New Pool Owner Questions

[randdusing]

Howdy,

I recently bought a home with a pool, "overflow" spa and waterfall and am still trying to figure out how everything works. Due to the low temps, freeze mode has kicked in and turned on the pool pump and waterfall. I noticed my water level dropping over the past day, so I took a look behind the waterfall and noticed several drain pipes sticking out with water dripping out. What are these for? The drain pipes correspond to the "rock pools" of the waterfall, so I'm thinking it's to prevent stagnant water and mosquito breeding. Since I'll be running the waterfall for the foreseeable feature, should I plug the pipes and any recommendations on how to do so?

Also, do you know what these pipes are for? I was hoping it was for filling the pool, but I can't find where to turn it on.

Thanks,
Rand

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! The pipe along your waterline looks to be your overflow relief. It would make sense the ones in your waterfall are just as you said. I don't have a waterfall and can't confirm if they all have relief pipes like yours (or their specific purpose), so perhaps others will chime in. But be prepared to protect everything if you lose power. That's the big issue. If power goes out for an undetermined length of time, drain the pump basket and filter to prevent freeze expansion damage. You might even place a tarp of some type over the equipment pad. Waterfalls have been known to crack from freeze expansion as well with stagnant water, so be mindful of that as well. Go to our Everything Else sub-forum for more recent discussions. Good luck!

 

[randdusing]

Thanks, this site has been great. I've gone from knowing absolutely nothing about managing a pool to having the chemicals mostly down in a few days.

I forgot to take a picture, but I have an overflow relief pipe with a grate covering. But perhaps the "pipe-1" image is one too?

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

Your pipe-1 looks exactly like my pool filler. Mine is manual, controlled by a valve connected to a hose bibb on the side of my house closest to the pool.

I can't see enough of pipe-2's context. Is that a waterfall or a spa? It might be the make-up return to the spa. Can you make water come out of it?

No idea about the drains, sorry.

 

[randdusing]

pipe-2 is under the waterfall feature. Everything is covered in snow now so I still haven't found a valve anywhere!