Australia is renowned for it’s hot summers and year round mild weather, so there’s no surprise that swimming pools have become a staple for many homes. While swimming pool drains may not be the first thing that comes to mind as you visualise yourself relaxing in the pool, they aren’t something that should be overlooked. To ensure the longevity of your pool area and the safety of all who use it, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the necessities of swimming pool drain installation.
Why do you need a swimming pool drain?
Whether for leisure purposes, fitness or simply just as a place to spend time with your family, swimming pools are becoming increasingly sought after in properties. They’re also a substantial investment, so you want to ensure the longevity of your pool area.
The main purpose of swimming pool drains is to divert any excess water surrounding the pool, preventing it from sitting stagnant or infiltrating the wrong area.
Without a drain surrounding your pool to divert any excess water, the water will instead find it’s own path, often eroding soil and drowning or chemical poisoning nearby plants. If you’ve spent time and money on perfecting the landscape and garden around your pool, streams of chlorinated or salt water will wreak havoc. Likewise, water that pools on your deck or patio creates the perfect conditions for mold to thrive, leaving stains. Installing a drain allows you to ensure any excess water drains correctly, protecting your outdoor landscape.
Safety concerns are the other main reason it’s necessary to install a swimming pool drain. Water puddles create a hazard for anyone using the area and are often responsible for slips and falls. A drain allows any water splashed from your pool to drain instantly, ensuring the surrounding area stays dry and safe to walk on.
How do swimming pool drains work?
Swimming pool drains are installed surrounding your pool. Covered by a grate, excess water flows into the drain which diverts it, preventing the hazards that puddles of water create.
Are swimming pool drains dangerous?
No, swimming pool drains are designed to increase safety. As long as you choose a quality drain with a safe grate size, your swimming pool drain will serve its purpose without any negative impact on your time spent by the pool.
Considerations for your swimming pool drain:
Safety, functionality and aesthetics all play a part in how to choose the best swimming pool drain for your property.
Functionality wise, confirm the drain you select will fit the design of your pool, particularly if it’s a unique size or shape. Opt for a drain that’s customisable and can be cut to any length during installation.
Additionally, and although it may seem obvious, ensure the drain components are chlorine and salt water safe, as drains that aren’t will quickly rust. All Aquabocci drainage systems are marine grade (Anodized to 25 micron) meaning that no matter the environment, you can rest assured they won’t rust, tea stain or oxidize.
A large reason for installing a swimming pool drain is to care for the safety of anyone using the area, so don’t forget this at the last minute. Choose a drain that offers a non-slip finish to help protect your friends and family.
Similarly, we recommend choosing a drain with a grate that can be easily removed for cleaning purposes. If debris or dirt clog your drain the functionality will be reduced. Easy to clean drains will both reduce hazards in the pool area and keep your patio area looking brand new.
While safety and functionality are the first priority, aesthetics also come into play. Pool designs have become more luxurious overtime, however most drainage systems have failed to keep up. If you’ve carefully created the pool or outdoor area of your dreams, don’t think you have to settle for an average looking swimming pool drain. The Aquabocci product range allows you to select from a variety of colour options and different widths or thicknesses, with profiles varying from 24mm to 120mm wide.
S66 Swimming Pool Drain
With a profile that’s 66mm wide x 43mm deep, the S66 swimming pool drain is a low profile drain that’s commonly used for pools surrounded by both balconies and garden areas.
The Aquabocci S66 Slimline Low Profile Drain installed around the swimming pool at this recent project at Sunshine Beach.
The colour installed is GT Silver and all Aquabocci products include a 10 year warranty against salt and chlorine exposure.
Building Designer: Chris Clout Design, Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia
Builder: SX Construction Buddina Qld
Photography: @patrick_oberem_photographer
Blade-T Swimming Pool Drain
Perfect for swimming pools, the Aquabocci Blade-T drain has the thinnest profile, measuring 24mm wide x 48mm deep.
AQUABOCCI BLADE-T swimming pool drain in GT Silver colour
A30 Swimming Pool Drain
The A30 swimming pool drain has a profile of 120mm wide x 35mm deep and is a popular choice for use around swimming pools and features a large flow rate.
AQUABOCCI A30 swimming pool drain in GT Silver colour
Swimming pool drains and flow rate
Once you’ve established the thickness that you can accommodate you can select a profile that fits. Aquabocci’s range of drains feature a unique low profile, however thanks to their quality design, you can still achieve a big flow rate. Flow rate is related to the number of outlets in the base of the drain, not the size of the channel. Many projects can’t accommodate deep profiles, so Aquabocci manufactures a variety of different size spigot outlets (50mm, 90mm and 100mm), designed to be attached in any location along the PVC channel to increase the flow rate in your drain.
In Australia, installing a swimming pool and drain is a decision that will pay off for years to come if done correctly, both in property value and enjoyment. If you have any further queries regarding swimming pool drains, visit our swimming pool drains page or contact the friendly team at Aquabocci today!
0410 505 333