How To Drain Your Inground Pool
- Pete Ortiz
Draining your inground pool can be an extremely risky endeavor, and it is something we recommend only as a last resort. Draining an inground pool is more dangerous than draining an above ground pool because the ground can cave in, destroying the walls. Any damage that occurs to an inground pool is going to be many times more expensive to repair than that of an above ground pool.
We recommend only draining pools that have a hydrostatic valve and calling a professional if you have any reservations about emptying the pool yourself.
Draining An Inground Pool Below The Skimmer
It can be quite dangerous to drain your pool when you are a beginner. Note that pol draining is not an everyday task since it is quite risky. The good news, however, is that you will slowly get accustomed to inground pool draining after a few tries.
Most people tend to believe that the best solution for a dirty pool is draining. However, this is not always the case, and draining an inground pool should never be your first solution. Even if your pool looks trashy, you need to find different solutions to help you remedy the situation.
Several ways can help you clean your pool effectively and efficiently. However, if you think that draining the pool is the only viable solution, it would be best if you contact a professional pool company. As stated earlier, the process is dangerous if you are inexperienced. For this reason, let us take a look at when and why you need to drain your inground pool.
To Prepare For A Hurricane
You must prepare your pool in case of a hurricane or tropical storm, as it might cause it to overflow. Its very important to know that in a case like this, you must NOT drain your pool completely.
An empty pool during a hurricane is vulnerable to floating, in other words, popping out of the ground caused by excessive groundwater pressure, that could create serious damage to your pool.
In such a case, you want to drain some water to prevent it from overflowing, but you should NOT drain your pool past the bottom of the skimmer.
Also Check: How To Repair Above Ground Pool Wall
What Is Hydrostatic Pressure In Swimming Pools
There is a hidden danger when some inground pools are emptied of water. The pool can lift up or pop out of the ground as there may be pressure built up underneath the pool. When the weight of the water is removed the pressure underneath exerts an upwards pressure on the bottom of the pool. This is common in fibreglass shell pools when they do not have a hydrostatic valve fitted.
Concrete pools always have a hydrostatic valve built into the lowest point of the pool at the deep end which releases pressure from under the pool. It looks like a drain fitting with a cover at the bottom of the pool. Ground water under the pool can flow through the valve into the pool to equalize the pressure.
When you drain your pool down to the last few inches of water and you cannot remove it with a pump you can open the hydrostatic valve by lifting it up and wedging it open to drain the remaining water to the ground. The valve is on a spring that can open upwards into the pool. Its designed to release pressure underneath into the pool but we can use it to drain water out of the pool by lifting the valve and holding it open until the excess water has drained away.
Please read out article on Hydrostatic Pool Valves
Draining The Remaining Water From Your Pool
Since both draining methods will not drain pool water to the last bit, you need to remove the extra liquid left at the bottom. To do so, you can:
- Use a wet vacuum to suck the stagnant water.
- Sweep the liquid into the drain.
- Remove the pool liner and flip it over somewhere your property to get rid of extra water.
Recommended Reading: Build Your Own Swimming Pool Inground
Preparation To Blow Out The Pool Lines:
How To Drain A Swimming Pool
Tuesday, 25 March 2014 10:38:29 pm Australia/Sydney
There are many reasons why you may want to drain the water from your swimming pool. Perhaps the minerals in the water have become too concentrated, making it difficult to maintain a healthy chemical balance, or you may want to make repairs to the pool’s surface.
No matter what the reason for your job, if you want to take all the water out of your swimming pool, you may wonder just what kind of equipment to use to get the job done.
A submersible pump can be used if you have a concrete or gunite pool.
However, if your pool is vinyl lined or made from fibreglass it might be better to call in the professionals as these linings can tear, rip and collapse if the job is not done correctly.
Before you begin to undertake this task, you must think about where the water will go. In some places it may be a violation of local codes or regulations to send water down the gutters or storm drains as the volume could be too high for these structures to handle.
If you decide to attempt to drain your pool yourself, here is a guide.
