Does a Pool Deck Drain Have to Be Trapped?

Standard Drains

• Some pool decks only have standard, round drain holes. These drains are located at low points on the deck and carry water downward. Because most of the drain is buried in the deck, these drains generally require traps since cogs deep in the drain are difficult to reach and hard to remove. A trap keeps large solids from entering the buried drain pipe, making it much easier to remove them during routine maintenance by emptying the trap.

Deck Drains

• Specialized pool deck drains are long, continuous drain channels that capture water all the way around the deck area. They are installed on a slight slope to divert pool water to a single point where it drains into a reservoir or onto the ground. Most deck drain systems have traps, known as clean-outs, where they have baskets or filters to capture debris and prevent the entire system from backing up.

Drain Lids

• Not all pool deck drains need to be trapped. For example, some drains feature removable lids. The drain lid, which features slots to allow water in, unsnaps from the buried drain channel. This makes it easy to remove a section of the drain cover to remove debris and get the water flowing again. Meanwhile, water can wash away solid objects rather that forcing them to collect at any one point, meaning less maintenance.

Outlet

• Ultimately, the point at which your pool's deck drain empties its runoff determines whether the drain needs to be trapped. If your deck drain empties into your yard, where you can easily collect any objects and built-up debris that exits the drain, there is likely no need for a trap. However, if the outlet is inaccessible or the drain is very narrow, a trap will prevent obstructions that are difficult to remove.