There is more to draining a pool than just pulling a plug or starting a siphon. If you do it incorrectly, you risk damaging your pool, yard, and even the property of your neighbor. These instructions on how to drain pool water using a garden hose and without a pump will be useful. Several times during the life of a pool, it may require a fresh start. Every five years, the pool usually needs to be drained for repairs or maintenance that can’t be done underwater or because the water quality has gotten so bad that it can’t be fixed. And while draining a pool may seem like a simple concept, some pools, like fiberglass and vinyl, aren’t meant to be drained, so they require special consideration. Before you begin, there is a lot to learn.
Why Should You Drain Your Pool?
First and foremost, why would you want to drain all of the water from your pool? For starters, you might need to make a repair that can’t be done underwater, or the pool might need a truly deep cleaning, such as acid washing, that can only be accomplished when it is empty.
Also, if the water in your pool hasn’t been changed in more than five years, it’s probably time to replace the water. This is because the chemicals you use to keep the water clean and clear accumulate over time and begin to appear as particles known as total dissolved solids, or TDS. While this isn’t dangerous, once the TDS level exceeds 2,500 parts per million, you’ll most likely be using an excessive amount of chemicals to keep the water’s pH balanced. You can check your pool’s TDS levels using a TDS meter.
When Should You Drain Your Pool?
The answer to this question might seem like a simple one: whenever you want to! However, there are a few considerations to make before simply trying to suck your pool dry.
First is the weather. When there is no water in the pool, the pool liners should not be exposed to sunlight. The heat and UV rays can damage the liner, and then you’ll be looking at a repair that may even be bigger than the reason you drained your pool in the first place. So if you have the option, it’s best to wait for the cooler temperatures and shorter sunlight hours in the fall and spring to drain your pool. Anything below 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) is acceptable.
If you have an in-ground pool, you must consider two additional climate-related factors. These pools are designed to weigh water and hold it in place, so when they’re empty, they are easier to displace. If the ground freezes or there has been a lot of rain for a few days, the water table could rise and push these pools out of the ground, which could damage them. Wait until the weather is warm and dry before emptying them.
What Should I Consider Before Draining a Pool?
Draining a pool may be necessary in some cases, but there are things you should consider first before doing it. You want to make sure you complete the task correctly the first time. As a result, you must follow our tips. Knowing how to drain pool water with a garden hose and without a pump will also save you a lot of time and money.
Before you do anything, you should consider whether or not your pool can be drained. This is especially true if your pool has a filter, as some filters can cause issues. Another factor you need to consider is whether or not you have an automatic drain.
A pool has numerous features, each of which requires maintenance and repair to ensure that it operates safely. Also, don’t drain the pool until the water level drops and all the leaves have floated to the surface and been removed.
Materials and Tools
Fortunately, draining a pool does not necessitate the use of many tools or materials. Here are the items you’ll need:
- A fully submersible pump (available for purchase or rent) (available for purchase or rent)
- Enough garden hose to reach the drainage point from the pool.
- A sump pump to garden hose adapter (if your pump didn’t come with one)
- Hydrostatic plug replacement
- Hammer
- Chisel or screwdriver
- Large pliers
How to Drain Pool Water
When you drain the water from the pool for passive winterization, you lower the water line to just below the skimmer level and flush the water from the pipes. The key is not taking out so much water that you compromise the pool structure.
How to Drain an Above-Ground Pool
You might believe that draining your pool is as simple as switching your pool’s filtration system to “backwash” or “waste” mode. (Hint: It’s not.) Your pool’s pump is water-cooled, which means it must have water flowing through it at all times or it will overheat and fail. Again, you don’t want your water-draining project to be any more expensive than it needs to be, so don’t rely on the existing pump to do the job.
Instead, be sure your pool’s filtration system is unplugged to avoid any accidents. Then, buy or rent a submersible pump. You’ll want to make sure that the cord on the pump is long enough to reach from an outlet to the bottom of the pool and that the drain garden hose is long enough to get to the water disposal point. It’s best to connect the pump to a GFCI outlet (which should also be connected to your filtration system) and to avoid using extension cords if possible.
Place the pump in the center of the pool, connect the garden hose to the sewage point, and turn it on to begin draining your pool water. Be patient; it may take up to 14 hours for all the water to drain. Once the majority of the water has been removed, you can either let evaporation take care of the small puddle of water left behind or soak it up with mops or towels.
