Pool Skimmer and Main Drain

Hayward Main Drains

Water first enters you swimming pool system by entering the Suction Lines. On the majority of swimming pools these suction lines consist of a Main Drain and 1-3 Skimmers. The main Drain is located on the bottom of the swimming pool while the skimmers are located along side the edge of the swimming pool. Both the main drain and the skimmers are set up to catch the larger debris such as leaves so it does not get sucked into your system. Both the Main Drain and the Skimmers get their suction from the pool pump. The suction can be controlled by switching the Jandy diverter valves.

Hayward Skim Master Pool Skimmer

Pool Skimmers
Pool Skimmers are located along the edge of the swimming pool. They are built into the side of your pool. As the pool fills with water it is sucked through the pool skimmer and sent back through the system with suction from the pump.

Water is first sucked through the Floating Weir. The Weir is the part that floats back and forth and acts like a door to allow a little water to pass through at a time. Next the water goes through the skimmer basket

Pool Skimmer Strainer Basket

The skimmer basket collects the large debris such as leaves. The basket need to be periodically cleaned to allow proper suction for your swimming pool. You can take out the strainer basket by opening the access hatch. This is usually the round or square panel located on your swimming pool deck. If you need to replace the skimmer basket or floating weir please use our Pool Parts section. After the water goes through the strainer basket is continues on through the suction line and back to the multiport valves. There is a second Equalizer line that keeps the skimmer from drawing air into the swimming pool. The equalizer line leads back into the pool under the weir door.

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Main Drains
On the bottom of the swimming pool you will find the main drain. Using suction from the pump the water is sucked through and back to the multiport valve. The main difference between most main drains is the cover. These covers are needed to make sure hair or other loose items do not get sucks and caught into the drain. Many states now require pool owners to have what is known as an anitvortex cover. This cover helps prevent a vortex from forming.

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Additional Suction Lines
Some swimming pools come equipped with additional suction lines. One such line can be used to plug in your suction pool cleaner. Suction cleaners can be plugged into your skimmer or into this designated cleaner line. If you use the designated cleaner line it frees up the skimmer perform the way it is supposed to. The plumbing is set up much like the skimmers and main drain. There would be one additional line going back to the pump.

Pentair Kreepy Krauly Cleaner

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Jandy Diverter Valves
The skimmer and main drains are separated by the pump using multiport valves. These valve are usually 2 or 3 way valves. They divert the water from one area to another. So you can use the diverter valves to take some of the suction from the skimmers and put more into the main drain. You can also shut off one of the suction lines completely as needed.

Jandy 3 way Multiport Valve

Jandy Valves can be automated and controlled by a control panel. This will be discussed in more detail in a later on this web site. You will however need Valve Actuators that are connected to your multiport valves.

Jandy Valve Actuator

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After the water flows through the Diverter valves they are sucked into the pump. Please continue on to the next section for more information.

Continue to Pool Pumps