How to Clean a Swimming Pool Main Drain

Numerous parts make up the main drain for a swimming pool. Part of your swimming pool maintenance should be to clean the drain and ensure proper functioning. Without this, the main drain may clog or break and prevent your swimming pool from draining or filtering the water.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Clean the cover for the main drain. Most main drains use a cover to prevent the drain from creating a dangerous vortex. The drain traps debris like leaves and hair from entering the main drain.

2. Clear obstructions from the main drain with a clog buster. A clog buster fits over the main drain and creates a seal across the opening while pressurizing the other side. With a clog buster, you can flush the main drain until the obstruction either breaks up or passes out of the drain. You must follow the directions on the device and repeat the process until the drain clears.

3. Use chemicals to clean the entire pool, including the main drain. Chlorine is the most common chemical used in swimming pool maintenance. You may need to adjust the levels to blast away discoloration around the main drain. Avoid swimming until you restore the pool's chemical balance to the correct pH levels.

Tips & Warnings

• Hire a professional pool cleaning company if you don't have experience in pool cleaning. You may not want to attempt a do-it-yourself fix.
• Some pools have security systems to prevent you from draining the pool, which you won't need to do unless you have a serious problem.
• Draining a pool may cause the ground water to crack a cement pool, or it may heave in a fiberglass pool.