How to drain a pool-swimming pool drain guide

Many owners may find draining a swimming pool complicated, messy, and dirty. However, this should not be the case — of course, with a good guide — how to drain a pool. You could be confused and wondering exactly how to go about the swimming pool drain.

Calm down; this simple guide will ensure a quick and seamless draining process. Why?

Even if you take care of your pool correctly, sanitizing, and cleaning, there are many reasons to drain a swimming pool and start afresh. This includes cleaning, repair, remodeling, changing pool water, or seasonal closure. Whatever the reason, it is essential you should learn the swimming pool drain procedure.

How To Drain A Swimming Pool

There are some precautions you must consider before you drain. Most importantly, never use a pool pump to empty the pool. It is designed to operate underwater; hence you may damage it. The best thing is to buy or hire a submersible pump.

Other precautions include:

• Liaise with local authorities to find out the appropriate time and where to dispose of pool water.
• Reduce the chlorinated water’s pH level by (a) stop adding more pool chemicals or (b) use chlorine neutralizers.
• Get repair tools, paints, and repair kits ready.

Easy Steps to Drain a Swimming Pool

This is how to drain a pool with easy steps.

• Isolate Power to the pool lights and pump.
• Put the immersible pump inside the pool.
• Connect one end of a hose onto the pump and the other side to the drainage place.
• Activate the draining pump.
• If the pool has a hydrostatic pressure release valve, unscrew as soon as the pool is empty and tighten just before refilling,
• When the pool is empty, execute your planned activities, e.g. repair, painting, or remodeling.
• Replenish your pool with tap water.
• Add pool start-up pool chemicals.
• Switch on pool lights and pump.

How To Drain An Inground Pool

It is not recommended to drain an inground pool unless it is indispensable. Draining an in ground pool is not a walk in the park because of the dreaded pool pop. Pool popping is common in places with high water and heavy downpour.

Swimming pool drain in such areas results in the pool being pushed up due to the underground water pressure. When draining an inground pool, you must take precautions — don’t drain in the rain, open the hydrostatic pressure relief valves, proper water disposal, and refill quickly.

Follow the process in the previous section to drain an inground swimming pool.

How To Drain An Above Ground Pool

There are two major reasons to drain an above ground pool  — winter storage and repairs.

If you are draining your pool for repairs, follow the following steps:

1. You need a submersible pump or a portable pump, which you can either hire or buy from a hardware store.
2. Place the pump on the swimming pool floor at the deep end and power it on.
3. Keep track of the drainage process to ensure the electrical cable and draining hose stay firm during the process.
4. Switch off and remove the pump. When the level is too low, the pump cannot suck the small puddle in your pool. Scoop any debris at the bottom.
5. Perform the activity you drained the swimming pool for. Act fast enough to do whatever you had planned to do to refill the swimming pool as soon as possible.
6. Use one or several hose pipes to refill the pool.
7. Switch on the pump. When the level reaches about half of the skimmer, turn off the tap water supply and switch on the pump.
8. Use pool chemicals to balance the water.

And for swimming pool drain for storage, apply these steps:

1. Follow steps 1 – 4 above.
2. Dry the pool liner.
3. Fold the pool liner nicely.
4. Store the liner in a dry and well-protected place, preferably in a sturdy box with a lid.
5. Protect the swimming pool frame. You can either dismantle its parts and store them away or cover them with a tarpaulin.

How To Drain A Pool With A Garden Hose

Draining or siphoning a pool with a garden hose is cheap and straightforward. However, the place you are exhausting the water must be lower in elevation than the pool water. The drainage area should also handle the siphoned water.

1. You need ¾ garden hose and a hose cap.
2. Insert one end of the garden hose into the pool.
3. Feed the garden hose into the swimming pool slowly until nearly all of it is submerged.
4. Put the other end beneath the pool surface.
5. While still submerged, fix a hose cap onto one end.
6. Lift the capped end out of the pool and place it in the drainage area.
7. Remove the cap to siphon.

How To Drain A Pool Without A Pump

Draining a pool without a pump is not difficult as it sounds. There are three ways to drain a pool without a pump.

1. Siphoning

This process uses the principle of suction and gravity. Follow the steps in the above section to empty the pool. To hasten the draining process, you can use several garden hoses.

2. Using Buckets

Until the inventions of pumps and hoses, pool owners have been using the good old buckets to remove water from pools. However, this tedious process is suitable for smaller pools. Even so, you will need some help to remove and get the water to the drainage area.

3. Using a Trash Pump

While similar to a pool pump, trash pumps are mainly used to remove debris and clean swimming pool water. However, this process is costly but faster than the above methods of draining a pool without a pump.

Where To Drain Pool Water

Water pool contains more chlorine and salt than tap water; hence take care. You can drain pool water in the following places.

• A home sewer cleanout.
• Use the integrated sewer system to drain off pool water.
• You can also drain onto your property but ensure it does not spill over to your neighbors or streams.
• Dechlorinate the water pool and then drain it to the storm drain sewer.
• Use professional pool-draining services.
• Irrigate landscaping with bermudagrass and oleanders plants, but avoid irrigating salt-sensitive plants such as citrus and hibiscus.

Takeaway

Using this simple step-by-step guide on how to drain a pool, you can quickly, safely, and effectively drain and restore any swimming pool in your backyard. While it is easy and rewarding, emptying a swimming pool needs time and patience.

Must Read: 8 Best Above Ground Pool Reviews for 2021