How to Drain All the Water From an Above-Ground Pool

Gain easy access to pool surfaces by draining the water from your above-ground pool.

Above-ground swimming pools come in different sizes, thus they hold different amounts of water. Draining the body of water completely from the pool is one way to gain access to pool surfaces for cleaning and to refresh the pool's water. Draining the water from an above-ground pool requires the use of a sump pump or other suction pump.

Things You'll Need

• Sump pump
• Drainage hose

Instructions

1. Prepare a suitable area for receiving the water drained from the pool. Use a waste drain or other area of the yard that can handle the amount of water contained in the above-ground pool.

2. Shut off the above-ground pool's pump and motor. Lower a sump pump or other submersible pump into the above-ground pool as far down as the pump's waste line permits.

3. Move the pump's waste line to the suitable drainage area. Turn on the pump and allow it to drain the water from the above-ground pool.

4. Lower the pump deeper into the pool as the water level drops. Ensure that the pump remains at least several inches beneath the water level at all times to avoid damaging it.

5. Turn off the sump pump and remove it from the pool once the pump no longer moves water. Vacuum up any remaining areas of water with a shop vacuum once very little water remains in the pool.

Tips & Warnings

• Never run the above-ground pool system while draining its water or you might damage the filter and pump.

References

• How to Drain Pool: Draining a Swimming Pool