Trying to help a friend

[Sumo1]

Thanks for the replies. I've showed my friend Charlie how to come in here to read the replies and ask questions, if he has any. I've advised him to ask filter size, base material, pump size, plumbing size, and chlorine generator brand and model. Can you think of other relevent questions? From here I'll probably back out of this thread and leave it to him. Thanks for your help.

Hal

[Sumo1]

Well, they're putting water in Charlie's pool tomorrow. I haven't been over to see it in a few days but I know he's excited, even though it's too cold to swim.

Question:
Another friend who had a pool built a few years ago had "skimmer drains" installed to relieve the high water level when the pool's dormant. I've not heard of this before. He plugs them somehow during swim season. I heard about this second hand but I gather that it's just 1/2" pvc that runs under the deck away from the pool. Any thoughts, comments, or recommendations?? Should Charlie build this into his pool? Thanks.

Hal

[Poconos]

Glad the pool is almost completed. What did he go with as far as returns, skimmers, and main drain? If I were building a pool I wouldn't use a main drain. Too many problems reported on this forum over the years. What I would do is rig a suction line just below water level where I could hook a hose to it to suck from some contraption I could put on the bottom of the deep end. Leave it in when the pool is not in use, remove it when in use if it's in the way. Would be a removable main drain. No penetrations, no possibility of leaks, no complications.
Hope the winter is short.
Al

[chem geek]

One of the main reasons for a floor drain is to improve circulation in the lower depths. If you only have returns just below the surface and skimmers, then you generally don't get good water circulation in the deep end. You can try pointing returns downwards, but that's still not as effective as having a main drain in the floor.

Richard

[Sumo1]

He decided to go with 2 skimmers and a main drain. Have any of y'all heard of this skimmer drain idea? Thanks.

Hal