Do below ground vinyl pools typically need partial pumping out when fall/winter water level gets high?

[Websherpa]

For the past 6 Canadian Winters, we never pumped out some water from our pool (apart from lowering the level for the closing. It always seems to fill up again (from snow and rain), but for some reason (that we don’t know) it never overflows onto the coping.

Is there a reason for this? Is there a secondary drain hidden in the skimmer basket area?

I see anecdotal posts of people doing some interim pumping of excess water on occasion, and lately the rains and snows have been getting harsh again (Ontario). Soi I am wondering if I need to do this, or is the level self maintaining by some overflow drain into the pools surrounding weeping area?

Or is it a bad idea to let the pool fill up continuously all fall/winter/spring?

Thank you!

 

[ajw22]

Some pools have an overflow drain installed. Sometimes it is in the skimmer with a hole in the back of the skimmer pot and a pipe connected to it to carry off the water. You have to look around y7our pool and see what you find.

Without an overflow drain the pool can overflow into spaces just above the pool walls or skimmer and the water wash down the sides of your pool and undermine the soil around your deck or pool walls. It depends on your pools construction and the type of soil you have.

You should understand where the overflow water is going and if it will create long term problems around your pool.

 

[derekm]

I'm thinking it has more to do with your precipitation levels. In 28 yrs (E. Canada) I've only ever lowered water to just below the skimmer and never had an overflow. No drains.

 

[Newdude]

It has everything to do with the type of cover. With a solid cover you will occasionally have to pump the water off the top. With a mesh cover you will have to occasionally pump under the cover as rain will collect in the pool.

Pretty much no matter how you slice it, you are removing water. Some places with less off season precipitation, say 18 inches or less, can just drain once at closing and be full in the spring. I got about 3 ft and had to drain 18 inches to start and a 2nd time mid season.

 

[Websherpa]

Some pools have an overflow drain installed. Sometimes it is in the skimmer with a hole in the back of the skimmer pot and a pipe connected to it to carry off the water. You have to look around y7our pool and see what you find.

Without an overflow drain the pool can overflow into spaces just above the pool walls or skimmer and the water wash down the sides of your pool and undermine the soil around your deck or pool walls. It depends on your pools construction and the type of soil you have.

You should understand where the overflow water is going and if it will create long term problems around your pool.

There is no obvious drain that I can discern. I only know that the level has come up to the top of the skimmer opening, but never any higher.

And sorry, mesh safety cover, precip just drains through and evaporation is high.

I should have added some things… the reason so don’t know is because our pool installer took off shortly after finishing due to a personal tragedy. So I didn’t think to ask until he was long gone.

(Im otherwise pretty familiar with pools, do my own opening and closing each year, etc.)

I took pictures of the entire construction in detail… except the skimmer install… go figure.

The pool is typical in-ground vinyl construction, metal walls surrounded by a large gravel drain all the way around.

I just wasn’t certain if I hadn’t experienced enough precipitation yet to overflow (last year seemed the highest yet)…. But it never had.

So I wondered whether a safety drain in the skimmer was a typical feature. I think the skimmer is Hayward if I remember correctly.

 

[ajw22]

So I wondered whether a safety drain in the skimmer was a typical feature.

Nothing is typical in pool builds. Pool Builders all seem to do their own things in their own ways.

 

[Eauclaire]

If your pool thaws completely, or you rarely have permanent ice - it might be wise to do a couple of mid-winter water level adjustments. My pool freezes completely and with 4 to 8 inches of ice thickness, so I don’t touch it until Spring. My pool overflows in the skimmer body. My skimmer has two halves - to accommodate varying height of pavers. The skimmer gap is just above the maximum height of the skimmer throat; my pool overflows through this gap Into surrounding sand. Never had a problem.

 

[Websherpa]

If your pool thaws completely, or you rarely have permanent ice - it might be wise to do a couple of mid-winter water level adjustments. My pool freezes completely and with 4 to 8 inches of ice thickness, so I don’t touch it until Spring. My pool overflows in the skimmer body. My skimmer has two halves - to accommodate varying height of pavers. The skimmer gap is just above the maximum height of the skimmer throat; my pool overflows through this gap Into surrounding sand. Never had a problem.

Interesting. There “is” a kind of inner “lip” near the top of the skimmer which I always wondered was a thin drain of some sort, but haven’t tested it. Any idea what brand or model skimmer insert you have? (I would never lower the water with ice, and only have rare opportunities to pump out during winter…. but we have had some doozy downpours as of late even in the Spring that have rapidly filled the pool to near top of skimmer (but never over that level, so I keep wondering if I have a built-in drain associated with the skimmer that I just can’t easily see.

I guess I’ll have to find a suitable “pool guy.” With COVID I tried this past summer but it was really hard to find one who would come out for an inspection...seems like they were all busy doing installs.

 

[Eauclaire]

I have a Jacuzzi Carvin skimmer. In the attached diagram the gap is below Part #2. When overfilled, my pool water level always settles to this level, but it can take many days, given the gap is narrow.