Reasons To Drain Your Pool
Poor water quality, due to an overabundance of Total Dissolved Solids , or high levels of Cyanuric Acid , or high Calcium Hardness, is the most common reason for needing to drain a pool.
Even with proper and regular pool maintenance, it’s often necessary to drain your pool either completely or partially every 3-5 years.
Draining your pool often isn’t necessary, especially if you’re following a proper and regular maintenance program. However, there are a few reasons that lead to a complete, or partial, pool drain.
Turn Off And Remove The Submersible Pump
Youll reach a point where the water level is so low, the pump can no longer pull any water out of the pool, and youre left with a smallish puddle. This is normal, and acceptable. The amount of TDS in that little puddle isnt going to be enough to interfere with your chemical balance once you refill the pool.
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If The Water Needs To Be Changed
At some point, the pool water will have to be changed out. Theres no way around this, but waiting until the last possible minute will save you the work and costs associated with draining and refilling a pool multiple times.
Issues like green pool water, high levels of calcium or cyanuric acid in the pool may require a partial drain to dilute the water. This isnt half as labor intensive or costly as a full drain. Additionally, you may still be able to rectify some of these water issues through the addition of certain chemicals.
After a few years though, the level of TDS in the water will be too high to ignore. Total dissolved solids are exactly what it sounds like theyre a record of everything the pool water has dissolved.
Measured in parts per million with a digital tester, TDS levels should become concerning around the 4000 ppm mark. For reference, drinking water has roughly 500 ppm, whereas ocean water is closer to 30,000 ppm.
Most water issues can be rectified by adding chemicals, but the only way to get rid of high levels of TDS is by doing a drain. Theres no way around this unfortunately, as the addition of more chemicals will only increase the already high TDS levels.
Things youll notice when TDS gets too high include an increased consumption of sanitizing chemicals, and the appearance of stains on the pools finish due to the oversaturation of minerals in the water. If high TDS levels arent dealt with, they can even cause the finish to erode.
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How To Drain And Refill Your Swimming Pool
This article was co-authored by Matt Daly. Matt Daly is a Landscape Designer and the Founder of Water & Earth Landscape Design, which is based in both Richmond, Virginia, and San Jose, California. With nearly 10 years of experience, he specializes in designing outdoor living spaces, including patios, pools, and fireplaces. Matt also runs a blog where he educates homeowners about landscaping topics: https://www.liveinyourbackyard.com/. He earned his Landscape Design & Horticulture Certification from The University of Richmond, where he also studied Sustainable Landscape Practices.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 675,765 times.
Swimming pool water can get bad over the years so bad that chemicals lose their effectiveness. With this information and a free weekend, you can drain and refill your pool without spending much more than $200 .
Once Your Circulation System Is Prepped
Automatic timers off! Imagine your pump comes on at any point during the draining process, pulls in air instead of water, and overheatssometimes, this will even make pumps melt. No, thanks. And imagine your pool lights come on at 7:00 to an empty pool, heat up, and shatter. Now stop imagining and make sure your system is offseriously, off.
Once your pool drains, you might find that it wasnt as clean as you thought. To properly maintain sparkingly pool floors and wallswithout hurting yourself in the processtry the patented 360-Degree Bristles Black & Decker Pool Brush. It was developed by long-term pool professionals to eliminate the hip and back pain associated with one-sided brushes.
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If Theres Been Rain Wait
Stormy week? If you were ever curious about the absolute worst time to drain your pool, this is it. Because the rain has recently sunk into your yard, there is more pressure on the sides of your pool, and an increased risk that the ground will push the pool to pop out as the water empties.
Give the ground a few weeks to dry out before you attempt to drain your pool. While the ground itself might look dry, you never know whats happening under the surfaceand a pool pop-up is one mean way to find out.
Replacing Old Pool Water
Youve been taking good care of your pool, but eventually, even regular pool maintenance wont be enough to have clean water in your swimming pool.
The total dissolved solids or TDS in your water will get so high that you can no longer filter it out and maintain proper water chemistry. That means one thing: time to change the water!
Total dissolved solids is a measure of the number of minerals in your pool that includes all the chemicals youve used to clean it and dirt, pollen, algae, etc.
The first thing to do is to find a suitable place where you can drain your pool water. Many places will work, but some are better than others. We will discuss the pros and cons of each option so that you know what youre getting into before draining any water.
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If There Are A Combination Of Things
Waiting until its absolutely necessary to do a pool drain has a hidden advantage you can do multiple things to the pool all at the same time.