Use as much of the water as you can in your lawn or garden. You can use the backwash pump to send it to this area, but you will want to make sure the water’s chemicals will not damage any plants in your garden.
Next, check all of the pipes for obstructions and clean them if necessary.
Attach the drainage hose to the pump according to the directions and set it to pump no more than 45 litres per minute.
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To Do A Combination Of Tasks
Are you draining the pool to make one repair on the floor? Why not acid wash the pool while youre at it? Or go ahead and repaint it so you dont have to drain it again in a year or two?
Take advantage of the empty pool to get as much maintenance done as possible, and drain it as infrequently as possible.
How To Drain Inground Pool Properly
by Aloha Desert Pools | Sep 21, 2021 | Blog |
One of the important parts of proper swimming pool maintenance is proper draining. There are different ways to properly drain inground pools, which we will be talking about in this article.
If you own a pool and want to drain your pool for regular maintenance, winterizing your pool, or for some other reasons, here are the different approaches you can take to ensure that you are draining your inground pool properly.
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How To Drain A Pool Properly Step By Step Guide
October 20, 2021, 2:14 pm2k Views
Pool maintenance is an arduous task, not to mention that it can be costly too. Since you cant do away with pool maintenance, some pool owners choose to do the maintenance work themselves to save money. If you choose to do the same, make sure you know what you are doing, including how to drain the pool properly.
Pool draining is not a task done frequently. However, it is still sometimes necessary to do it every three to five years, partially or completely, even if you have kept up with all proper and regular pool maintenance tasks.
Inground pool draining requires both knowledge and skills. One wrong move, and youll find yourself with a damaged pool or a flooded yard. So, be sure to read this step-by-step guide on how to drain the pool properly.
Where To Drain A Swimming Pool
Remember to move the hose often as needed, to avoid over-saturation, when pumping into large grassy areas or wooded areas. Avoid downhill courses that erode hillsides.
For submersible pumps, run discharge hose out of the shallow end, to reduce resistance from a vertical lift over the deep end wall. Avoid flooding downhill neighbors!
Read Also: Pool At Jones Beach
When To Drain A Pool
Some municipalities have rules about when you can drain your pool as well. In most cases, these time windows prevent streets and sewers from being flooded with pool water during typically rainy seasons.
There are other timing considerations as well. The heat of summer can blister and destroy a pool liner if its not submerged in water. The frozen ground of winter can push an empty pool upward, a situation known as pool pop. So before you begin, wait for a stretch of nice, dry weather in the spring or fall, when the water table is low and where daytime highs wont exceed 85 degrees.
How To Drain An Inground Pool Below Skimmer
The standard is to drain your pool below skimmer levels so that you can clean out the plumbing system to avoid frozen, burst lines during the winter.additionally, if you have drained a lot of water, you might want to choose a tight pool cover so that it is less likely to collect water and debris. Smooth the sealer before it sets up.
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When Do I Empty My Pool
Unlike above ground pools where you drain some of the water out of during the winter season and replace it again in the spring, the inground pool water rarely changes. After about six or seven years, minerals and other contaminants can reach a level that can no longer be treated by the filter system, and you will need to replace the water.
As it happens, six or seven years is also the life expectancy of a hydro valve, so this is a great time to replace yours to ensure your pool pressure relief system is operating correctly.
Draining is also a great time to scrub down the walls, scrutinize it, and apply any sealants and chemical protectants that it might need.
Never drain your pool when there has been a lot of rain, or if you expect a lot of rain because the water can enter the ground and increase the pressure against your pool walls.
Why Drain An In Ground Pool
Winterize the Pool: Some people prefer to drain their pool for the winter and refill it again in the spring rather than try to winterize it with chemicals and cover the pool water.
Painting the Pool: Painted pool surfaces last between 5 and 15 years before requiring repainting. Some owners decide to paint over plaster to further enhance the look of their pool.
Plaster Repair: Swimming pool plaster is made with fine crushed white marble and fine white cement that is smoothed over the rough concrete shell. The surface can be damaged by unbalanced pool water and does deteriorate over time. The average marble plaster pool can last up to 15 or 20 years before requiring renovation. If your pool surface only has minor cracks and etching you can repair that part of the surface with new plaster.
