You can drain a pool without a pump primarily by using a siphon with a garden hose.
Here’s how to drain your pool without a pump, explained in detail:
Siphoning with a Garden Hose
This is the most common and effective method for draining a pool without a pump.
- Prepare the Hose: Ensure you have a garden hose long enough to reach from the bottom of your pool to a lower drain point.
- Submerge the Hose: Fully submerge the garden hose in the pool, making sure to remove all air bubbles. This can be tricky, so start at one end and slowly push it down until completely full of water.
- Cap One End (Optional but Recommended): While the hose is submerged and full of water, cap one end with your thumb or attach a nozzle you can quickly seal. This helps maintain the prime while you move the hose.
- Place the Outlet: Quickly remove the cap (if used) and place one end of the hose at the desired drainage location, ensuring it is lower than the water level of the pool. The greater the height difference, the faster the siphon will work.
- Start the Siphon: The water should begin flowing out of the hose. If it doesn’t, repeat steps 2-4, ensuring no air is trapped inside.
- Maintain the Siphon: Once the siphon starts, it should continue until the pool water level reaches the hose inlet. If the water level gets too shallow and the siphon breaks, you'll need to restart the process. As suggested by the video reference, attaching the garden hose to your house's water spigot can help re-establish the siphon if the water gets too shallow. Turn on the water briefly to fill the hose and then quickly disconnect and replace the draining end to get the siphon going again.
Important Considerations:
- Drainage Location: Ensure the drainage location is appropriate and won't cause water damage to your property or your neighbor's. Check local regulations regarding pool drainage.
- Height Difference: The greater the vertical distance between the pool's water level and the drain outlet, the faster the siphoning action.
- Hose Length: Use the shortest possible hose length to minimize friction and maximize flow.
- Shallow Water: If the water becomes too shallow for siphoning, you might consider using a wet/dry vacuum to remove the remaining water.
