Do I need a Main Drain?

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David.Wolff85 said:
I know this forum is several years old but that might be a good thing for me. I’m currently in a very similar situation. I have a 14x35x6ft fiberglass and they are not putting a drain on the pool.
Did you decide to have a drain installed on your pool? If not, what has your experience been without a drain?
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The people that I know with similar sized pools, do great with no main. The only potential downside is that if your water drops below your skimmer while you’re on vacation then you can burn up the pump.to me that’s a minor concern though. I would opt for 2 skimmers though, but a good friend of mine has a similar size with just one skimmer and it does fine.

My understanding, from someone that recently attended training there, is that San Juan recommends going the skimmer only route now.
 
HarryMichael said:
My two questions are: 2 returns, do I really need more and do I really need a drain on the bottom of pool??
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As others have said, main drains are not necessary.

However, if you do have a lot of leaf fall, then I would recommend an equalization port on the wall for the skimmer so if it does fill up and block the suction line, then at least there is an alternate path.
 
mas985 said:
As others have said, main drains are not necessary.

However, if you do have a lot of leaf fall, then I would recommend an equalization port on the wall for the skimmer so if it does fill up and block the suction line, then at least there is an alternate path.
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I’m super curious about this. I live in the woods. My builder put in a side drain for this very purpose. I then made him put in another one because I was worried about having only one drain. Now I have two and I kind of don’t like it. In the end it will be fine. Are you saying we could have tied the drain to the skimmer and complied with the VGB act?
 
alvindo said:
I’m super curious about this. I live in the woods. My builder put in a side drain for this very purpose. I then made him put in another one because I was worried about having only one drain. Now I have two and I kind of don’t like it. In the end it will be fine. Are you saying we could have tied the drain to the skimmer and complied with the VGB act?
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Yes, that's correct.
 
alvindo said:
The people that I know with similar sized pools, do great with no main. The only potential downside is that if your water drops below your skimmer while you’re on vacation then you can burn up the pump.to me that’s a minor concern though. I would opt for 2 skimmers though, but a good friend of mine has a similar size with just one skimmer and it does fine.

My understanding, from someone that recently attended training there, is that San Juan recommends going the skimmer only route now.
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Thank you for your response.
“Do you think I will be required to have an anti-entrapment device with the skimmer only setup. My local code enforcement requires it with a main drain but doesn’t really speak on a skimmer only setup.
 
David,

I do not know your local codes, but it would be impossible to be entrapped by a running skimmer, while in the pool. You would have to reach into skimmer, pull out the basket and then get your hand down to the level of the suction plumbing... And.. even if you were able to do this impossible action, your head would still be above the water..

The whole idea of the entrapment protection is to prevent you from swimming down and sitting on a single main drain and being held there by the suction....

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Jimrahbe said:
David,

I do not know your local codes, but it would be impossible to be entrapped by a running skimmer, while in the pool. You would have to reach into skimmer, pull out the basket and then get your hand down to the level of the suction plumbing... And.. even if you were able to do this impossible action, your head would still be above the water..

The whole idea of the entrapment protection is to prevent you from swimming down and sitting on a single main drain and being held there by the suction....

Thanks,

Jim R.
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That my thoughts exactly. This is the document I had to sign in order to get my permits and it doesn’t mention surface skimmers except for at the top where it’s talking about the drain grates. I’ll just have to call their office for clarification. AAC91690-4589-4ADC-93A7-3E9960FCA556.jpeg
 
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