thank you guys all--both in advance for any insight offered in response to this question and but also for such a helpful resource in general. so we're on a mountainside in the southwestern California desert planning a quick drain/clean/refill. not terribly concerned about water table/popping issues but in recognition of the risk: does the attached image look like a hydrostatic valve? it's dead center deep-end and there's an identical twin in the middle of the spa. has to be, right? I can't tell. thanks so much again and trouble-free pooling to you and yours.
is this a hydrostat?
- Thread starter Rhas_Al'Pool
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 58,389
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Welcome to the forum!
That appears to be the main drain. If you only have one in the pool and the spa, then this pool was built many years ago. Two are now required.
And no, there will not be a hydrostatic valve in your pool.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
That appears to be the main drain. If you only have one in the pool and the spa, then this pool was built many years ago. Two are now required.
And no, there will not be a hydrostatic valve in your pool.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,389
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
This pool is located in the desert. There is no ground water. It rarely rains. Why put a device in the pool that is known to fail and leak?
There might be a hydrostat under the main drain cover.
The cover is old and needs to be replaced with a new cover.
I would remove the cover and check for a hydrostat.
Have a new cover ready to install.
If there is a hydrostat, replace it with a new one.
If there is no hydrostat, then you probably don't need one.
Verify that the ground water does not present a float risk to the pool before draining.
The cover is old and needs to be replaced with a new cover.
I would remove the cover and check for a hydrostat.
Have a new cover ready to install.
If there is a hydrostat, replace it with a new one.
If there is no hydrostat, then you probably don't need one.
Verify that the ground water does not present a float risk to the pool before draining.
main drain! probably should have gotten that one. it's true-- the ground is dry and the pool is absurdly old. I'll approach with the cautious assumption that there's no hydrostat and be pleasantly surprised if I find one. thank you guys so much, that's immensely helpful.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,389
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
To be honest, those old style drains are pretty unsafe. They make covers to retrofit them. Also, if you do any permit work on the pool, there is a good chance they will force you to tear it out and upgrade. If that happens, abandon it in the pool. It is not necessary.