FussyHen
In the Brooder
- Feb 17, 2015
- 26
- 2
- 47
Easy-Drain Duck Pool
Those rigid plastic wading pools for kids make handy duck ponds, but they take some time to empty with a bucket, and if you try to lift them to dump the last of the water out, they tend to crack. I finally figured out a way to install a simple drain using the standpipe idea sometimes used for ponds. Not including the pool, the total cost came to $15.
1 each Black plastic ABS DWV ADAPTER 1.5” (about $1.50)
Like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Mueller-...-DWV-Hub-x-MIPT-Male-Adapter-02927H/205002041
(2 each) Black rubber bath shoe gaskets, #4 (about $1.50 each)
Like this: http://hardwaredistributors.com/gasket-bath-shoe-4.html?gclid=CICt5Y2tncYCFQVbfgodkxsDNQ
(1 each) metal Kitchen Sink Strainer Nut (mine came w/o the thin washers) (about $2)
Like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/DANCO-4-3-8-in-Kitchen-Sink-Strainer-Nut-and-Washer-81080/203851378 (The thin washers that come with them aren't heavy enough for pool purposes.)
(1 each) piece of black 2” diameter ABS plastic pipe, cut about 4” longer than the height of the wading pool.
Make sure everything fits together before you leave the parking lot. You’ll have to stretch the gaskets a bit.
The hardest part is cutting the hole without cracking the plastic. Do it carefully. Next time, I’ll cut a smaller hole, then melt it to size with a pencil-type soldering iron, and trim any melted build-up.
The tallest part of the adapter (the end that holds the pipe) goes inside the pool, the shorter end goes through to the outside bottom. Force a gasket onto the threads of the adapter, push the shorter end through the hole from the inside, put the second gasket on (one gasket goes on each side of the plastic pool bottom). The screw the metal ring nut on.
If the bottom of the pool has an embossed pattern on it (it probably does), you’ll have to work some plumber’s putty under both gaskets, or you won’t get a tight seal and it will leak. Don’t use that thin white stuff, get the gray, clay-like stuff, usually on a roll, about $3.
Set the pool in place, stick the pipe into the hole (which acts as the plug), and fill it up. To drain the pool, just pull up the pipe. The duck muck will have to be hosed out, but nothing's perfect.
If you don't want to flood the surface of that part of your yard, dig a hole about the same diameter and a little deeper as the pool and fill it with larger chunks of bark. I used my never-ending supply of 3" fir cones, and filled and leveled the hole (walked on it and kicked it level), then set the pool on top and filled it.
Those rigid plastic wading pools for kids make handy duck ponds, but they take some time to empty with a bucket, and if you try to lift them to dump the last of the water out, they tend to crack. I finally figured out a way to install a simple drain using the standpipe idea sometimes used for ponds. Not including the pool, the total cost came to $15.
1 each Black plastic ABS DWV ADAPTER 1.5” (about $1.50)
Like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Mueller-...-DWV-Hub-x-MIPT-Male-Adapter-02927H/205002041
(2 each) Black rubber bath shoe gaskets, #4 (about $1.50 each)
Like this: http://hardwaredistributors.com/gasket-bath-shoe-4.html?gclid=CICt5Y2tncYCFQVbfgodkxsDNQ
(1 each) metal Kitchen Sink Strainer Nut (mine came w/o the thin washers) (about $2)
Like this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/DANCO-4-3-8-in-Kitchen-Sink-Strainer-Nut-and-Washer-81080/203851378 (The thin washers that come with them aren't heavy enough for pool purposes.)
(1 each) piece of black 2” diameter ABS plastic pipe, cut about 4” longer than the height of the wading pool.
Make sure everything fits together before you leave the parking lot. You’ll have to stretch the gaskets a bit.
The hardest part is cutting the hole without cracking the plastic. Do it carefully. Next time, I’ll cut a smaller hole, then melt it to size with a pencil-type soldering iron, and trim any melted build-up.
The tallest part of the adapter (the end that holds the pipe) goes inside the pool, the shorter end goes through to the outside bottom. Force a gasket onto the threads of the adapter, push the shorter end through the hole from the inside, put the second gasket on (one gasket goes on each side of the plastic pool bottom). The screw the metal ring nut on.
If the bottom of the pool has an embossed pattern on it (it probably does), you’ll have to work some plumber’s putty under both gaskets, or you won’t get a tight seal and it will leak. Don’t use that thin white stuff, get the gray, clay-like stuff, usually on a roll, about $3.
Set the pool in place, stick the pipe into the hole (which acts as the plug), and fill it up. To drain the pool, just pull up the pipe. The duck muck will have to be hosed out, but nothing's perfect.
If you don't want to flood the surface of that part of your yard, dig a hole about the same diameter and a little deeper as the pool and fill it with larger chunks of bark. I used my never-ending supply of 3" fir cones, and filled and leveled the hole (walked on it and kicked it level), then set the pool on top and filled it.
