Just because Fall is around the corner doesn’t mean the swimming season is over.  If your pool is heated, you’ll be in the swim all year long.  Beachside Pool Service, the premier Laguna Niguel pool service, wants you and all family members to enjoy your pool safely all year long.  That’s why this blog is dedicated to educating pool owner’s about the dangers of circulation entrapment and how your swimming pool service can help.

What is Circulation Entrapment?

The drain on your pool isn’t like the drain on your bathtub or kitchen sink.  Water doesn’t really “drain” from your main drain; it is pulled out of the pool by force.  The force sucking the water in is provided by the pump.  This suction can be so strong that it can hold a person underwater and even the strongest of men cannot pull the bather lose until the pump is turned off.  By that time, the trapped person might have drowned.  This is known as drowning by suction entrapment or drowning by circulation entrapment.  It is always tragic and it is always preventable.

Life Saving Laws

In December of 2007, Congress passed the Virginia Graeme Baker Act.  This act was named for a young girl trapped by the main drain in a swimming pool and drowned.  She wasn’t the first person to die in this manner, but she was related to a powerful man, James Baker, who was serving as Secretary of State.

Her death caught the attention of many homeowners and law makers.  In fact, California acted before Congress.  Starting in January of 2007, all swimming pools built in California had to have an anti-entrapment drain cover.

The national law applied to public swimming pools, but not private, residential pools.

Preventing Circulation Entrapment

There are steps to make sure your pool is protected against circulation entrapment, and Beachside Pool Service wants to help.

Safe Pool Pumps.  If your pool pump needs to be replaced, make sure you replace it with a model that incorporates a safety vacuum release system.  If you trust Beachside Pool Service as your Laguna Niguel pool service, you can rest assured that Jared Benson will recommend models such as the Pentair with Intelliflo to protect you and your loved ones.  These pumps incorporate technology that can sense when the main drain has been blocked and a vacuum created.  They will automatically shut the pump off and thereby release the suction.

Safe Drain Covers.  Even if you have a pump with a safety vacuum release system, your first line of defense is a proper anti-entrapment drain cover.  These covers prevent the entanglement and entrapment of jewelry, hair, loose clothing, or other items.  According to the US  Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Guidelines for Entrapment Hazards the grate should  comply with an ASME/ANSI A112.19.8 standards and the flow through the drain (outlet) grate should not exceed 1.5 feet per second.  In general, dome shaped drain covers and drain covers with small openings are the safest.

The Laguna Niguel Pool Service that Puts Safety First

When you trust Beachside Pool Service as your Laguna Niguel pool service, you know you’ve hired a company that puts safety first.

When Beachside cleans your pool, they will keep an eye on your drain grate and let you know if they observe any damage that can cause a hazard.  They can also tell you if the grate is loose or improperly installed.  If it needs replacing, don’t worry.  Beachside can perform the repair without draining your pool.

From recommendations for pumps to routine cleaning, Beachside Pool Service has you covered.  For a free estimate call (949) 939-0023.