How to Install Pool Safety Drain Covers

A pool safety drain cover works to prevent the powerful suction of a pool drain from making a complete seal that could trap a person's body against the drain, or entangle hair, possibly resulting in drowning or becoming disemboweled. Safety drains cover the main drain of a pool, which is the suction outlet at the bottom or side of a pool that conducts water to a recirculating pump. All pools are now required to be compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, which became effective on December 19, 2008. The law is designed to improve child safety by requiring that all pools and spas have drain covers compliant with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American National Standards Institute. To meet the requirements of the new federal law, a main drain should now have a cover, a mounting frame, a sump (the small pit below the drain that receives drainage and channels it to the outlet pipe) and fasteners to make sure the drain cover is attached securely to the sump.

Things You'll Need

• Safety drain cover
• Adapter ring
• Cover plate
• Stainless steel screws
• Screwdriver
• Pipe thread sealant

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Instructions

• 1

  Decide on whether to install the drain cover underwater or with a drained pool. The fastest method is to install the drain cover under water without draining the pool. By installing under water you can avoid additional health and safety hazards associated with pool drainage including plaster damage and having to balance the water again by adjusting alkalinity, calcium hardness, stabilizer and chlorine levels. However, if you decide to install your drain cover underwater, you will need to hire a certified diver with diving equipment to remove the old main drain cover and install the new one.

• 2

  Make sure the drain cover and all the supplies you will need are nearby. Turn off all power to the pool and filter pump systems.

• 3

  Remove the old drain cover and screws. Measure the distance between the sump outlet pipe and the underside of the new safety drain cover or adapter ring, if you are using one. The sump outlet pipe should be at least 1.5 inches from the bottom of the safety drain cover or ring.

• 4

  Insert bolts into the frame adapter ring from the inside, if you have an adapter ring. Screw them in far enough so that the bolts protrude beyond the adapter ring. Attach the safety drain cover to the ring with screws.

• 5

  Install the safety drain cover. Place the drain cover and adapter ring, if used, into the main drain sump onto the mounting frame. Push down firmly on the adapter ring so that the safety drain cover sits flush against the pool floor. Attach the drain cover and ring to the sump with supplied stainless steel screws using a screwdriver. Tighten the bolts evenly so the ring is held firmly in the sump. It is better to hand tighten the screws by hand and not use an electrical drill.

• 6

  Remove the screws holding the drain cover onto the adapter ring, if your safety drain cover comes with a cover plate. Smear the edges of the cover plate with pipe thread sealant and place the cover plate on the drain cover, sealing it to the adapter ring. Insert the screws again through the cover plate and into the adapter ring. Tighten the screws firmly.

• 7

  Make sure your installation is tight and secure once it is installed. At this point, installation is complete and you can switch on the filter pump.