Please read our article on How to Repair Pool Plaster
Clean the Pool: Sometimes a pool requires more extensive cleaning, such as an acid wash, to the pool surface and this can only be achieved when you empty the pool.
Renovate the Pool: If you have an older pool maybe its time to renovate the whole pool. This usually involves removing the old plaster, aggregate or whatever lining and replacing it with the latest pool lining technology. Usually at the same time you would replace the hydrostatic valve, skimmer box and filtration system.
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Direct The Drained Water Downhill
If possible, direct the drainage hose downhill from the pool. This is an extra precaution in case any drainage problems occur.
For example, if youre draining into a sewer cleanout, you could run into a clog. Over time, the main drain line from your home will contain a buildup of residue. This can include grease, paper, and other waste that goes down all the drains in your home. You may not realize theres a problem until you try to direct tens of thousands of gallons of water down the main drain.
This could cause the water to pool around the drain, and you have the same problem as if youd just drained the water into the ground around the pool. Directing it downhill will help keep it away from the pool should you encounter any problems.
Note: If youre concerned about a clogged sewer cleanout, and its been a while since you cleaned your homes main drain, consider using a drain treatment before you drain your pool.
Next Connect Your Cyclone To The Skimmer:
Youll need to have two extra items, which Ive neglected to mention until now. First, you need small 3 or 6 ft. section of hose to connect to the Cyclone. And second, youll need an adapter to screw the hose securely into the bottom of the skimmer.
Most inground pool skimmers have two holes in the bottom when you look down into them. Usually the poolside hole is blocked off, and the deck-side hole is connected to the pipe. If both holes in the skimmer are open, then you have what most call a combo skimmer. In this case, the poolside hole in the bottom connects to the bottom drain of the pool, and the deck-side one is connected to the skimmer pipe. For combo skimmers, plug the main drain hole with a winter pool plug, and thread your hose adapter into the other hole that leads to the pump.
Thread the 1.5 hose adapter into the bottom hole in your skimmer that connects to the pump. If your skimmer has 2 holes in the bottom, you can use a plumbing adapter available at any home store, called a 2 x 1.5 threaded reducer. This PVC fitting is threaded on both sides, inside and out, to allow a standard hose adapter to fit a 2 skimmer hole.
Attach a 1.5 hose to the hose adapter, the other end to the Cyclone blower, and plug your blower into a grounded extension cord or directly into an outlet. Youre now ready to blow out your pool plumbing lines!
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Dont Strain Your Brain When You Drain
Regardless of what type you have, learning how to drain a pool is an essential part of overall pool care. Once youve done it a time or two, it wont seem so daunting. Just follow all the steps and take all the precautions, especially if you have an inground pool.
Being able to drain your pool so you can make repairs or make improvements like painting will ensure your pool not only remains in good working condition for many years to come, but looks good at the same time.
Happy Swimming!
Easy Steps To Drain An Inground Pool
- Written by Luke Arthur on Jan 27, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by
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Conducting an inground pool drain is something that all pool owners have to deal with at some point. Whether it is the end of the swimming season or the pool needs to be drained for some other reason, you will have to get the water out at some point. If you have never done it before, it might seem like a big job. However, once you break it down into manageable steps, it is really not that difficult. Here are a few easy steps that you can take to drain an inground pool.
1. Make Sure You Can Drain Your Pool
2. Locate the Sewer Drain
When you empty the pool, you do not want to just run the water out onto the yard. In most situations, you will want to locate the sewer drain that is located somewhere in your yard. This will give you a direct access point to the sewer and allow you to get rid of the water easily. If you can not find it or are not close enough to it, you may be able to run the water in the street and into a drain. This is not the ideal solution but it may be able to get you by in a pinch.
3. Find a Sump Pump
4. Pump Out the Water
Hook up the sump pump to the hose and drop it down in the pool. Run the hose into the sewer drain and the water will be pumped out of the pool and into the sewer.
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