How often should I drain my swimming pool?

Author: Mrs. Summer Goyette  |  Last update: Monday, March 21, 2022

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.

When should I drain my pool and start over?

Your pool professional will make the call on whether a repair warrants draining the pool. Finally, most pools should be drained and refilled about once every 5-7 years, or when the total dissolved solids (TDS) reaches over 2500 ppm. When this happens, it will become difficult to balance your pool water.

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.

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.

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.

Pool Drains|How Often Should I Drain My Pool? -iPoolsAZ

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.

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.

Is it OK to leave an inground pool empty?

Once water is removed (and subsequently, the interior hydrostatic pressure), if there's an influx of groundwater, it will push the pool up and out of place. As a general rule, you shouldn't keep any pool empty for longer than it needs to be. Get the work done that you needed to do and refill it as soon as possible.

Do you have to empty a pool in winter?

No, you don't need to drain all of the water. We know that draining your pool is a hassle and you want to conserve as much water as possible; however, it is necessary to drain some of the water out of your pool. You will need to drain the water level down below the skimmer level.

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.

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 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.

Do you have to change the water in a swimming pool?

The water in a swimming pool is drained as few times as possible in it's lifetime. Normally, there is no reason change the water. Chemicals and Filtration should keep the water both sanitary and clear.

How much water can I drain from my pool?

It's acceptable to drain the pool a few more inches below that if you live in an area that gets heavy precipitation during the winter months. Some pool professionals even suggest draining the water to as much as 6 inches below the skimmer — about the level of the bottom of the pool's return jet.

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.

How long does it take to drain a 5000 gallon pool?

How long it will take to drain your pool will depend on the size of your pool, and how many gallons per minute the pump can move. But you're probably looking at somewhere between 8 and 14 hours for your pool to empty.

What can be done with an unused inground pool?

Here are three ideas for that unused pool:
  • Remove it. The cost will depend on the size of your pool, and also on whether an earthmover can easily get into your yard. ...
  • Retire it. ...
  • Cover it temporarily.

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.

What does pool maintenance include?

At California Pool Care this includes removing debris on the bottom of the pool, complete a chemical balance analysis which may require adding chlorine or other sanitizer to satisfy the pool requirements, test and adjust the chemical sanitizer levels, check the water level to be sure the pump is able to operate ...

How much does it cost to run a pool per month?

How much does a pool cost to run? The average swimming pool will cost between $660 and $1,000 to run annually – consuming between 2,000 and 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. That's about $23 each week!

Can you drain pool water into grass?

Flooding Your Grass Is Not A Good Idea

The problem with draining your pool in the yard, if permitted by your local water regulatory laws, is that it will quickly reach its saturation level and increase the risk of flooding your lawn, drowning the roots of your grass, and attracting mosquitoes.

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