Draining the pool help

[skos007]

I need to drain my pool for repairs (has not ran in over a year).

It is an in ground gunite pool. I have a backwash position with a hayward de filter. I am replacing the salt mod, controller as well as the filters. I would like to drain it using the backwash mode.

Any tips or tricks to this?

[PoolDoc]

Draining via backwash is hard on your filter, unless you first remove the internals.

If the filter is in good shape, and you are not planning to replace it, I'd recommend buying and using a small sump pump like this one:

1/4 HP Thermoplastic Submersible Utility Pump (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000X05G1A/poolbooks/)

Also -- and this is VERY important! -- have you verified that the ground water level under your pool is low enough to allow you to drain the pool without floating it? That's a one-way mistake that DESTROYS pools!

If you are on a hill side or in the desert, you probably don't have to worry. But otherwise, you need to make sure.