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How To Drain An Above Ground Pool

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Just Draining For Winter Storage

How to Drain an Above Ground Pool (easy trick)

If youve had an above-ground pool for longer than a year, you know that theres a lengthy process involved in closing your pool for the winter. If you want the extra backyard space and have a large storage area out of the elements, you also have the option to drain your pool, dissemble it, and store it away for the winter. I dont blame you if youd rather take that route. If you do, skip ahead to the tutorial on how to drain your pool for storage below.

How To Drain An Above Ground Pool Very Fast

Learning how to drain an above ground pool should be one of the first lessons every above ground pool owner should take because it is one of the essential pieces of knowledge to keep your pool in a good condition as long as possible. In this article, well show you how to drain water from the pool, so you can do it as easily as it can be without the need to call professional help.

Using The Drain Valve

Another inexpensive way to drain your pool is by utilizing the drain valve of your Intex pool if its equipped with one.

Just a reminder to pool owners. Never open your drain valve without connecting a hose to it first. You dont want to drain your pool water where your Intex pool currently stands. It might affect the integrity of the ground or surface your pool is currently on and you increase the risk of damage to your pool structure.

You can connect the female end of your garden hose to the drain connector. For other Intex pools, you may have to screw a hose adapter with your female garden hose end before you can connect it to your drain valve.

This process is faster than siphoning your pool water, but not as fast compared to using a submersible pump.

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First Of All Make Sure You Have Every Good Condition

The right weather:

Of course, we wont try to drain our pool when its raining heavily. However, a scorching hot day wont be ideal either. With that said, if you are living in a tropical country with high temperatures, waiting until autumn or winter is a better choice.

Why? The materials used for building a pool are suitable for an aquatic environment. It means exposing them to the hot sun will make them vulnerable.

Prepare your supplies:

As stated above, we shouldnt leave our above ground pool dry for too long. Have your repair kits and tools ready and get to work as soon as you can. Moreover, what if we have an unexpected thunderstorm?

Switch automatic timers off:

Make sure none of them turns on when you are draining the pool. Most of the devices are water-cooled and meant to work underwater only. Your pool lights, for example. Without the water surrounding them, they will overheat and break quickly.

The most important notice is for the pump. If it runs when not being submerged in water, it will take some air in and undergo serious damage.

Plan the disposal of water:

There will be a massive amount of water to dispose of, so where will you direct it to? Some places prohibit draining pool water into gutters, but your yard isnt likely to hold thousands of liters of water. Lets not forget the issues those pool chemicals might cause to the grass and the plants.

Let the chemicals dissipate:

How To Drain An Above Ground Pool

How You Can Drain an Above Ground Pool

Summer’s over, and it’s time put your above ground pool in storage. But first you have to let all that water out. Here are two easy ways to accomplish the task: with a pump and with a hose siphon.

Method #1: Pump

All you need is a medium-size water or vacuum pump.

  • Unroll the pump’s intake hose so that it reaches the center of the pool , and submerge it in the pool.
  • Place the outlet hose so the exiting water doesn’t flood the area, but drains off away from the pool.
  • Dry your hands thoroughly.
  • Plug the pump’s electric cord into an electric outlet and turn on the pump.
  • Make sure the pump is doing its job, and let it run.
  • Check the operation periodically, and monitor the water level. Depending on the capacity of the pool and the pump’s rate, the process can take up to several hours.
  • Turn off the pump when the water level gets too low for the pump to drain it .
  • Method #2: Hose siphon

    You’ll need at least one garden hose to drain the pool. The more hoses you use, the quicker the pool will drain. A word of caution: don’t use your mouth to start the siphon process, or you may end up swallowing a mouthful of pool water.

  • Submerge each hose completely in the pool, so that it completely fills up with water.
  • Lift one end of each hose out of the pool and place it on the ground. Make sure the other end of the hose remains submerged. The amount of time it takes to drain the pool depends on the amount of water, the number of hoses, and the diameter of the hoses .
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    How To Drain An Above Ground Pool: A Step

    Draining your above-ground pool is something that is very rarely done or not done at all. Draining should never be practiced during the winter season because the liner may dry out and crack due to wind and cold.

    Summer season is undoubtedly the best time in the year to figure out pool things. But apart from all these, draining should be practiced because it is necessary for the pools, and there are also various reasons why one should drain their above-ground pools.

    It is not at all necessary to call a professional to perform the task.

    It is a straightforward job to do and can be done by yourself. Chill! You have come to the correct place because this article fully discloses how to drain a pool yourself without even calling a pro for the job to be done.

