My feedback on main drains in an above ground pool...

[DennisP]

Thanks for the reply Dennis.

And, from your perspective, being a pool installation professional, I can understand your motivations to keep the "common owners" from going with a main drain.

I am far from a "common owner", and I have noticed that a large number of those on the web posting about pools seem to be those are are far removed from being engineering types, handyman types and/or those with mechanical proficiency.

So, as you said, for the majority of people, no main drain is common sense. But, for those of us "with a clue and ability" a main drain is essential.

Without a main drain winterizing is a PITA. Without a main drain you can't circulate water while heating a pool and melting the ice the formed over winter for an early spring opening (which I did this year, which required using only the main drain to pull water out, circulate it through the heater and then send heated water back to the pool while also allowing me to fill the pool with my dedicated fill bib and line setup)... My kids were swimming the first week of March when we hit 70 degrees for a day or two. Without a main drain that would have been impossible as I would have had to fill the pool first to use the skimmer, then I would have had the issue of ice shards plugging the skimmer (which would have prevented flow through the system to use the heater)...

I just want to be sure that those that are true DIY types that are extremely detail oriented seriously consider a main drain setup for it's many advantages. Those hiring others to do everything need not consider it.

[hrsdennis]

Great post Dennis, no argument here. It is more of an advanced thing, but more than worth it in many cases. Enjoy the "long" summer with your kids. I raised four daughters in Arizona, never short of swimming season, and we always had a pool to enjoy together.

Dennis