Many pool owners worry about their deck getting dirty but rarely worry about how wet the deck gets and how the constant exposure to chlorinated pool water can damage the deck, regardless of the material used to construct the deck. A pool deck drain addresses this concern by draining the water either back into the pool or into another area on the property. Considerations for choosing the best pool deck drain are installation, material, if the material works with your deck’s material, chances of clogging and what cleaners can be used.
Installation is the first concern when getting a pool deck drainage system. A pool deck drain that needs extensive digging and trenching can tear up a yard or property, will take more money and time to install and, in the end, can make the property look ugly or unkempt. Deck drains that have subtle installations with minimal digging may be better, because they will be easy to fit and will not substantially change the property.
Pool deck drain material is normally made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), other forms of plastic or metal. PVC and plastic drains are water-resistant and do not corrode. Metal drains can rust if not taken care of but are sturdier and more resistant to damage than PVC drains. The price of the two is similar, so the biggest differences are water and corrosion resistance and durability against being stepped on or hit.
Most pool decks are made from wood, aluminum or concrete. Knowing this, pool deck drain manufacturers generally made drains that are suitable for all three types of deck material. If the pool deck uses a different type of material, it may not be possible to properly install the drain. Some drains are only made to work with one or two of the common materials, so check the packaging to ensure the deck drain can work with a particular deck’s material without causing problems in the future.
Along with water, leaves and other debris will float down the drain. This eventually leads to blockages, which will cause the water to backup and will keep the deck drain from draining any water. Drains that have a low chance of blockage reduce the amount of time spent clearing the drain and ensure that less maintenance work has to be done to keep the drains in working order.
If cleaning out the drains by hand is tough, or if there is a blockage that cannot be reached, cleaning solutions are commonly used to wear down the blockage. If planning to use cleaners, check the material of the drain. Using a cleaner that is dangerous against PVC in a PVC drain can cause the pool deck drain to warp or may have other devastating effects that can destroy the drain.