Bottom main drain in an in-ground swimming pool

What is the need to have the stopper in the 1 1/2" ABS? I mean there must be a reason your dumb stupid sister removed the stopper? Was it in her way when she tried to sun bathe? Did your dumb stupid sister trip over it on her way to get another cold brew??

If there is no reason for the stopper, other then to have something for your dumb stupid sister to remove, then just buy and end cap, they sell for less then $2 here in the US and some pvc cement and cap it. Even dumb stupid sisters can't remove that.

Well i think he means ABS cement.

The cap is in the skimmer and has to be intentional removed, screwed out. I don't know about the cement but suggest possible a small rubber ball that is very difficult to remove when forced into place. Regards JD.

try stuffing a tennis ball covered in contact cement down teh pipe then put the stopper back on top with super glue. then place a handfull of rubber spiders into the skimmer basket

If that doesn't work try connecting the skimmer box lid to an electric fence circuit

I would seriously question your pool man's knowledge and skill. If your bottom drain only connects to your skimmer, and not directly to your pump, there is no available negative pressure to trap anyone or anything to the drain. How well does the pool stay clean? And, how do you lower the water level over the winter?

Anti-vortex covers (grates) and vacuum breakers when the pump can be connected to the bottom drain directly are required in our area, and I believe that the NSF nas a fine set of guidelines for installing home pools, along with Hayward Plastics with a large catalog of pool equipment and fixtures.

By the way, could the maintainer have been the one who installed it wrong in the first place? We tend to accept that if he put it in, albeit wrong, he must be the expert. I could tell you horror stories of how well educated installers are with the proper way to unstall a pool. And I don't mean by schooling, I mean by even working with a good installer, missing out on the apprenticeship type of education.

RichH

Yes I don't understand why it should leak, the bottom drain, by that I mean at the very bottom or lowest point in the pool. This is normally there for the release of ground water, rain water outside under the pool. Should you drain your pool its there to prevent the pool being raised (floated) up out of the ground. It normally has a one way valve in the bottom allowing water in, but not out.

Giving it a bit more thought perhaps the valve has been removed on purpose, and is intended to relieve any ground water pressure should you drain the pool, if thats the case then it would be unwise to block it. The cap in the skimmer is therefore intended to be remove when draining the pool, check with your pool man?

Great Observation and a definite possibility. The hydraulic pressure that is present when ground water raises against an in ground pool is an amazing thing and I have seen many pools lifted from the ground due to a failure to prep and drain said pressure. I would make sure that this is not the reason it was left open.

Life in Florida U.S.A.

Your rmilage may vary. . .

Instead of the bottom drain, you can cement down your 'stupid dumb sister' to the bottom of the pool. Problem solved.

Loupy--

Excuse the late post, please.

1. Regarding the question of the hydraulic cement setting under water, no problem. Its done all the time in bridge construction, where a couple different ways can be used to prevent the mixing of water into the concrete as it is placed. Just try to ensure that there isn't mixing as you do. You may want to put some type of dam into the pipe a few cm. down, so there is a bottom to your plug, otherwise you may be filling quite a length of pipe. The system is under very little pressure (only the static pressure of the standing water), so I see no real difficulty. Even if there is some leakage past your plug, it will be magnitudes less than having an open pipe when the existing plug is removed.

2. Skimmers can be made with or without a second port in the bottom. Typically this second port is connected back to the pool a short distance below the skimmer. Its purpose is to allow continued water flow into the skimmer and avoid air entrainment into the water flowing to the suction side of the pump when the water level drops below the opening of the skimmer mouth. From your description, this port was plumbed to the main drain line instead of the side of the pool; probably to avoid one more penetration through the liner. Some posts got stuck on this. Since its primary purpose was already voided by the cementing of the main drain, there is no further harm in permanently cementing this port.

3. If yours was a small pool installation and you have only one pipe to the suction side of the pump, then the water flow through the main drain was through this second port in the skimmer (unless they joined together somewhere underground). I don't have any experience with how common this type of installation is, but would consider it unusual. If this was done, then the pool person's worry about entrapment of swimmers was groundless.

4. Local codes always rule. Local inspectors have the final say. As one person in a code class said, arguing with an inspector was about as effective as wrestling a greased pig. The risk of entrapment depends on the velocity of water flow through the grating, the overall surface area of the grating, and the increase in suction the pump can exert as a grating becomes partially or totally blocked. The person on site is the only one who knows those things.

5. The comment about the hydrostatic relief valve in a main drain was very good. They typically have a small spring to gently hold them closed and an "o"-ring to seal against leakage. Many troublesome leaks can be traced to dirt or damage to the "o"-ring. Other leaks are often traced to cracks in the pipe or breaks in the fittings. Frequently these are caused by freezing of water if winter draining was incomplete, but can also be caused by ground movement, degradation of the plastics, etc. This topic doesn't matter now, because the drain was abandoned.

6. I hope you have a good vacuum to keep the pool bottom clean. Mostly, I hope you continue to enjoy it.

John M.

Thanks to all who have contributed to this discussion, if you're still subscribed to updates;

The pool has not been re-opened, since the time my original post (OP) was put forward, due to my mother's concerns on this matter.

Lots of good advice, thank you again.

However, my Mom (and myself - the son who usually pays for all the stuff) has had enough of the trouble, time and effort, never mind the expense of testing, buying chemicals, measuring them, adding them, testing again, and then adjusting again, as well running the downstairs in the basement pump/filter, with the cost of electricity increasing over time. (she's on a fixed old age/widow's benefit income portfolio).

Mom bought the house in Burlington, Ontario in 1988 after step-dad passed away and she sold their homestead, and guess what?

Yup - the house that Mom bought came complete with a POOL!!!

(She did have all good intentions - the immediate family, and her brand new grandkids all coming over to Nana's place to swim, BBQ and mingle - nothing wrong with that).

..... so.....for about 20 years and approx, $25,000 later.....

WHY??? - place a pool system in the basement in the first place???

Running up and down the stairs every 15 minutes to make sure that the system isn't spraying or leaking into the basement, (insurance claims) - good call!

What, with the loud noise from the 3/4 HP pump running at all hours in order to filter and circulate the system, if it's to be optimally operated and maintained, it was a constant burden for my Mom to endure for such a time, while she/we did have the pool clean, sanitary, safely maintained up to the point when Mom decided to NOT re-open said "money pit" sewer hole.

It is still closed, with the cover on top of it, for who knows how long now, still with the same condition described by myself in the original posting.

Me Mom is 76 years young and is considering finally selling the house/pool and move to a townhouse or condo.

Thank G.

My personal opinion is that; one whom wishes to partake in swimming pool activities, from time to time, should invest into, and therefore enter into a friendship with someone whom already has, or is planning to install a pool upon their premises (closely nearby), and to maintain that friendship for said occasional use of said pool with the occasional offerings of the best prime rib steak cuts for BBQ, as well as best vintage wines, or premium beers, or whatever said pool host requires.

It's one heck of a lot cheaper, and a heck of a lot less hassle & trouble to know someone with a pool, and keep them happy, than to own one yourself! (from my experience).

Loupy.