How To Do Just About Everything
By eHow Home & Garden Editor
Rate: (20 Ratings)
When cool weather rolls around, it's time to put away the pool toys and drain the swimming pool. Here are directions for emptying both aboveground and sunken pools.
eHow Home & Garden Editor
How to Landscape Around a Pool
By:
eHow Home & Garden Editor
How to Landscape a Tall House on a Small Lot
By:
eHow Home & Garden Editor
How to Conserve Water in Your Garden
By:
eHow Home & Garden Editor
How to Hire a Swimming Pool Installer
By:
eHow Home & Garden Editor
Comments
Anonymous said
on 8/11/2006 No swimming pool should ever be left empty longer than absolutely necessary for maintenance or repairs.
The Process of Draining a Fiberglass Swimming Pool:
Basically, there are two methods to achieve this end. The usual way is to purchase a backwash hose from a pool supply store and attach it to the filter. The other method would be with a sump pump (preferably 2") and be sure to run the hose away from your property, and your neighbors property. Be careful not let the pump continue to run after the pool is empty because it will burn out.
Because even the smallest swimming pool has at least 10,000 gallons of chlorinated water, you should be cautious when determining where to dump the water. Some townships even have regulations, so you should check and find out.
Hydrostatic Relief Valve:
Some fiberglass pools have a hydrostatic relief valve in the bottom drain, but only if the drain is in the center of the pool, as opposed to one of the sides.
After removing the valve, place a pipe into the valve (about 3’ to 4’ long) and put a hose through the pipe. This will prevent the hose from laying on the bottom while you're working. Bring the hose up over the top of the coping and attach a pump (dual hoses) to draw the water from underneath the pool. This is just ground water, so there is no chemical content to be concerned about. Point the water flow to a drainage area away from the pool, and other homes in your proximity.
Stand Pipe:
Some pools had a water problem during construction and, to the current owners good fortune, have a "stand-pipe" usually located near the pump and filter. This white PVC pipe goes directly into a 4' by 4' pit filled with stone underneath the pool. Simply remove the cap and place a long flexible hose into the pipe, then attach the hose to a dual hose pump and remove the underground water.
Quite often, a stand pipe equivalent was used when the pool was built, and a high water table was encountered. You may have a piece of black PVC emerging from the ground where the concrete deck and landscaping join. It is lower than the deck level and can easily be missed. This PVC serves the same function as a stand-pipe and should be used as explained above.
Well Points:
If you’re in a beach area or other low lying area, you may need to consider “well points”, but this is a last resort and is rarely necessary under most conditions. When well points are necessary, they should be installed by an experienced individual. Some pools require well points only on one side, while others must have well points around the entire pool.
Anonymous said
on 5/11/2007 In-ground (sunken) swimming pools often have hydrostatic pressure relief valves located in the floor (or main drain) of the pool. The function of this type of valve is to relieve the pressure of exterior groundwater on the pool walls and floor by allowing this water to flow into the pool and be pumped away as the pool is being drained.
As a pool is being emptied (and interior water pressure on the pool structure is being removed), exterior groundwater will continue to exert tremendous pressure on the pool structure. Failure to open the pressure relief valve(s) allows this exterior pressure to build, since it is no longer counter-balanced by interior water pressure. This build-up of exterior groundwater pressure can cause serious damage to the pool structure. This could include causing the pool itself to "float" (like a boat) out of the ground, tearing up decking and piping, or causing other serious structural damage (such as pool cracks, etc).
Before beginning to empty a sunken (in-ground) pool, all pool owners should consult either a pool builder, the owner's manual from the builder, the previous pool owner, or a pool industry professional to determine the existence and location of any hydrostatic pressure relief valves. This is of special concern to anyone owning a pool located in an area of high ground water (for example, next to an ocean, bay, lake, or river) or located in any low-lying area. Also, be careful when emptying any pool after a period of extended precipitation.
In cases of pools located in areas with an extremely high ground water table, after the pool has been emptied, it is often necessary to attach a hose to the open pressure relief valve and continuously pump away in-flowing groundwater during the entire time that the pool is to be kept empty (for example, during repair, painting, paint drying, etc).
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Siphon-drain an above-ground pool or in-ground pool where the land slopes away: Submerge and fill the pool vacuum hose or a garden hose with water. Cover one end tightly, and pull it out of the pool and below the pool water level. It will drain itself!