Your pool drain needs a compliant cover and an SVRS.

Yep. If you’ve got a residential pool built after 2008, the Virginia Graeme Baker Act already requires a drain cover that meets ASME/ANSI A112.19.8. The latest version of that standard (2023) is what you should look for when buying a replacement. But the real safety upgrade is the secondary system – a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS) or a gravity drainage system. Most newer codes (and common sense) say one is not enough.

I know it sounds like overkill, but drain entrapment is no joke. A compliant cover alone can fail if it’s not installed right or gets damaged. The SVRS automatically shuts off the pump if it detects a blockage. Many states now require both for new pools. If you have an older pool, start by checking what cover you have – if it’s not stamped with the ASME standard, replace it immediately. Then look into adding an SVRS.

Don’t wait for an accident to happen. Spend the few hundred bucks and sleep better.