Main Drain For Deep End Pool

by William
(South Carolina)

Can I install a filter port on the bottom of a deep end in a sunk above ground pool? If so how?
William



Hi William. My thoughts about center drains for above ground pools are summed up on the page.

Above Ground Pool Main Drain

I'm not a big fan of them for several reasons. They can leak, and when they do, you have no way of knowing if it's the drain or something else. It will always be suspect any time the pool is loosing water.

As well as automatic pool cleaners work they have become obsolete. There is very little reason to go through the extra labor and expense to install one.

But if you want to, you need to get a Hayward center drain and the necessary PVC pipe and fittings. The Hayward main drain kit is set for inch and a half plumbing. I reduce this to inch and a quarter.

You will install the drain in the center of the deep area. You then trench flat to about a foot outside the pool wall. The pipe then elbows and goes straight up, in the area of the filter system. The drain pipe goes into a three way valve hooked up with the skimmer and the pump.

The drain suction can then be monitored. You can shut the skimmer off and put all the suction to the drain when you are vacuuming. Other times you can leave the skimmer full suction for better skimming action.

There are some pros to having a center drain, but not enough in my opinion, to outweigh the cons.