HOW do you partially drain a pool?

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07-15-2006 02:45 PM
west1745

HOW do you partially drain a pool?

I have never drained my pool before - I see the valve and the hose that I use - do you leave the pump on and just drain a bit?

Advice? Tips?

THANKS!
07-15-2006 02:49 PM
sevver

Re: HOW do you partially drain a pool?

do you have an inground pool or above ground? Do you have a main drain in the bottom?
07-15-2006 02:53 PM
west1745

Re: HOW do you partially drain a pool?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sevver

do you have an inground pool or above ground? Do you have a main drain in the bottom?

Inground pool with main drain at the bottom.
07-15-2006 02:56 PM
sevver

Re: HOW do you partially drain a pool?

You should be able to just pump it out through the main drain then I would imagine. I don't have an IG though so someone else will have to verify. But so long as the pump can pull the water up and out it should work. The further you go, the more lift is required, thus the pump works harder.
07-15-2006 06:03 PM
docwalker

Re: HOW do you partially drain a pool?

If you have a DE or sand filter, you can backflush the filter to drain the pool through the main drain. You should have valve(s) to shut off return flow from your strainer(s). If you don't shut off the strainer, your pump will cavitate and stop pumping once the water level drops below the weir. I recently drained 50% of my 15K gallon pool to reduce the calcium hardness and it took less than 3 hours. It took about 8 hours to refill using 2 hoses.
07-15-2006 06:11 PM
mshumack

Re: HOW do you partially drain a pool?

Make sure your ground water isn't high enough to pop your pool out of the ground. Do you have a well point pump attachment? It might not be as much of a concern if you're only draining half the pool but I would still be concerned.

Another method is to get a large sheet of plastic. Big enough to cover the whole pool with 5 to 10 feet overlapn all sides. Then you pump out the old water from the main drain while adding new water on top of the plastic. The plastic keeps the old and new water separated.

Good Luck
Mike
07-15-2006 06:14 PM
west1745

Re: HOW do you partially drain a pool?

Quote:

Originally Posted by docwalker

If you have a DE or sand filter, you can backflush the filter to drain the pool through the main drain. You should have valve(s) to shut off return flow from your strainer(s). If you don't shut off the strainer, your pump will cavitate and stop pumping once the water level drops below the weir. I recently drained 50% of my 15K gallon pool to reduce the calcium hardness and it took less than 3 hours. It took about 8 hours to refill using 2 hoses.

I think I will have to drain about 50% to reduce CYA and calcium. Thanks for your info - I will shut off the fountain and the skimmer and leave the main drain open - can drain out with hose to street.

I guess I have to go and buy salt - not sure how much for about 5K gal.

Thanks for your info and help!