One of the most important parts of owning a pool is keeping it clean and in good working order.
A vital aspect of this is maintaining the integrity of the main drain, which is your pool's primary point of drainage.
If the main drain isn't kept clear, debris and algae can collect in your pool.
Cleaning the main drain is simply a matter of following a few easy steps every few weeks.
It doesn't take long; half an hour twice a month stave off expensive repairs in the future.
Here's a quick rundown of the process.
Eliminate large debris.
Cleaning a pool's drain is a top-down process.
Before you get started on the nitty-gritty of cleaning your main drain, you'll need to remove any large pieces of debris in your pool.
Get rid of any leaves, sticks, yard waste or bits of litter in the water.
This way, you won't be bothered by them when you're clearing your drain of smaller debris.
Use a clog buster.
You'll need the right tools to properly clean your drain.
You can find one of these tools at any store that sells pool maintenance materials and cleaning tools.
It exerts intense water pressure into your drain, which loosens and destroys large clogs.
There are no chemicals involved, and the device is reusable and will last a long time.
You can use the it to remove large clogs, but it's better to save yourself the trouble and use it to clear out your drain every few weeks, whether you think it needs it or not.
The best part: They only cost about $20.
Eliminate any remaining debris.
The whole process will probably result in more debris being ejected into your pool.
If you use a clog buster or backwash your filters, you'll undoubtedly end up with small debris.
Use a skimmer to remove it so your drain doesn't get clogged again.
Check your pool chemicals.
You can buy a chart that will tell you the proper chemical levels for your pool at a pool supply store.
You can also buy test strips that measure your current levels.