How do I keep leaves from blocking my overflow drain...

[texasmax]

I very consistently have an overflow problem with my pool. We've got shrubs around it, and trees over it, and rain and wind always cause at least a few handfuls of leaves (or pollen chunks or other floating goodies) to land in it. And they go straight to the overflow drain and block it. when they do, one of two things usually happens- either 1) there's still a small opening for water to get through, so without a heavy rain, water can still escape quick enough, or 2) there's a complete block but not enough rain falls to cause an overflow. However, when there's a heavy rainstorm, more "stuff" gets in there, and whether or not there's a small escape route, the rising level puts more pressure on it, seals it up, and then I need to monitor it and clear it by hand (what doesn't help is poor yard grading that allows pooling yard water to go into the pool). The pool's fairly large, and is "curvy"- I've got 140 linear feet measured around the edge. When it's bad, or it's the middle of the night and I want to sleep, I'll pump to waste and get it down to where the skimmers just have enough (or even just switch off suction to the skimmers and just use the main drain for circulation). The drain line is maybe a 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 pvc pipe, that comes up just behind the grate, on the right hand side (hence why the left side is grouted over). The pipe runs 8-10 feet out to the alley.

I'm trying to think of some sort of device that goes around the overflow grate to give it more area- something like a grated cone (like a cone-shaped landscape drain grate). Or a battery-powered windshield wiper that hangs over the edge An alternative might be to cut out the grate bars and keep it wide open- I'm thinking that there's less of a chance of a clog downstream, and if one starts, the rising pressure on it from the rising water level would push it out (so the rising level pressure helps me instead of hurting me).

Thanks for reading!



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We had decent rain here in Dallas last night; I was clearing it around 11pm. The pic was from this morning, so it's not as bad as it could be, but the water level's at the top of the grate so I'm already backed up (but is probably very slowly draining).

 

[Dirk]

I think keeping it wide open might be asking for trouble, in that you could get a clog downstream of the opening that will plug up in such a way that will be hard or impossible to clear.

What might work, instead of some elaborate screen or cone, is something that will down-turn the opening. Hmmm, how to describe... As water will seek its own level, if the opening to the overflow was an inch or two below the lowest the water ever gets, then water would enter the gizmo from underneath the water line, and unless the leaves can swim down underwater and then back up into the gizmo, then its solved. So... what to use for the gizmo... if it was a round hole, you'd just need a PVC elbow and a short piece of PVC to go underwater a inch or two, but with that grate... How wide is it? It doesn't even need to be closed on top. Something plastic that would be wider than the grate, and only stick out, oh, a 1/2" or so would do it. Drill a couple holes in it to zip-tie it to the grate... Like this:



I realize this is funky, but it'd work until you find a better solution. The trick would be to find the right box. Something clear, so you could keep an eye on it, and somewhat invisible. Something wider than than the grate, but shallow so it doesn't stick out into the pool. Then just take it off during "no leaf season." I'd look in the fishing tackle section at Walmart, or maybe the cooking ware section? You might have to buy something that comes in just the perfect box. Then just carefully cut off one side and that becomes the opening under the water line. (Like above, throw away the lid, cut out one side.) You'll need some needle-nose pliers to fish the zip tie through the grate, then loop it through a couple holes drilled through the face of the box.

Well, that's my 8:00-in-the-morning idea. Maybe something better later...

 

[borjis]

If it helps, I have seen where some people have secured a pool noodle right in front of their
skimmers to prevent big leaves clogging the skimmers when they are out of town.

Maybe something like that to keep the debris out?

 

[pooldv]

I generally have my pump running on low speed 24x7 during "leafy" times to keep the leaves skimmed. This keeps leaves off the bottom and they also don't get stuck to the overflow grate cuz they move right past it.

 

[texasmax]

pooldv- thanks! I've got a 2-speed that's been on high speed for days straight (other issues). But I'll do it anyway when we're expecting a downpour as I get dirt/mud/whatever into the pool (the poor grading) and want to get it filtered out ASAP. Long story short, that won't help If i had more than 2 skimmers, or one in the vicinity of the grate, that might help.

borjis- pool noodle is a great idea, but, Dirk- that's an engineering marvel Going to figure it out and post a pic- thanks!

 

[Dirk]

Well, personally, I liked the windshield wiper idea, except for having to change the batteries!!

BTW... yard water draining into the pool is not just bad for the water level, or debris problem, but can cause all kinds of water chemistry issues. Fixing that should be a top priority... French drain, maybe?

 

[texasmax]

There's a few different things going on, but yes it definitely makes me work a little harder on the chemistry. Probably going to bring in a professional in a month or two (and will probably post here looking for advice as well).

 

[bmoreswim]

Dirk- that's an engineering marvel Going to figure it out and post a pic- thanks!

.

When I read your original post I immediately thought of the baffle on the outflow inside of a residential septic tank. Exact same concept - keeps the floating poop/TP from escaping the tank. But Dirk took the effort to write and diagram so hats off! I am surprised though that he didn't offer to 3-D print you a prototype and send it overnight.

 

[Dirk]

Hmm... processor time, raw material, printer time, return on R&D, profit... Let's say $49.95. Oh, wait, it's for a pool? Then $119.99! (Plus handling, tax and overnight shipping, of course.)

 

[Dirk]

1:00PM idea update...

Instead of zip ties, I'd use a nylon bolt with two nuts. Just the right size so that I could angle the bolt's head to slip it through the grate, then straighten it out to span the opening. Put one nut on the bolt before you angle it in, just far enough away from the bolt's head to allow for the angled positioning, but to keep it from falling through the grate when it inevitably slips out of your fingers. Tighten the first nut to the grate, to hold it in place, then the second nut on the outside of the box to hold the box in place. This would make installing and removing the box less of a chore than the zip ties...

If the angling doesn't work, then cut off each side of the bolt's head, so that it is shaped like a rectangle instead of round or hex, slip it through a grate slot, then turn it 1/4 turn. Tighten it to the grate with the first nut, then install the box and tighten that down with the second nut. Maybe throw in a couple of nylon washers...

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Oh, almost forgot... Copyright © 2018 Dirk Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

 

[pooldv]

LOL!!! Good stuff happening here!