Repair structural issues and then acid wash it. Replace a vinyl liner thats about to give up the ghost when doing a water swap. If you can time things right, youll save a lot of money by tackling multiple issues during a single drain.
What Is The Fastest Way To Drain An Inground Pool
The easiest way to lower the water level in a pool is to place the multiport valve into the waste position and roll out the backwash hose. To lower the level of the pool, backwash the filter if you have a slide.
from an In-ground Pool If your pool is located in an enclosed space, such as a basement or crawlspace, it may not be possible to remove the slide from the bottom. In this case, use the same method as described above for removing a filter.
However, if you do not have access to a drill press, or you are unable to drill a hole large enough to fit the valve, then you may need to use a hand drill. To drill the hole, place a small piece of wood or other material between the drill bit and the PVC pipe. The hole should be about 1/2 inch in diameter, and about 3/4 inch deep.
Then, using a 1-1/8-inch-diameter hole saw, drill through the wood to the other side. Be careful not to cut the pipe, as this may damage it.
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Ways To Drain Water From An Inground Swimming Pool
Keeping your inground pool full of clean, sparkling water is probably your top priority as a pool owner. Unfortunately, circumstances sometimes force you to consider emptying your pool to address a structural or water-related issue. Draining your pool may seem like a straightforward process, but doing it incorrectly can cause severe damage. Understanding the correct way to drain your inground pool — and when it’s best to call a professional — can mean the difference between a functioning pool and expensive repair bills. Whatever type of pool you have, make sure to check local regulations regarding drainage before emptying your pool.
Time To Clean The Swimming Pool But Where To Drain The Water
MEDIA RELEASE: For Immediate Release 14 May 2020
Time to clean the swimming pool but where to drain the water?
Its that time of year when you are likely thinking about getting the pool or hot tub ready for the summer season. Its a good idea to prepare by first checking with your local town or city to find out what you should do with the water when you drain the pool. Beware, that releasing pool or hot tub water containing chlorine or salt directly into the street or a storm drain could bring a very heavy fine. Thats because those chemicals would then flow untreated into a local stream, river or lake and could result in a fish die-off or be very harmful to aquatic life, said Linda Heron, Chair of the Ontario Rivers Alliance .
Your City or Town will have a sewer use by-law that outlines the requirements for the draining of hot tubs and pools. For instance, the City of Guelph provides the details of how to do this and are available on their website.
Pools and hot tubs need to be left uncovered to dechlorinate and then should be drained into a laundry tub or another drain connected to the Citys sanitary sewer system where it will be treated. If that isnt possible, pools should be slowly drained onto the owners lawn or garden so the ground can absorb it, but ensure it doesnt flow onto your neighbours property.
The ORA recommends that you call your local City or Town to find out what they recommend, said Linda Heron.
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Drain Your Pool With A Submersible Pool Pump
A submersible pump is an affordable piece of pool equipment that offers a few uses. Not only is it helpful to remove water from melted snow on the top of a winter cover in the spring, but it can also help you remove water from your pool in preparation of winter.
How To Drain A Pool Of Any Kind
Every time you jump into your pool, its a sensation of being immersed in cool, clean water. But how clean is the water, really? Sure, you use sanitizer the way youre supposed to and you clean the pool. But if its been a few years since your pool was filled, it may be time to drain it and start fresh.
And no matter how well you take care of your pool, there will come a time when it needs repairs, from minor touch-ups on a vinyl liner to plastering cracks in the cement. And its pretty hard to fix those spots on the floor of the deep end without removing the water first. So take a little time to learn how to drain a pool so youre ready for anything.
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Why Should You Drain Your Pool
Ask almost any pool professional if you should completely empty your in-ground pool, and the answer will be a resounding no.
I never recommend a full drain of any swimming pool unless you are being advised by a pool professional, says John Bodden, an operations support advisor for Americas Swimming Pool Company . Totally draining a pool should be done only for repairs and only a last option.
Without the weight of the water to stabilize it, Bodden says, the pool walls could collapse, or the pool will pop out of the ground. But draining an in-ground pool isnt an all-or-nothing task, at least not in normal circumstances.
In areas where temperatures routinely drop below 41 degrees, draining some water as part of passive winterization will help protect the structure, pipes and equipment from freeze damage. It also prevents the potential for overflow should the pool water freeze and expand.
