Main drain not working

[despite house wife]

Hi all please keep this simple
New to being pool owner
We arrived yesterday to a very dirty pool after the winter .I decided to drain it and fill it and start a fresh so pool emptied 1/3 of the way when every thing stopped .no pressure in pump .pressure gauge is at 0 .I'm air locked or blocked ,how can I tell the difference

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Please post pics of your pool, and especially the equipment pad. Let us see all the equipment, valves, etc from different angles.

 

[Jimrahbe]

D,

Have you ever used the "Main Drain" to actually drain the pool before??

I ask, because even though it is called a "drain" that is not really why it is there. Most people use a sump pump of some kind to drain their pools.

Pics of your equipment pad will help us understand your plumbing..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Newdude]

+1. I lose suction around 1/3 of the way down. It's normal. You need a submersible pump to drain the rest of the way.