should be a "flat valve" or some sort of diverter to connect the two depending on brand of skimmer.
While it can happen, it is almost impossible, an not a good idea, to drain a pool with the main pump through the main "drain," which is just another suction port.
 
raysmithtx said:
Do you guys think the main drain is clogged?
Click to expand...
No. You have two open pipes in the skimmer and can't suck from one to the other without a pipe/valve to connect the two.

If you did have a 'U' piece or such you still could only drain so far before you lost prime.

Its just not worth risking a $2k pump for most people and the submersible is made for the job.
 
Newdude said:
No. You have two open pipes in the skimmer and can't suck from one to the other without a pipe/valve to connect the two.

If you did have a 'U' piece or such you still could only drain so far before you lost prime.

Its just not worth risking a $2k pump for most people and the submersible is made for the job.
Click to expand...
Thank you for explaining how the plumbing works. So if I understand you correctly the pool pump is drawing from the main drain and the skimmer but the connection for the main drain is connected somewhere below the surface to the pump line. So with the pump on, they are both pulling water but once the water in the skimmer is below the hole the pump loses prime so they both stop draining. Is that correct?
 
raysmithtx said:
So with the pump on, they are both pulling water but once the water in the skimmer is below the hole the pump loses prime so they both stop draining. Is that correct?
Click to expand...
Yes. But they aren't connected below the skimmer. There is the gap between the 2 that you can see.

Screenshot_20241112_131708_Chrome.jpg

So you would need to bridge them with a float valve or U pipe to suck from the drain leg, through the pad leg.

Screenshot_20241112_131837_Gallery.jpg


If the drain leg was connected under the skimmer, you wouldn't see the 2nd hole inside, or it would be plugged.

Screenshot_20241112_132125_Gallery.jpg

In that instance, you wouldn't be able to drain below that T connection unless you plugged the skimmer hole.
 

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