Plugging main drain?

[kimsteph22]

I live in Michigan and I was losing a good amount of water over the winter. I had to fill up the pool multiple times on a warm enough day to keep it from getting too low. On my shallow end, the water got as low as 12”.

I suspect there is a leak in the main drain. I have someone coming to perform a leak detection. In the meantime, I was planning on plugging the main drain with a rubber plug. If I notice the water level is holding, then that will confirm a definite leak in the main drain/line.

If that’s the case and the only way to fix it is through digging it up and shelling out thousands to do that…. Can I just keep the main drain plugged permanently and only use the skimmer to filter and circulate my pool? I’ve seen a few other posts about a main drain not being a necessity in a pool.

My other question would be for winterizing, how could I get the water out of the main drain that’s just sitting in the pipe from being plugged in?

 

[pjt]

Can I just keep the main drain plugged permanently and only use the skimmer to filter and circulate my pool? I’ve seen a few other posts about a main drain not being a necessity in a pool.

Yes. You can seal and abandon the main drain, it simply isn't needed. Would be better if you had two skimmers though.

 

[PoolStored]

My other question would be for winterizing, how could I get the water out of the main drain that’s just sitting in the pipe from being plugged in?

When you are winterizing, I would blow out the main drain and plug it while air is exiting, just like plugging a return with air coming out.
Some main drains have threads under the cover, you could use a cleanout style plug.
Or you could use an Oatey pressure plug. Not sure how long the rubber would last, and you may need to replace it after a number of years.
One thing to check is how much space you have in the MD...don't want the plug to sit so proud as to not be able to cover it. Really depends on the style of drain.