How to Drain a Pool

'Draining a swimming pool is one of the most difficult jobs in the whole world!' This is what my friend Joey used to tell me, whenever I asked him about it. Well, that was probably because he knew nothing about it. But then I got a chance to spend some time with a couple of professionals, who seemed to do this work using their little finger.

How to Drain a Swimming Pool

Before you start, you must inspect two things. These would help you decide whether your swimming pool requires a change in water or not. It is the calcium hardness level that you would have to watch for. If the value is 350 parts per million (ppm) or above, then you have green flag to go with draining your pool. If the value of the total dissolved solids (TDS) has crossed the mark of 4,000 ppm, even then you need to change the water. Now if you are not so savvy with all these measures, let your common sense decide. If the water has become cloudy or somewhat oily, then you should not give a second thought in draining it. Also, be in 'sink' with the rules regarding water drainage in your city. So ensure that your water does not go for a stroll into the street or local drains or storm sewers. You know well what could be its repercussion. The tips on pool draining await you in the following points:

• First get rid of foliage or visible debris that is present in the water.
• You would have to first switch off the filtering system. Do this so that the automatic timer switches back the filter before the draining is done.
• Now get a hose pipe and attach to a proper submersible water pump. This is to be placed at the clean-out opening of the sewer and in the lowest section of the pool.
• Check if there is any backing up of water while the draining is taking place. Also, ensure that the water is draining into the sanitary sewage.
• One important thing you have to keep in mind is about the water drainage speed. Do not let it cross more than 15 gallons of water to flow out per minute.

Now after the drainage is complete, use a soft-bristled brush and soapy water to get rid of stains or may be algae growth on the pool tiles. For getting rid of the dirty water, you can make use of a water hose. Now if you want to now about how long does it take to drain a pool, then the answer is situational. The size of the pool, the amount of water, the tools at hand and of course the speed that you would work with, would determine how fast can the work be done.

Draining a Pool Without a Pump

You can also drain a pool in a less expensive way by using a simple water hose. This is how you do it:

• Find the nearest outdoor spigot.
• Attach the female end of the hose to it.
• Place its other end into the pool, so that it lies comfortably flat kissing the bottom of the pool.
• Now turn on the water in the spigot. Let the water flow through the hose for a good 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, turn off the spigot, and unscrew the hose from it.
• Immediately after unscrewing it, close the mouth of the hose using a kink, or if you can then you can simply close it with your thumb.
• Now go to a suitable place where you can drain the water. Avoid low lying-areas or areas with plant growth.
• Finally, release the kink and allow the water to drain.

This was about draining a pool with a hose, and without a pump. Remember that you are draining an entire pool, and that's a lot of water. So if you have the slightest of doubt about any of these steps call for a professional, and help your pool to stay as good as new. Best luck with the draining!