How to Install Inground Pool Plumbing

Installing inground pool plumbing is something that you can do yourself and save some money in the process. An inground pool is much more streamlined than an above ground pool and adds a lot of character to the outside entertainment area. However, the installation of an inground pool can be very costly with the labor and materials. You can save a lot of money when you do a lot of the labor yourself. Installing the inground pool plumbing is one of those projects.

Step 1: Install Skimmer and Drain

Before any of the finish steps are taken with your inground pool you can use a basic tool kit for the items like a skimmer, drain, and water inlets. Most kits come with everything you need for a successful installation. Each of these components basically slides into the openings. They will be connected to the piping behind them and will be held in place by the concrete liner of the pool.

Step 2: Connect Couplings

Use some PVC cleaner on each of the ends of the couplings and housing for the skimmer, drain, and water inlets. Then apply some glue to each of the components and slide the two pieces together. You should do this for each of the different items mentioned. These couplings are needed for connecting the different pipes to each section.

Step 3: Run Pipes From Drain

Inground pool plumbing is going to be hidden under the ground and patio. It must be laid out in a certain way so that you do not have to continually dig up the ground to fix any problems. Start with the drain of your pool and place a 90-degree elbow onto the end of the coupling. Use the same technique of applying PVC cleaner and then the glue. On the end of the elbow place a section of straight pipe. This pipe should run towards an area of your landscape where the water can drain.

Step 4: Connect Skimmer Pipes

Again, using the same technique of cleaning and gluing the 1 1/2 inch PVC pipes, start to lay out the pipes from the skimmer to where the pump will be. Use a hacksaw to make any cuts in the length of pipe and elbows to curve the pipe around any obstructions or angling the pipe in the right direction.

Step 5: Lay Pipes for Water Inlets

Lay out the PVC pipes for the supply lines and run them to their respective water jets. Depending on how many your pool has, you will need to use several 'T' joints to branch the water pipes to the different locations.

Step 6: Cap Pipe Ends

With all of the different inground pool plumbing in place, you will need to place plastic caps over each of the exposed pipes. This will ensure that no dirt or rocks get into the plumbing while the pool is being finished. Once the pool is finished you can remove the caps and finish hooking up the pipes to the pump. Continually check the ground for any wet spots. You may have to dig up a section to repair some pipes that were damaged.