How often do I need to drain my pool?

Author: Dr. Ari Heller Sr.  |  Last update: Monday, March 21, 2022

Even with proper and regular pool maintenance, it's often necessary to drain your pool — completely or partially — every 3-5 years.

How often should you drain your pool?

Pool industry experts recommend you drain your pool and refill it every five to seven years. No two pools are alike, so there is no set number at which you must drain your pool.

Is it better to drain a pool or clean it?

Most in-ground pools will have to be drained and refilled at some point. But cleaning should not be the reason to do it. Pools will need to be drained and refilled every 5-7 years on average, or if there is a major necessary repair. Otherwise, avoid draining your pool if at all possible.

How long can you leave water in a pool?

I think the answer to your question is about 3-6 days. The problem is that the chlorine that you need to keep the bacteria in check is used up more quickly as the temperature rises, the activity increases, and as sweat and other body stuff is put into the pool.

Can I leave my pool pump off for a week?

Yes you can turn your pool pump off for a week. You can turn it off for a month, but there are consequences. The pool will get dirty—no pump, no filtering. The chemicals will not circulate and the water could start turning a nice shade of green as algae forms.

How Often Should I Drain My Pool?

How long can pool sit without pump?

Your pool can keep running for a few days with no problems while without a pump. However, know that a standard pool needs a pool running for at least once in 24 hours, or you might notice an algae bloom. So, it's best to have your pump ready as soon as possible.

Should I drain my pool every year?

Even with proper and regular pool maintenance, it's often necessary to drain your pool — completely or partially — every 3-5 years. ... Depending on the quality of your fill water and the quality of chemicals you typically add, you should expect to empty your pool every 3 to 5 years due to TDS.

What happens if you don't drain your pool?

Risks of Improperly Draining Your Pool

The pool can heave out of the ground. Sun and exposure can damage your pool. You can damage or burn out your filter pump. You can back up the sewer system into your home.

Do people drain pools?

Some Northern Californians routinely drain their pools each winter so they don't have to maintain them. ... In some cases, draining a pool during winter in Northern California isn't just unnecessary—it can actually cause major problems.

Does draining a pool damage it?

First, if the draining is done at the wrong time or under the wrong conditions, you can actually risk damaging your pool structure and liner. All the water from your pool needs to go somewhere when it's drained, and that usually means the ground.

How much does it cost to drain and clean a pool?

It typically costs $500 to $700 to drain and clean a pool and usually takes several days. Since it's more expensive, a pool company will try other common treatments to clean the pool first.

Do pools have to be drained in winter?

Close the pool for winter – but don't drain it.

In winter, the water in your pool is still your friend. Especially when properly winterized, it helps to protect the pool liner, keep it clean and prevent unnecessary damage from debris, harsh weather and other factors.

When should I change my pool water?

Generally, pool water needs to be replaced once every five to seven years. This should be done during mild weather so that your pool surface is not at risk from strong sunlight and heat. Your pool maintenance company can recommend when it is time to drain your pool.

Where do I drain my pool water?

To Drain Your Pool or Spa
  1. Locate the sewer cleanout on your property or an indoor drain such as a sink or bathtub.
  2. Using a hose, connect a siphon or sump pump that pumps 20 gallons or less per minute to the cleanout or indoor drain. ...
  3. Pump the water from the pool or spa to the cleanout or indoor drain.

Should I drain my pool to get rid of algae?

Should I drain my pool to get rid of algae? Yes, you can because it saves time and money, but only if you do it properly. Use the main drain in your pool and drain water through the filter pump. Or rent or borrow the pump, place the hose down the street or storm drain, and drain.

Do you run pool pump while swimming?

Chemicals that you add to your pool while the water is circulating don't need to be recirculated; they will stay mixed even if you don't pump the water continually. Although it's generally recommended that all the pool water undergo filtration every 24 hours, the pump does not need to run all the time.

Is it better to run a pool pump at night or day?

It may be cheaper to run the pump at night, but honestly you should run it 1 hour a day per 10 degrees of temperature at least, and it should be during the day. Running the pump at night should only be when you are doing a major chemical treatment such as algae clean-up.

Do I have to run my pool pump every day?

Overall, the lessons learned today is you should run your pool pump an average 8 hours a day to properly circulate and clean your water. The pump should push your entire pool in gallons in this 8 hour period of time. Residential pool water only needs to be turned over once daily to have proper filtration.

Can you reuse pool water?

But did you know there's an easy way to reuse the water that's already in the pool? All you have to do is recycle it! Meet reverse osmosis — the best way to purify your swimming pool water. It works by pushing the existing water through semipermeable membranes that hold off any impurities, particles, and buildup.

Can I leave above-ground pool empty?

The answer is always NO. Above ground pools need the weight of the water in them to provide an optimal level of stability. Without water supporting the wall you run the risk of the pool wall coming out of the track. Also without water in the pool the liner can shrink and no longer fit your pool.

How high should pool water be on skimmer?

The level at which pool skimmers function properly is between one third and about half way up the opening of the pool skimmer. If the water level is too high the debris floating next to the opening may pass by without being pulled into the skimmer.

Is it cheaper to clean your own pool?

Doing the pool maintenance yourself may reduce your costs slightly, but not necessarily as much as you might expect. Firstly, you'll need to purchase all the cleaning supplies, chemicals and equipment to carry out the clean. To purchase the just the chemicals, can cost you around $30 per month.

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