Thread: swimming pool plumbing

The drain on the bottom of the pool is usually a backpressure valve - to let water from the outside in, when the pool is empty, if the pressure builds up too much and stop your pool "popping" out of the ground. Not usually for drainage.

For mine, I used the submersable for as far as it can pump it, then the bucket.

thanks for that

i actually went to the pool shop and asked them today & was told the same thing.looks like i'll have to rehire the pump or spend a day on buckets

Another idea is using a hose as a siphon. If you don't have enough fall on your block, you might get away with dropping the hose down a sewer/stormwater observation point. Just remove the PVC disc at the top and see how deep the pipes are. Your not supposed to use sewer for pool water, but if it's just the last bit I'm sure no-one would mind.

My pool has 2 pipes coming into skimmerbox. 1 above the plate for kreepy krawley and 1 below ( which is usually plugged ) I unplug the one below which is connected to drain and blank off kreepy krawley skimmerbox plate, turn valve to drain on filter and run pump. hope this helps

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Your not supposed to use sewer for pool water

I have been told differently!

When back washing, it is to go to sewer to be treated at the plant, not to be sent to the street and then to the ocean!

I suspect that could vary from council to council with their by laws, we had to connect our backwash to stormwater.
God knows what it did to the fish population in the creek that was only about 200 metres away.
But then when you saw all the other crap that was in there, I suspect that my dirty filter was like a breath of fresh air.
We alkso had to empty the pool one year and used a bucket for the last few inches, took forever.
Then you have the pleasure of two pack painting, that is a real joy :mad:

As I understand it, whether the hydrostatic valve at the bottom is connected to the skimmer depends on how old the pool is. In the past it was connected so you could empty the pool via the pump. Then some girl got her hair caught in the valve and didn't surface... Design rules changed. Now they don't connect it to the pump system.
So it might be worth investigating what your setup is.

I believe that emptying into stormwater is a big no-no (in NSW). Pool water is considered to contain 'bio-hazards'. Not sure about sewered properties - we're rural and they made a fuss about having a proper drainage pit - blue metal, engineering specs etc etc, certain distance from watercourses etc etc.

When we emptied a neighbour's pool for a refinish we couldn't get the last 100mm with a sump pump or siphon, so we used one of those water feature fountain pumps ($50 from a hardware store). Removed the hydro valve cover plate and stuck it in the hole. Pumped from the pool into a 200L drum sitting on the pool floor. When the drum got full we emptied it with the sump pump.
Took all weekend, but much easier on the back.
-r

I've recently drained my pool completely empty using a venturi pump which the local pool bloke lent me. It attaches to the garden hose (town supply pressure req'd) and the venturi effect pumps huge amounts of water in next to no time. No power required.

G'day Ian, bleedin great ain't they you can also empty the sand filter with them .

The venturi pumps are incredible, and pump an enormous amount of water without needing power. I had used one, and then bought one at the hardware for about $30....everyone who has a pool should own one, they are so useful.
Anthony

The drain at the bottom is both a back pressure valve and connected to the skimmer - at least the ones I have seen are. To prove if it is, fill the skimmer box. If the water disappears then chances are it has flowed into the pool via the pipe to the bottom.

Then put the vacuum plate in the skimmer box (providing it isn't one with a bypass), block the hose hole (in the vac plate) and you should be able to pump it out on backwash. You will need to run a hose very slowly in the skimmer box to provide an adequate seal.

Also, if it is nearly pumped out the you are going to have to work out a way of priming the pump. Pool pumps are lousy at pumping air

concrete pool or fibreglass? always be very careful when you empty a pool !!! seen many pop up or walls cave in .... We have a couple of those venturi pumps made from stainless , one of the knobs that work for us lent one out with no I.D. $150 gone.. Also be very careful what products you paint your pool with ... 90% are carp.. Any questions feel free to ask ...
My family has a local pool shop here in WA ... I dont have a pool as i see all the $$$ spent every day...

Sean

Could you recommend a paint please. I have a concrete. ex Marblesheen, pool. I painted it with 2 pot about 11 years ago. The paint has detriorated and is powdering off. This causes the water to be cloudy and the sand filter doesn't pick it up. Hence constant problems.

Ta

While it's empty, have it filled in. Best thing you can do with the bu**ers!

I was spending what little free time I had cleaning ours because the missus didn't want to. I went on strike and threatened to fill it in without warning. She blinked )