    Looking for simple and easy steps. All you need to do is reading the article below to know the interesting hacks! Relaxed right? Sounds good? Now, let us explore in detail!

    Draining Pool Water Using An Electric Pool Pump

    To drain your pool water using an electric pool pump, follow the steps below:

  • Drop the intake hose of the pump into the water as close to the pools center as possible.
  • Place the outlet hose of the pump somewhere your property away from the swimming pool. If you are wondering where to drain pool water, make sure to choose a level ground otherwise, flooding may occur.
  • Turn the pool pump on. Check if the water level drops before you leave the process unattended, and do not forget to frequently check on it to avoid malfunctions.
  • Turn the equipment off once the level of water is too low for further draining, usually approximately 6 to 12 inches deep.
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    How To Keep An Inground Pool From Popping

    If you live in an area that has a high water table, and you completely drain your inground pool, its possible the pool will pop. This means, without the weight of the water pressing on it, the pool may be pushed up and out of the groundliterally. The risk is even higher if you drain your pool after several days of heavy rain.

    An inground pool can pop regardless of type. Concrete, gunite, vinyl, fiberglasstheyre all at risk of popping when drained.

    If its time to drain your pool, and you want to keep it from popping, consider draining just half the water from the pool, and refilling it. The ability to do this will, of course, depend on your reason for draining it in the first place.

    For example, if you need to repair the floor, youll have to completely drain the pool. If this is the case, you may want to consult a professional to avoid expensive damage to your pool.

    If you decide to move forward yourself, take a few extra precautions to help prevent popping.

    Set Up The Garden Hose In Your Pool

    How to drain Above Ground Pool with garden hose only

    As mentioned earlier, siphoning uses a regular garden hose to drain your pool water.

    Make sure that the hose is properly submerged and that no air inside the hose could block the water from going out of your pool. If set up properly, your siphon should start immediately. Since you might need to wait a while due to the long drain time, its best to just check on your pool from time to time while you do other tasks.

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    Revealed: How To Drain An Above Ground Pool

    If you have been following the Rio Olympics Swimming competitions closely, you would have noticed the debacle which took place in a middle of one such game.

    With the swimmers about to jump into the pool, the water turned green, leaving the organizers shellacked. As a result, they were left with no option but to drain that 1-million gallon Olympic Pool!

    Thus, as evinced from the aforementioned example, there are certain times when you have to know about how to drain an above ground pool.

    While the scenario might not be too adverse as the one cited above, you still need to be ready to do it all the time if you want to enjoy a streamlined and seamless swimming experience of swimming in your pool.

    Contents

  • 3 Conclusion
  • Risks When Draining Your Pool Completely

    Although the process of emptying your swimming pool is straightforward, there are some risks associated with this maintenance process, specifically with the pool liner. If you are not draining your above ground pool to replace its liner, there are some important factors to consider prior to starting in order to protect the integrity of your pool, which include:

    • Loss of Shape: Above ground swimming pools hold their shape due to water. When about 75% of the liquid is drained, your pool will experience some loss of shape. Its important to protect your pool from collapsing by draining it on a day where there are no high winds or bad weather that could cause the empty pool to become damaged.
    • Damage from the Sun: The water in your swimming pool helps protect your liner from UV ray damage. Once the water is completely removed, your pool liner is at risk to warping and fading from the sun. LinerWorlds pool experts recommend draining your above ground pool when its overcast outside.
    • Development of Mold: If youre removing the water to relocate your pool, its important that you take extra steps to prevent mold build-up on your pools liner. Packing up your liner before its completely dry is a common cause of mold in these scenarios. Make sure to use towels or a wet vac to thoroughly dry the vinyl prior to storing it.

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    Possible Risks And Things To Look Out For

    Although it is pretty simple, draining the swimming pool has its own risks and possible problems, so here is what you should pay attention to avoid:

    1. Sun damage

    The water is not there only for your enjoyment, but it also has the purpose of protecting your liner from UV rays and damages it can cause. When you remove the water, it stays unprotected from the sun.

    2. Mold development

    If you plan to store it for the winter, make sure to remove all the water, let it dry and keep it in a dry place to prevent any mold from developing. Before you store it, dry it with a towel.

    Consult Your Local Water Authority First

    Draining Your Above Ground Swimming Pool

    If you just start siphoning water out of your pool with a garden hose, you could end up costing yourself a lot of time, money, and grief. Many municipalities have their own rules about how, when, and where someone can drain their pool, and you need to abide by those rules.