Read Also: SALT WATER POOL MAINTENANCE: Checklist, Cost, and Detailed Guide
How to Drain an In-Ground Pool
The steps are the same as above, including disconnecting your pool’s filtration system and using a submersible pump to remove the majority of the water. However, in-ground pools have one additional step, and that is to remove the hydrostatic plugs.
These plugs are installed at the bottom of the pool and are often covered in plaster that must be chipped away to gain access. After that, unscrew the plugs with pliers to allow groundwater into the pool. It may seem counterintuitive to allow water into a pool you are trying to drain, but this step helps relieve groundwater pressure, which could otherwise lead to pool pop.
Wait for the submersible pump to remove this additional water, then mop up the rest of the water or wait for it to evaporate. There won’t be much left once the plugs are removed and the pump has dealt with the flow.
After your pool is drained, go ahead and give it a good cleaning, make any necessary repairs, and fill it back up with clean, clear water. Once the chemicals are added and balanced, you should be all set to enjoy another few years of splashing in the sunshine.
Read Also: TANKLESS WATER HEATER MAINTENANCE: Complete Guide
How to Drain Pool With Garden Hose
Draining your pool is one of the most effective ways to clean it. You can then fill the pool back up with fresh water after using a garden hose to clean it all the way around. It may take more time to drain your pool than to leave it filled, but you will be able to clean every inch of your pool when it is drained.
It is best to drain your pool after allowing the air and chlorine to escape. After that, you must understand how to use a garden hose to drain a pool. Find the drain plug for your swimming pool first. Turn on the water once you’ve located the plug. Then, insert the hose into the pool and connect the end to the plug. Wait for the water to drain into the hose.
Remove the plug from the hose and turn off the water once it begins to drain. This should drain your pool gradually. You can also repeat the process until the pool is completely drained.
How Much Does It Cost to Drain a Pool?
If you do it yourself, the costs are minimal. According to Bodden, some in-ground pools lack backwashing or self-draining systems, so you’ll need a submerged pump connected to a garden hose.
If you hire a pro, expect to pay around $115 per hour for what usually amounts to a couple of hours of work.
How do I get water out of my pool without a pump?
You have three options for draining an above-ground pool: using a garden hose to siphon water, a submersible pump, or your pool’s drain adapter. If you only need to partially drain your pool to adjust the chemistry of the water, siphoning the water out with a garden hose is a simple solution.
Can you drain a pool with a hose?
Yes. Put one end of your garden hose inside the port. Connect the hose to the outside of your home. Connect the other end of the garden hose to a submersible pump, and place the hose and pump near the drain in the deepest part of your pool. The pool will start to drain.
How do you drain an underground pool?
Here is how to Drain a Swimming Pool Using a Cartridge Filter
- Turn off the pump.
- Remove the drain plug from the back of the filter.
- Restart the pump and allow the water to flow until it reaches the point where you want to drain it.
- Restart the pump and replace the plug in the drain plug.
How do you drain an outdoor pool?
Every swimming pool owner knows that draining the water from the pool is necessary from time to time.
To do so, you can:
- Suck up the stagnant water with a wet vacuum.
- Pour the liquid down the drain.
- Remove the pool liner and flip it somewhere on your property to get rid of extra water.
What is the easiest way to drain a pool?
Using a submersible pump is the fastest way to drain your pool. It works like a vacuum to quickly remove water, but you must keep an eye on it while it is running. Another option for draining water is a garden hose siphon, but it will take much longer.
What is the easiest way to remove water from a pool?
Turn off the pump. Backwash the hose into the yard or an approved draining area. Using the Drain Valve- If your system has a valve in between the pump and the filter.
- Turn off the pump and rotate the valve to prevent water from entering the filter.
- Turn the pump on, and the water will come out of the opening.
Conclusion
Most people don’t know how to drain pool water with a garden hose or without a pump because they have little experience with pool maintenance. If you know what you’re doing, you can use a garden hose for this job. The most common way to drain a pool is to use a garden hose connected to an exterior spigot.
A garden hose is one of the best tools for draining a pool in terms of effortless results and low cost. You can use a garden hose instead of an expensive pump. Furthermore, most garden hoses include a trigger valve. This means that when you turn the handle of the garden hose, water begins to flow.
So, when you’re ready to drain your pool water, simply turn on the garden hose. This can save hours of work. However, before you begin the draining process, you should make sure that there is a steady flow of water coming out of your garden hose.
Related Articles