How Do You Drain A Pool With A Garden Hose
The garden hose needs to be put inside the port. As the water level increases, the pool will begin to fill. If you are using a pump, you will need to make sure that the pump is running at a steady rate.
You can use a timer to keep track of how much water is being pumped, or you can set the timer on your pump to automatically shut off when the pool is full.
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Read This Before Draining Your Pool
As peak pool season comes to an end, you may be wondering what to do with your pool. Or maybe your water has taken a turn for the worse following some rain, or you neglected to clean it in a timely fashion. Whatever the reason, many pool owners think the logical solution is to drain the pool. This is a bad idea for a number of reasons.
Get To Know Your Relief Valves
Get ready for some jargon, but I promise it wont last: the hydrostatic pressure relief valves of your pool are essential to preventing a pop upand if this is your first time draining, you might not even be aware that you have them.
If you look at your pools floor, youll see one or more white rings plastered in place. Under that plaster, theyre threaded into a slotted pipe. That pipe runs along the floor of the pool and ends in an underground gravel pit that was put in place when the pool was originally built. These valves allow water thats accumulated underground to come up into the pool when its drained. Without them, that inevitable underground water would create enough pressure to make your pool pop.
Youll remove these rings once the pool is mostly drained to alleviate the pressure, but might want to have a few extra on hand just in case they get damaged during removal. When it comes to draining your pool, its always best to be prepared.
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Swimming Pool And Spa Water May Only Be Drained To The Citys Storm Drain System/street If The Following Water Quality Requirements/conditions Are Met:
- Chlorine concentration below 0.1 mg/L*
- Bromine concentration below 0.1 mg/L*
- pH should not be below 6.5 or above 8.5
- Shall not contain swimming pool detergents, wastes, algeacides, or cyanuric acid in excess of 50 ppm, or any other chemical including salts from salt water pools. Water should appear clear and clean when drained.
- Volumetrically and velocity controlled to prevent re-suspension of sediment down-gradient of discharge.
- Discharges of filter backwash and/or swimming pools containing bacteria are prohibited.
- mg/L: milligram per liter ppm: parts per million
- *Swimming pool/spa water discharges may be dechlorinated/debrominated using time, aeration, sodium thiosulfate, and/or any other applicable method. Swimming pool/spa water discharged directly to ocean are not subject to chlorine/bromine prohibition.
Check out the VCCCW pool brochures here!
When Should You Drain Your Pool
If you heard about pool pop then this is what happens when you do your pool draining process when you have too much groundwater underneath the pool. That means you shouldnt drain a pool after days of rains. Hydrostatic pressure relief valves adds a layer of protection to prevent pool pop by allowing some water to seep in to counteract the water pressure pressing from beneath. In that case, you wouldnt be able to drain the pool entirely.
Given Arizonas harsh summer heat, it is advisable to schedule draining your pool during the colder months. The temperatures could reach more than 100 degrees and will crack the pool plaster or the tiles. If you have a pebble pool surface, it is recommended that the ambient temperatures are at 90 degrees or lower. If you have a plaster surface, then you should drain at lower temperatures . Not to mention exposing your pool lights to the elements. Note that the materials on your pools floor is not the same as in your pool sitting.
Many blog articles mention draining your pool every 2 to 3 years. However, given Arizonas harsh climate especially during the summer, your pool is more utilized and thereby receives more TDS and will require balancing the pool water chemistry more often.
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You Have A Plan For Where That Water Will Go
Again, this is thousands of gallons of water youre about to moveand its got to go somewhere. Your game plan really, really matters. If your water is chemically neutral, you can use it in your sprinkler system, and pat yourself on the back for helping out the environment. If your water still has traces of chemicals, your yard is the last place youd want to put it.
So where should all that water go? Again, this is a time when you should consult your local water authority. The usual process is to direct the water into one of your homes sewer cleanouts, but some cities allow you to drain right into the street. Others have tight restrictions. It all depends on where you live.
If you are draining into your sewer, make sure the drainage hose connected to your submersible pump is directed downhill. You never quite know if your sewer cleanout is significantly clogged until youre trying to push thousands of gallons of water through it. If something goes wrong, you want to keep that water as far from your yard as possibleespecially if you have beautiful green foilage.
From here on out, make sure your maintenance is spot on. That includes getting those tough-to-reach cornerswithout hurting yourself in the process. Try the patented 360-Degree Bristles Blue Torrent Pool Brush, developed by long-term pool professionals. As customer Scott Hinds notes, Definitely the best pool brush I have ever owned. Far superior to other brushes.