Hydrostatic Valve vs Drain Plug?

[Gourockian]

Hi, I am about to start looking for a reputable contractor to carry out the replastering of my 33-year old pool and spa. The pool was 5-years old when we bought the property and to my knowledge, has never been drained or had any major repairs carried out. We live in the north Tampa Bay area and are well aware of the history of Florida pools popping up due to high water tables, while work is being done on them.

At first, I just assumed that it had a hydrostatic valve installed in the main drain and intended to replace it but have since discovered that there is only a plug. After reading about the issues others have had with hydrostatic valves, sometimes due to debris being trapped or spring failing, I'm wondering if I would really be better to continue with just a plug. I understand Hayward recommends having a collector tube (SP1055) used in conjunction with the valve but I don't think this could be installed retrospectively without removal of the drain sump itself. Has anyone done this?

My thoughts are that as the pool has survived for so long without a valve and I'm not too keen to have to replace it every seven years or so (also recommended), is it really worth installing one now? I don't anticipate having to drain the pool again in the next twenty years or so and if it does require to be done, the plug can again be removed to allow any groundwater to enter the pool.

I'm open to suggestions from other forum members regarding this.

Regards,

Al

 

[Bperry]

Hi, I am about to start looking for a reputable contractor to carry out the replastering of my 33-year old pool and spa. The pool was 5-years old when we bought the property and to my knowledge, has never been drained or had any major repairs carried out. We live in the north Tampa Bay area and are well aware of the history of Florida pools popping up due to high water tables, while work is being done on them.

At first, I just assumed that it had a hydrostatic valve installed in the main drain and intended to replace it but have since discovered that there is only a plug. After reading about the issues others have had with hydrostatic valves, sometimes due to debris being trapped or spring failing, I'm wondering if I would really be better to continue with just a plug. I understand Hayward recommends having a collector tube (SP1055) used in conjunction with the valve but I don't think this could be installed retrospectively without removal of the drain sump itself. Has anyone done this?

My thoughts are that as the pool has survived for so long without a valve and I'm not too keen to have to replace it every seven years or so (also recommended), is it really worth installing one now? I don't anticipate having to drain the pool again in the next twenty years or so and if it does require to be done, the plug can again be removed to allow any groundwater to enter the pool.

I'm open to suggestions from other forum members regarding this.

Regards,

Al

I think you’re fine. Just don’t leave the pool empty with the plug installed. My contractor removed it until it was ready to begin filling.

 

[Newdude]

How's your yard drainage and how deep is the water table ? Are you the high spot, low spot or somewhere in between in your neighborhood?

With the weather patterns shifting like a toddler on a sugar high, you might gets lots more rain or lots less going forward. Food for thought. Anyone on the east coast is one hurricane away from flooding where they hadn't yet.

Theoretically a full pool is fine with a high water table, until that jerk Murphy shows up.

 

[Gourockian]

I think you’re fine. Just don’t leave the pool empty with the plug installed. My contractor removed it until it was ready to begin filling.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, that's what I would be doing.

 

[Gourockian]

How's your yard drainage and how deep is the water table ? Are you the high spot, low spot or somewhere in between in your neighborhood?

With the weather patterns shifting like a toddler on a sugar high, you might gets lots more rain or lots less going forward. Food for thought. Anyone on the east coast is one hurricane away from flooding where they hadn't yet.

Theoretically a full pool is fine with a high water table, until that jerk Murphy shows up.

Hi and thanks for your response.

Yard drainage is good and the backyard slopes downwards away from the pool, as the house and rear patio were built on a slightly elevated area. I don't believe the water table is high but don't have any figures to back this up. Our subdivision is built on level ground and according to Google Earth, all lot elevations are within a foot of each other.

We've seen many long spells of torrential rain in the 28 years we've lived here and have never had any flooding whatsoever. Occasionally, the property adjoining the bottom of our rear yard will have standing water for maybe two days or so after really heavy rain but this soon drains away. We are almost four miles inland from the coast and there is a small hill lying between us, so I don't have any fears regarding storm surge.

Al

 

[AUSpool]

You could have a dewatering system installed prior to the re plastering. Most of our fiberglass pools have a dewatering or ground water inspection system installed as standard. Essentially it is a 4 inch pipe installed vertical near the pool shell. Normally at the deep end, extending down just a little past the deepest point and finished flush with the surface with some type of cover. The ground water can be removed via a sump pump.

 

[Gourockian]

You could have a dewatering system installed prior to the re plastering. Most of our fiberglass pools have a dewatering or ground water inspection system installed as standard. Essentially it is a 4 inch pipe installed vertical near the pool shell. Normally at the deep end, extending down just a little past the deepest point and finished flush with the surface with some type of cover. The ground water can be removed via a sump pump.

I actually have a sort-of dewatering system that was installed presumably when the pool was constructed. It uses a 1-1/2 inch pipe but to be honest, I don't think it is much use as the pipe turns horizontally towards the pool, about 4 inches below where the capped end is located, just outside the deck at the deep end.
I checked it out with a snake and also an inspection camera but could only reach about five feet inside before hitting a dead end. Judging by the distance, I reckon it is only reaching the outer wall of the pool itself and certainly is not going anywhere near the bottom. Both the snake and camera were bone dry when pulled back out.