How to empty the pool? and in which cases should you do it?
If you’re wondering how to empty the pool after the summer, there are several quick and effective methods to accomplish the task. However, draining the water is not a recommended practice and should be done in specific situations.
As far as possible, you should always be applying regular maintenance to the pool water. In this way, it is possible to preserve its properties for a long time and continue to enjoy it without any problem. Therefore, find out how and when to drain a pool below.
Methods for emptying a swimming pool
There are different methods to proceed with the emptying of a swimming pool. It is best to have automatic systems, such as scrubbers, that do all the work for you.
However, you can also do it manually using a hose. Either way, you won’t spend a lot of time and energy in the process.
Emptying swimming pool with purifier
If you have a sand filter in your pool, it will be the first technique you will use to empty the water. In addition, it is considered one of the most recommended and used methods by people.
In essence, the process is quite simple, for which you will only need to follow the steps below:
- Set the selector valve tap to the drain mode.
- Locate the bottom cleaner hose at the base of the pool so that it sucks the water to the outside.
With these two simple steps you will be able to clear the pool completely. It is recommended that you have plenty of room for the water you are removing. Or you can choose to recycle it and use it for other purposes.
Emptying swimming pool with pump
For some types of pools, they may already have their own drainage system. This way, all you have to do is turn on the key to activate the drain.
Among the most commonly used methods is the implementation of a filter pump. For its use, it is essential that the pool cleaner and skimmer valves are closed.
The next thing is to place the filter in its drain position, while also unlocking the motor shaft.
Then, the pump will take care of the whole process, the duration of which will depend on the volume of water supported by your pool.
Emptying the pool with a hose
One of the classic ways to remove water from a pool is to use a typical irrigation hose. This is in case you don’t have a pump or purifier for automatic emptying. What is true is that it takes a little more effort, but it is still effective.
In addition, using a hose it is possible to empty those areas where the previous methods could not reach.
The procedure is quite simple and it is thanks to gravity that it has an effect, added to the principle of communicating vessels. In order to do this, you must do the following:
- Place one end of the hose on the bottom of the pool.
- You will let the hose fill with water while you cover the other end to prevent air from entering.
- You will bring the mouth of the outside hose to the drain point, always keeping the other end in the pool.
- Uncover the end where the water will come out and wait for it to drain.
For this method, it is recommended that you attach the mouth of the hose that goes into the pool with any kind of weight. That way, you make sure that it stays at the bottom of the water at all times.
Removing water from the pool with buckets or basins
It is, without a doubt, the most difficult option as it involves the greatest physical effort of all. If you do not have an irrigation hose, pump or purifier, you will have to opt for this option to empty your pool.
It is only recommended when it is an inflatable pool because the volume of water is much smaller compared to other types of pools.
How to empty a removable pool?
It is always recommended the implementation of a pump or a scrubber in the pools, not only for the care they give to the water, but for the ability to empty it. In fact, they do it automatically and don’t require much intervention on your part.
However, it may be the case that you do not have this type of element in your pool. For these situations, the classic method of emptying with a hose is the ideal method and the one you should opt for.
As explained above, you will only need to have an irrigation hose or the pool cleaner hose to apply the communicating vessels method. Thus, in a fast and efficient way, you will empty all the water you have in your pool.
Problems to consider when draining your pool
With all the chemical treatments available today, draining the pool was no longer an option a long time ago. Above all, in the face of the different problems that derive from this action. Some of these are:
- If the pool shell is not filled with water, temperature changes can affect its structure. In fact, heat causes cracks, while cold causes a contraction effect, resulting in cracks. This translates into avoidable repair costs.
- Water is the primary means of stabilizing the forces within the pool. For this reason, it is always recommended never to empty it completely. Earth movements are free to generate cracks and fissures, if there is no force to neutralize the thrust produced by the different materials.
- From an environmental point of view, swimming pools are a huge waste of water, which has an impact on the hydrological crisis that the world is going through. That’s why emptying the pool also means an inconsiderate consumption of water that can be avoided by chemical treatments to make it last longer.
- Having a deep structure, made of hard materials such as metal or concrete, is always a danger to anyone. Therefore, emptying a pool is an area prone to avoidable accidents.
- If we want to refill a pool, it will have a high cost, currently filling a 48m3 pool costs around 100€.
If you have no choice but to remove the water from the pool, either because it cannot be saved with chemical treatments, try to be quick. That is, once you have emptied the pool, clean it as soon as possible and refill it.
In this way, the pool shell will not suffer so much from temperature changes and its surfaces will not be affected.
When should we empty a pool?
It is not always necessary to empty a pool. So when should I empty it?
Install pool lighting
If you want to illuminate a swimming pool with an electrical installation, the pool must be emptied. As mentioned above, filling a pool can be expensive. As a possible solution, solar led pool lights can be installed.
Cleaning the pool
It is important to keep the pool clean and disinfected. That is why this is one of the cases in which we must empty the pool. If the pool is in good condition it will not need to be emptied. The better you maintain your pool, the less often you will have to empty it.
Repairing the pool
If the pool has damages or cracks we will have to empty the pool to be able to fix them.