Drained Pool, Dropped a Metal Drill Bit Down the Main Drain

[amgoldst]

Hello and thank you in advance for your help! I drained my pool (20k gallon, in-ground) and while unscrewing the main drain cover, I dropped a small (approx. 1.5 inches) metal drill bit down the main drain. I tried a ShopVac and also putting a long flexible magnet down into the plumbing, but couldn't retrieve it.
My question is: will the bit come through the plumbing and up into the pump basket when we fill the pool and start the pump? Or do I need to use an air compressor to try and blow it out of the system while the pool is empty?
I would truly appreciate any guidance - thank you!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Go to a store and pickup a 90 degree Schedule 40 PVC elbow and a bit the size you dropped and see if it makes the turn.

Post pics of your equipment pad and what the intake to your pump looks like.

 

[Pool_Medic]

That bits just going to end up in your pump basket is my opinion, but just to be sure it won’t get into the pump impeller, you could take a similarly sized bit and see if it will go through the holes in the pump basket.

 

[MelbiStyles]

Stick a garden hose down the front port in the skimmer blow it out that way. That is if you have two ports in the skimmer. Might not work if you have 2 main drains. If it’s stuck on a 90 you can get one of those flexible long 2.5 foot cables that have a magnet and a grabber at the end of it from auto zone should be able to grab it that way.

 

[amgoldst]

Thank you so much to each of you for your help! I truly appreciate it.