Are swimming pool suction valves dangerous?

Are swimming pool suction valves dangerous?

“There’s too much at stake.” The vacuum effect in pool drains is powerful enough to hold swimmers, especially children, to the bottom of a pool. Swimmers can die from drowning or evisceration. From 1999 to 2008, according to CPSC data, there were 83 reports of suction entrapment, including 11 deaths and 69 injuries.

How do pool drain accidents happen?

Pool drain accidents refer to drain entrapment. Drain entrapment occurs when a drain’s powerful suction traps a child’s hair, bathing suit or body parts. Drain entrapment can cause serious and fatal injuries, including broken bones, lacerations, internal organ damage, drowning and brain damage.

Do pools still have suction valves?

Older pools only have one drain, which means there is greater suction. Newer pools have more than one, which decreases the suction. The older, more dangerous drain covers are very flat and can be covered by your entire body. They look like the drain at the bottom of a shower.

Why is there no suction in my pool?

Suction-Side Problems If the vacuum doesn’t work, it’s usually either because air is getting into the vacuum hose or into the suction side of the pool pump. The presence of air in the lines is preventing the system from drawing water as it should.

What is the drain at bottom of pool?

Drains and Skimmer The main drain is the primary way that water is drawn from your pool into the pump and filter. The main drain is located on the bottom of the pool in the deepest part. Most pools have one, but larger pools may have multiple main drains. Main drains must be protected by an approved cover.

What happens if you sit on a pool drain?

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the pressure on some pool drains can be as strong as 300 pounds per square inch. 1 This kind of pressure can suck in hair or body parts, or trap swimmers underwater and cause them to drown, even if someone is trying to pull a victim away from the drain.

Does pool need main drain?

Main drains are not required in an inground swimming pool, however, they are strongly recommended and can be extremely useful in some circumstances. This is useful when replacing your pool liner. Main drains are also helpful in the filtering of water and dirt from the bottom of the pool.

Why is my pool skimmer losing suction?

When your pool skimmer has no suction, the cause is most likely a blockage. This can put the entire filtration system of the pool into question, as there will be low water pressure.

What do you need to know about swimming pool suction?

Roughly 300,000 public facilities were required under the law to cover their drains with larger, rounded covers that prevent suction as well as a backup mechanical system within the drains to prevent suction in pools with a single drain. About half of the pools and hot tubs in the nation feature these dangerous single main drains.

Is there a suction pump in a wading pool?

The investigation by the DEHNR revealed that the wading pool where this injury occurred had a three-quarter-horsepower suction pump that was not linked to the adjacent adult pool or any other outlet. At the time of the injury, the antivortex drain cover that had previously covered the drain had been removed.

How many people have died in pool drain accidents?

In one horrific instance, four adult men were unable to pull a young girl from the grasp of a deadly drain. Swimmers can die from drowning or evisceration. From 1999 to 2008, according to CPSC data, there were 83 reports of suction entrapment, including 11 deaths and 69 injuries.

Are there drain covers that prevent pool suction?

On behalf of the pool industry, pool equipment manufacturer Leif Zars argued that redesigned drain covers were enough to prevent pool suction accidents. Zars owns a company that manufactures large rounded drain covers that prevent suction. A majority of the CPSC commissioners agreed with the pool industry’s position.