    For instance, most municipalities will require you to run your pool water through your homes sewer cleanout line so it will flow to a water treatment plant. Others might allow you to send all that water down the storm drains that line your street. Municipalities may also have water chemical composition regulations. Some may require the water to be chlorine neutral, which would necessitate a lot of chlorine neutralizer.

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    Why Drain Your Above Ground Pool

    Before we go through the steps, its important to discuss when you should drain the water from your pool, as its not always a good idea.

    The most common scenarios are as follows:

    • Replacing your pool liner. A compromised pool liner can be repaired without having to drain the water, assuming youre using a reputable underwater repair kit. But replacing a liner is a different story, and this will always require you to completely drain your pool.
    • Replacing stale water with new. Theres little point putting fresh water in without first removing the old. Of course, it should be noted that your water shouldnt need replacing if the correct pool care is applied, and that includes properly closing or winterizing your pool.
    • Fixing your pool chemistry. Most chemical imbalances can be solved without having to drain your pool, but chlorine lock is an exception to the rule. This is due to excess pool stabilizer or a pH imbalance, and can only be resolved by replacing the water.
    • Moving your pool to a new location. It makes little sense moving an above-ground that holds water, not to mention the risk of damaging the pool if you try to do so. Whether youre moving it a few feet or a few kilometres, draining is necessary.
    • Storing your pool. If you need to pack things away for the winter or just need to free up space in the yard, removing the water is a must.

    Where To Drain The Pool Water

    • Sanitary Sewer: If your community allows you to drain the pool water directly into the sanitary sewer, this is often the most efficient way to route the drainage water. You will also need access to the sewer, usually via a storm drain. Discharge hoses range from 50 feet to 300 feet long, though discharge will also be limited by pump capacity.
    • Gutter: Gutters eventually lead to the sewer main. Be sure not to overflow the gutters. In especially hot weather, much of the pool water may evaporate as it travels the gutter to the sewer.
    • Irrigation: If the water quality is conducive to plant life, permits often allow you to discharge pool water to your own property.

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    When Should You Drain Your Aboveground Pool

    #To change the water

    Do you close your pool habitually? Do you use chemicals to balance the water? Those techniques are good but not enough.

    Over time, dry leaves, dirt, and contaminants will accumulate in the pool. They will reach an extent where filterer wont be much of help anymore. Therefore, your swimming pool maintenance cant run smoothly, and the disaster begins.

    Manufacturers try to make their chemicals safe for skin but when the chemicals cant fulfill their duty, particles of mineral will grow and develop on every surface possible. This process might as well ruin the liner material.

    Now, we cant go on and keep adding more chemicals to balance the chemicals that have already been there. Thats basically covering a stain by applying another stain with a different color on it.

    At this point, draining the pool and replacing the not-so-clean water with fresh water is probably the only solution for you.

    #To clean the pool

    If your water is high in calcium or metals, the deposits will become visible after several years, even if you deionize the water or have efficient solutions for calcium hardness levels.

    Lets pay more attention to the calcium deposits. They can cause severe consequences to the surfaces and the equipment, which will be expensive. The best way to handle them is by washing them away by acid. And to do so, you have to drain the pool.

    #To repair the pool

    Connect A Garden Hose To The Drain Valve

    How to Drain the Water from Your Above Ground Pool

    You may need an Intex adapter to connect the hose to the drain valve. Then direct the other end of the hose to the area where youre going to drain the water.

    Tip: If the pool chemicals have dissipated enough that the water is neutral , you can connect the hose to a sprinkler and water your yard or garden as your pool drains. Reuse that water rather than just letting it go down a sewer drain!

    Important: Use that neutral water only on your yard or garden. Its not suitable for consumption by humans or animals.

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    Why Should I Drain My Above Ground Pool

    As noted, typical maintenance or winterizing your pool shouldnt require you to completely drain the water. You risk damaging your pool liner and the structure of your above ground pool. Here are a few times when you would likely have to drain all the water.

    • Pool water quality that cant be fixed with chemical treatments and proper maintenance

    Why Should You Drain An Above Ground Pool

    Some reasons it may be necessary to figure out how to drain a pool include having too much algae in the water during the summer months that shocking your pool wont fix. Or maybe you have more debris than your pool vacuum can clean out or you may even need to relocate the pool. There are many reasons that may require you to drain your above ground pool at one point or another and if you do not drain it properly, you can actually damage your pool in the process. NOTE: Make sure that draining is your only option. In many cases, your above ground pool liner will be damaged from draining the pool. Drain only as a last resort.

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