Swimming pools don't actually need to ever be drained, which may come as a huge surprise to overzealous pool owners. Even if your pool water is absolutely gross, a thorough cleaning regimen of vacuuming, filtration, and several days of shocking the water, should be sufficient.
If the level of groundwater is high (which, in some cases, can be all the time. In other cases, this could be only after heavy rainfall), the pressure can cause the pool to heave out of the ground. On average, a pool should be drained and refilled once every three to five years unless there is an emergency.
And finally, partially draining out your pool will reduce all your chemical levels which include cyanuric acid, phosphates and others that are contributing to the cloudiness and the algae in your pool.
“Water acts as a stabiliser that weighs the pool down when it's in the ground, so when you take that water out, it could 'pop' out of the ground or cause the walls to cave in,” explains Swimart Regional Franchise Manager, Peter Allen.
The answer to this question, no, it's not okay to drain your pool and leave it empty! In fact, you really shouldn't be draining your pool unless absolutely necessary!
Additionally, draining increase the risk of calcium deposits, brown manganese stains, and pool deterioration. Basically, if you need to clean your pool, do so with water in it, not out of it. If you aren't sure how to get our Arizona pool clean, contact a pool professional for advice and service.
Most pool professionals suggest draining in-ground pools every five to seven years. Depending on a pool's condition, this may vary. If homeowners maintain the pool properly and keep chlorine and pH levels at the appropriate levels, there's no need to do it more often.
If you drain your pool during the hot, dry Arizona summer months, you risk causing expensive damage to your swimming pool . The floor of the pool can crack due to the heat and lack of moisture.
You should never drain your inground pool during winter. Although it may seem scary to leave water in a pool during freezing temperatures, you can actually damage your pool more by removing too much water. Your water should only be drained so it sits just below the skimmer and jets.
Adding shock to your pool super-chlorinates your water. And this extra dose of sanitizer will kill algae growth. The more serious your pool algae problem, the more shock you'll need. We recommend using calcium hypochlorite shock, or cal-hypo shock, as an effective algae treatment.
Rainwater itself does not cause algae, but it can provide the right environment for algae.
Anytime you treat for algae, you will need to manually vacuum the algae after its dead out of your pool. This means either vacuuming to the “waste” option (on sand filters and some cartridges filters) or vacuuming and then chemically cleaning your cartridge filters.
It may surprise you to learn that algaecide isn't a magic bullet for getting rid of algae in your pool. In fact, algaecide is more effective as a preventive measure than a treatment. Don't get us wrong—it still helps as an algae treatment, just not in the way you might think.
Before draining your pool, use test strips to make sure that your water is chlorine neutral, has a neutral pH, and doesn't have high traces of other chemicals. For the exact levels required, contact your local water authority.
Pools in perfect working order will naturally lose water over time. It's typical for residential pools without a cover to lose up to a quarter-inch of water per day during the summer.
If you have a typical rainfall, or even several inches, your pool should be fine, since drains and skimmers are designed to remove the excess water. In most cases, your pool can even handle rain from most tropical depressions and hurricanes.
Spring can be a good option because the fresh water will be ready for summer swimming. Fall can work, too, but most professionals do not recommend letting your pool remain empty over the winter, so you will need to at least partially refill it.
If you're dipping your toes in the water every couple of days or swimming laps one day a week, you can get away with shocking your pool every other week. Frequent Use: Weekly: If your family is always in the water, however, and is swimming every day, we recommend shocking the pool once a week.
The differential that occurs between the pool water temperature and the air temperature on late summer nights causes water to evaporate at an accelerated rate. In some cases you might see a water level difference of 1-3 inches overnight.
Especially for very dark green pools, draining the swamp and refilling with fresh water will also help to ensure easier water management in the future, with less chance of algae blooming again. For Vinyl Pools – Drain it down to the bottom step in the shallow end and refill the pool.
Draining a pool can take up to 14 hours, depending on the size, so be sure to drain it on a day when you have sufficient free time. You need to be home to check on the pool, the hoses, and the pump frequently. Do not let the pump run dry or it can become damaged.
Contrary to popular belief, leaks can very well lead to a sinkhole. For example, ignoring a leak in your pool's structure can eventually lead to the foundation becoming compromised. Water can then find its way to the soil underneath your pool and cause erosion which then leads to a sinkhole.