Replastering - Do I actually NEED a drain?

[wysocki]

I have a 25 yr old pool and it's in need of a replastering so I got two quotes which vary greatly. First, let me explain that my current drain is apparently not even connected. For intakes, I have the skimmer basket plus an intake about 3 feet on the wall below it, plus my pool vacuum connection. I had a bad leak for a long time and the leak detectors all said the plumbing was airtight. BUT they never checked the drain basket. Finally one guy jumped in and saw that it was not even connected, it just had some cracked epoxy in the hole and that's where the leak was! He filled it with new epoxy mud and the leak is gone now.

But for the guys that want to replaster, one of them says that I don't even use it or need it so they suggest just plastering over it all. The other contractor says that by California law I have to have two drains put in and connected to the intake line (for $3000 additional!). I'm kinda leaning on the no-drain idea, but would like some opinions.

 

[mknauss]

Plaster over them.
There is no such law that you must have a main drain. But IF you have a main drain, you must have a VGBA compliant drain installed when the pool is refurbished.

 

[Jimrahbe]

The other contractor says that by California law I have to have two drains put in and connected to the intake line (for $3000 additional!).

W,

The above is total Bull feathers....

Nope...

My "pull it out of my rear" guess is that at least 50% of older pools do not have an operating main drain, and their owners do not even know it...

Until recently, I had two rent house pools that had no operating main drain and they operated just as well as the pool at my house, that does have a main drain.. It I were to do it all over gain, I would not install a main drain..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[1poolman1]

I have a 25 yr old pool and it's in need of a replastering so I got two quotes which vary greatly. First, let me explain that my current drain is apparently not even connected. For intakes, I have the skimmer basket plus an intake about 3 feet on the wall below it, plus my pool vacuum connection. I had a bad leak for a long time and the leak detectors all said the plumbing was airtight. BUT they never checked the drain basket. Finally one guy jumped in and saw that it was not even connected, it just had some cracked epoxy in the hole and that's where the leak was! He filled it with new epoxy mud and the leak is gone now.

But for the guys that want to replaster, one of them says that I don't even use it or need it so they suggest just plastering over it all. The other contractor says that by California law I have to have two drains put in and connected to the intake line (for $3000 additional!). I'm kinda leaning on the no-drain idea, but would like some opinions.

Not required on a residential pool in California, unless there was a recent change.

 

[JamesW]

The other contractor says that by California law I have to have two drains put in and connected to the intake line (for $3000 additional!).

Any time someone tells you that something is a law or code, ask for the exact section of the code with the exact words.

All law and code is public domain and available to everyone.

Any legitimate code or law can be cited exactly with the proper reference.

 

[JamesW]

Sec. 1406. MINIMUM STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In general.
(1) Safety standards. A state meets the minimum state law requirements of this section if:
(A) The state requires by statute:
(I) The enclosure of all outdoor residential pools and spas by barriers to entry that will effectively prevent small children from gaining unsupervised and unfettered access to the pool or spa;
(ii) That all pools and spas be equipped with devices and systems designed to prevent entrapment by pool or spa drains;
(iii) That pools and spas built more than one year after the date of the enactment of such statute have:
(I) More than one drain;
(II) One or more unblockable drains; or
(III) No main drain;
(iv) Every swimming pool and spa that has a main drain, other than an unblockable drain, be equipped with a drain cover that meets the consumer product safety standard established by section 1404; and
(v) That periodic notification is provided to owners of residential swimming pools or spas about compliance with the entrapment protection standards of the ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 performance standard, or any successor standard;

§ 5.76 SWIMMING POOL AND SPA SAFETY ACT.

Legal publisher offering ordinance codification services for local governments, specializing in providing codes of ordinances in print and on the Internet

codelibrary.amlegal.com

 

[pjt]

I'm kinda leaning on the no-drain idea, but would like some opinions.

Seal and plaster over the main drain. You simply don't need it. I built my pool without one and I'm very happy with that decision.

BTW, beautiful pool and the view looks magnificent.