Cutting main drain line to relocate equipment

[sevver]

I'm concerned about the amount of water coming in when I cut it. Can I put one on blind under a couple of feet of water?

I have put them on blind under water many times. It is a simple matter of tightening a band with a nutdriver. I have repaired live watermains under several feet of water several feet deep underwater with the walls coming down around me, trust me it won't be too hard. But you should have everything ready in advance so it will be a quick swap.

[JohnT]

I have repaired live watermains under several feet of water several feet deep underwater with the walls coming down around me, trust me it won't be too hard.

Doesn't sound like fun.

[imfignewton]

Maybe to late for my two cents. But you could fill a double trash bag with sand (not so heavy that you can not carry it or it breaks); make sure you have most of the air out when you tie it and make sure the sand is not all balled up. You want the sand loose enough to spread out over the main drain (of course the sand is in the bag). Then cut the drain pipe. If there is to much water comming out to glue a fitting then use an air inflated test plug with a chain attached to plug the pipe. Then glue on a good valve (Jandy, Compool or equal). When you do this make sure the chain to the plug comes out the other end of the valve. When the glue has cured then hold on to the chain and deflate the plug with a long screw driver. Not a big fan of putting valves in the ground but if you do not want to drain the pool down this works.

[JohnT]

Maybe to late for my two cents. But you could fill a double trash bag with sand (not so heavy that you can not carry it or it breaks); make sure you have most of the air out when you tie it and make sure the sand is not all balled up. You want the sand loose enough to spread out over the main drain (of course the sand is in the bag). Then cut the drain pipe. If there is to much water comming out to glue a fitting then use an air inflated test plug with a chain attached to plug the pipe. Then glue on a good valve (Jandy, Compool or equal). When you do this make sure the chain to the plug comes out the other end of the valve. When the glue has cured then hold on to the chain and deflate the plug with a long screw driver. Not a big fan of putting valves in the ground but if you do not want to drain the pool down this works.

That's something worth considering. I could tie two ropes to it so we could place it.

I don't like the valve in the ground either. Since this is a point were every line going to or from the pool will have a junction, I'm going to make certain I can find it, and will probably fill the hole partially with sand to avoid any motion from settling soil. Thanks for the ideas.

John