How To Drain Water From My Pool...?

[RAILhead]

I'm pretty sure I know what the consensus will be, but I thought I'd ask it anyway: if I post pics of our pumps and equipment, can you guys/gals explain what I need to do to drain water from my pool -- or, should I just go ahead and call the pool installer and let him show me? Our installer is a great guy and all, but he's not the best at explaining things and keeping focused. The only reason I'm asking how to do this is 1) general knowledge, and 2) at some point in the future, I figure I'll need to address the CYA level by draining 27-33% of my water (according to the Pool Calc).

I'm guessing the best thing would be to have him show me, but I thought I'd ask anyway in case is such no-brainer thing to do you guys could explain it. :-D

Thoughts? If you can, what do you need pics of?

 

[zea3]

Post pictures of the equipment pad. Do you have a main drain in the bottom of the pool?

 

[RAILhead]

Here are several pics, and yes, there's a drain at the bottom -- my understanding is that the pool bottom debris catcher is where the water would drain. ???

 

[woodyp]

I don' tknow the answer to your question............but that looks like an awful lot of plumbing for a 7k gallon pool. Are you sure on the gallons? Could save you a lot of trouble down the road.

 

[RAILhead]

Yep, 7000 gallons. Main pool, spa, foam jets, 4 stream jets, ozonator, etc.

 

[Bama Rambler]

If the pipe labeled "Leaf Trapper" is the main drain (MD) then close off everything except that valve and since you have a system 3 cartridge filter you'll have to either remove the plug on the back side and plumb it to a drain or you can remove the drain plug under the bottom.

I also see a pipe labeled "Dump" but it looks like it's on the spa side. If that pump's connected to the pool MD, AND it means what it says and is connected to a drain somewhere, then you can close off the "Stream Jets" and open that valve and it will dump water.