Without in-floor return heads, there is no way to push debris towards the main drain so either way, you will need a pool cleaner of some sort to keep the bottom clean. Any real pool with no main drain is unsafe. The only way the plumbing system could apply this sort of suction is if there were only one open drain. These pipes are very seldom clogged and almost certainly not the issue. I noticed the main drain did not have any suction. The sand pump was on filter mode when I checked the main drain. The main drain for a pool is a suction port that should be located at the deepest point on the pool floor. Any real pool with no main drain is unsafe. I got back out, played with the Jandy valve in every which way, nothing from the main drain. My pool has a main drain in … I have not had any suction from the main drain since I moved into this house last year. My latest problem is that the suction is too low to operate the new Hayward pool VAC I just spent $400 on :x. My state for the last 60 years has required main drains in every real pool for this reason. Jul 27, 2009 84. I have the same setup in my pool. The suction in a typical main drain pair is not really sufficient to suck in any debris except for a small area around the drain so they are not so useful for keeping the entire bottom clean. Main Drain COMPLETE MAIN DRAINS THESE COME STANDARD WITH ITEM # DESCRIPTION MFG. Since 2007, federal and state laws require new pools to have either multiple main drains, unblockable drains or no main drains at all. # THE FLOOR ONLY COVER SEE HAYWARD RETROFIT COVERS FOR SPECS HAYWARD MAIN DRAINS The Hayward suction outlet covers are compliant with the new Virginia Graeme-Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007). I can get sharky (the automatic pool cleaner) to work great, I can get the skimmer to suction, but nothing from the main drain. Parents of Kids Killed in Pool Drain Accidents Outraged By Federal Rethink of Safety Law Consumer Product Safety Commission weakens pool drain safety law, critics say. I'm leaning to the no main drain side, but I just want to be sure before I skip it! Hello and thanks in advance. ••• More options. Close the suction pipes that lead into the skimmers. Dec 22, 2011 #6 My pool in NJ has a skimmer and main drain and I find the main drain helps tremendously with small debris and small items that fall to the bottom. My state for the last 60 years has required main drains in every real pool for this reason. Yeah. If a pool has no floor suction, you usually get chemical hot spots. I haven't been able to locate valves that deal with the main drain nor the skimmer. That other hold in your skimmer goes to the main drain. Having a properly working and dedicated main drain line can also allow you to fully drain your pool if necessary.