Draining a swimming pool requires careful steps to avoid damage to your pool and equipment. While the provided YouTube video snippet doesn't detail the entire process, it highlights crucial precautions:
Here's a general guide to safely draining your pool, incorporating the warning from the reference:
Steps to Drain Your Pool
-
Prepare for Drainage:
- Check local regulations regarding water disposal. You might need to discharge the water into a specific drain or location.
- Consider the water's impact on surrounding vegetation. Pool water, especially if chemically treated, can harm plants.
- Determine where you will drain the water (e.g., sewer drain, street).
-
Gather Your Equipment:
- Submersible pump (if not using the pool's pump)
- Garden hose
- Sump pump (optional, for faster draining)
-
Turn Off Equipment:
- Crucially, turn off the breaker to your pool equipment. Lowering the water below your pool lights without doing so can cause damage.
- Turn off the pool pump and filter system.
-
Initiate the Draining Process:
- Using the Pool's Pump (if applicable):
- Connect a backwash hose to the backwash port of your pool filter.
- Set the multiport valve to the "Waste" setting.
- Turn on the pool pump. Monitor the water level to ensure it doesn't go too low too quickly.
- Using a Submersible Pump:
- Place the submersible pump in the deepest part of the pool.
- Connect a garden hose to the pump's outlet.
- Place the other end of the hose in the designated drainage area.
- Plug in the pump and begin draining.
- Using the Pool's Pump (if applicable):
-
Monitor the Water Level:
- Keep an eye on the draining process.
- Avoid draining the pool completely if possible, especially if you live in an area with a high water table, as the pool could "float" or shift. Leaving a foot or two of water can prevent this.
-
Address Potential Issues:
- If the water level is getting close to the bottom and debris is accumulating, you may need to stop the pump occasionally to clean the area around the pump intake.
- Be aware of potential suction hazards, especially when using a powerful pump.
-
Final Steps:
- Once the pool is drained to the desired level, turn off the pump.
- Disconnect the hoses and store the equipment.
- Clean any remaining debris from the pool floor.
Important Considerations:
- Draining a pool can take several hours or even days, depending on its size and the pump's capacity.
- Never drain a pool completely unless absolutely necessary, and always consult a pool professional if you have concerns about your pool's structure or water table conditions. Draining a pool completely can cause the pool walls to crack or the liner to shrink.
