Trying to help a friend

[Sumo1]

A friend of mine is looking to have a pool built this winter. He staked out a spot and had his first PB over for a quote. The pool they talked about is 20x40 inground, 20 mil liner. The PB recommended against a main drain and advised only one skimmer. I've never built a pool before so I'll defer to you folks with experience for advice. Please respond with advice and recommendations. Thanks.

Hal

[aylad]

My pool is 18 x 36 IG vinyl, and I only have one skimmer--no main drain. The skimmer is located just short of halfway of the length of the pool, and the two returns are located at either end of the pool, both on the same side as the skimmer. They do a very good job of keeping the pool clean, and I don't miss the main drain. I never close my pool, and I use my Poolbuster and Polaris solely to keep the pool floor clean.

The only time I can think that a main drain might be useful is if I had to drain water to close, or if I used a telescoping vacuum, but honestly, I don't miss not having it.

Janet

[waste]

Hi Hal - hope you had a good summer

For an Ig pool of that size I would want at least 2 separate suctions (it could be 2 skimmers or 1 skimmer and a pair of low suctions -- 2 low suctions [return inlets use as a suction line] are better than 1 - it reduces the chance of entrapment!!!!)

I wish your friend well with his new pool! If he has any questions about the build or management of the new pool - I will help as much as I can via the internet

I hope your pool and the church's both fared well this summer


Ted

[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