In 95% of the cases, the bottom drain works properly even if you don’t feel or notice any suction near your bottom drains.
The water aspirated by the pool pump will always take the easiest route. If you try to put your feet on the drain grid(s) to check for suction, the water will bypass your feet and be drawn mostly through the skimmer.
A simple way to know if your bottom drains are working properly is to follow the procedure below:
1- Shut off the water coming from the skimmer using the 3-way valve at the inlet of your pump.
2- Pay special attention to your water returns; the water should only come from your bottom drains. If this is the case, they are working properly.
If the water does not return to the pool through the water return, make a service call via your Customer Access.
Debris drain
If your pool has a debris drain (a large bottom drain with a slot for leaf suction), you may also have a wall suction connected to it. You can block the wall suction with an expansion plug to test your debris drain. Afterwards, follow the same steps as for a standard bottom drain to check if it is working properly.
Futura
If you have a Futura pool, your bottom drain is connected directly to your skimmer. To use only your bottom drain, you will need to place your vacuum plate in the skimmer and block it with a plug. This way, all the water drawn by the pump will come from your bottom drain. If the water returns to the pool through your returns, your bottom drain is working properly.