How often should you change pool water?

Author: Perry Greenholt  |  Last update: Monday, March 21, 2022

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.

How long can you keep water in a swimming pool?

If you utilize some chemicals you can keep your kiddie pool water for much longer. If your children use the pool on a daily basis, empty the water every month. If your children use the pool infrequently, wait a month and a half to two months before changing the water.

What happens if you don't change pool water?

Draining or emptying your pool of water can create a number of financial and structural headaches, including: Cracking the pool's shell. Damaging the interior lining or surface. Damaging the pool's coping and surrounding paving or timber work.

How often should I empty my pool water?

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.

Should I drain my pool and start over?

You may throw up your hands and decide the best course of action is to drain the pool and start over. In fact, draining a pool should be a last resort. Most in-ground pools will have to be drained and refilled at some point. But cleaning should not be the reason to do it.

Changing your pool water: Why and When

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 if it's green?

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 need to change 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.

How long can you leave a pool drained?

If ground water is not a problem a pool can be left empty for weeks or even months as long the hydrostatic relief in the bottom of the pool is open and functioning. If the time frame of the pool being empty gets into freezing weather there is real risk of freeze-thaw damage to surface of the pool.

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.

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.

Is it OK to leave a concrete pool empty?

Concrete Pools

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.

How long is pool water good for without chlorine?

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.

What happens to a pool without chlorine?

Statistically, a pool without chlorine is more likely to make you sick because of the possibility of being exposed to the things not contained or killed by chlorine. Remember, your skin is porous, so microscopic impurities can pass through. A pool sans chlorine is akin to a big puddle of murky water.

Can a pool pop out of the ground?

Much of this rain water penetrates into the ground, raising the inground water table, which creates a lot of hydrostatic pressure pushing up on the pool. After the water table raises enough, the pool may float or pop up out of the ground.

Can I leave my inground pool empty over winter?

It's not good to leave your pool empty when the weather gets cold. Leaving your pool filled with water can help prevent your vinyl or concrete foundation from being damaged.

Is pool water clean?

While public pools are typically treated with chlorine and other chemicals to ward off germs, that doesn't mean they are perfectly clean. In fact, a 2016 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 80 percent of public swimming pools had health and safety violations.

How do you know if pool water is safe?

The water should be clear and blue. Look for any cloudiness in the water. Make sure you can see all the way to the bottom of the pool, even the deep end. If the water is tinted green or it is cloudy, it may be contaminated with algae.

How often should you put chlorine in pool?

Factor #2: Frequent Use

If you use your pool or hot tub more than once per day during swim season, you may want to increase your free chlorine testing frequency to 4 or 5 times per week. Perspiration contains bacteria that free chlorine will react with to sanitize your pool.

What is the fastest way to clean a dirty pool?

Method 1: No Drain Cleaning (Filter, Vacuum & Floc to Clean Mud)
  1. Start by Cleaning the Pool Surrounds. ...
  2. Use a Skimmer Net to Clean the Water Surface. ...
  3. Add Chlorine & Lots of It. ...
  4. Clean the Pool Floor with a Vacuum. ...
  5. Run Your Filter Continuously. ...
  6. Add Flocculant to Clear the Water. ...
  7. Test balance the Water.

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.

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.

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