AquaStar

AquaStar main drain covers and anti-vortex suction fittings

Here you will find AquaStar parts for the suction side of a swimming pool: the fitting that sits at the lowest point of the floor or on the wall and feeds water back towards the pump. It is one of the few components in a pool that is both a hydraulic part and a safety part, which is why the grate pattern, the fixing screws and the way the cover seats on its sump all matter more than they might appear to at first glance.

The range here centres on the Main Drain Anti-Vortex Suction Cover with Screws, reference 6HP101, supplied complete with its fixing screws so the cover can be secured properly rather than simply laid in place.

What an anti-vortex cover actually does

A plain open drain pulls water from a single point, which concentrates the flow and can allow a vortex to form. An anti-vortex design spreads the same flow over a much larger open area and directs it sideways and upwards through the body of the fitting instead of straight down through one hole. The practical results are a calmer water surface above the drain, less noise and air entrainment in the suction line, and a far lower risk of a swimmer, a limb or hair being held against the opening.

Because the cover is part of the suction circuit, it also influences how the rest of the installation behaves. A blocked or partially covered grate raises resistance on the pump inlet, which can show up as a drop in flow at the returns, a noisy pump or a filter that seems to lose pressure for no obvious reason. Checking the floor drain is a sensible first step when suction performance changes without any other alteration to the system.

The 6HP101 cover and its fixing screws

The 6HP101 is supplied as a cover plus screws, which is the combination most often needed when an existing grate has become brittle, cracked, discoloured or has lost one or more of its fasteners. Points worth noting before ordering:

• Screws included — the set supplied with the cover avoids the common problem of a new grate arriving with no way to fix it down, or being fitted with unsuitable fasteners that corrode in treated water.
• Never run a pool without a cover — an open sump is a direct suction opening. If a grate is broken, the drain should be taken out of service until it is replaced.
• Check the sump, not just the grate — the threaded inserts in the sump body also age. If a screw spins without tightening, the insert rather than the cover is the problem.
• Match the fixing pattern — measure the distance between screw centres and the overall diameter or width of the old cover before choosing a replacement.

How to identify the right replacement

Pool drain fittings are not universal, and a cover that looks similar may not seat correctly. The most reliable approach is to work from the part you already have. Lift the old grate out, clean it and take these measurements:

• Overall size — the full outside diameter of a round cover, or the length and width of a square one.
• Seating diameter — the part that actually rests inside or on top of the sump, which is often smaller than the visible rim.
• Screw centres — the number of fixing holes and the spacing between them, measured centre to centre.
• Depth — how far the cover sits down into the sump, since a cover that stands proud of the floor is a trip hazard.
• Any moulded reference — numbers or codes moulded into the underside of the old grate are the quickest route to an exact match.

If the pool is drained for the work, it is also a good moment to inspect the sump for cracks and to check that the pipe connection behind it is sound.

Maintenance and inspection

Drain covers live underwater, under constant chemical exposure and under foot traffic in shallow areas, so they are consumable items. Inspect them at the start of each season and after any period when the pool has stood empty in strong sunlight. Look for hairline cracks around the screw holes, warping, loose fasteners and any missing section of the grate pattern. Clear hair, leaves and fine debris from the openings so that flow stays even across the whole face.

AquaStar at PoolParthub.com

Here we list AquaStar suction-side fittings for swimming pools, focused on main drain covers supplied with the screws needed to install them. These are replacement parts for installations where the original grate has aged or been damaged, and for renovations where the sump is sound but the visible fitting is not.

If you are unsure whether a cover will match your sump, measure the old part first and compare the overall size, seating diameter and screw spacing. Sending those three figures through with an enquiry is usually enough to confirm a fit before you order.