safe depth to drain vinyl pool w/vinyl stairs

[Phillbo]

there was a method posted here a while ago where you lay in a plastic sheet on the water. you then pump the water out from under the plastic and add water to the top.. basically you can pump out the bad water without a lot of mixing from the good.

[cheshamjim]

I remember that thread and was part of it. I think it was Watermom who suggested an oversize tarp could be laid across the pool and new water added to it. As the rate of incoming new water and outgoing old water are kept approximately the same, the tarp would form a membrane against the sides and bottom of the existing liner due to the weight of new water.

This really sounds like a good idea to me, but when I posted a new thread asking about the experiences of anyone who might have had success with this approach, I got no response -- either positive or negative.

I will probably be trying it next spring if my CYA doesn't come down over the winter (and from what I read in these forums, it most probably won't).

-Jim

[Watermom]

Actually, it was Al (Poconos) who suggested this method. Don't know if he actually has done it himself or not. Maybe he'll comment on it for you.

[ScottsdaleSwim]

I didn't drain this weekend hoping for more responses.

The tarp would have to be the size of the liner. It can't just be the length and width of the pool because you have to account for the depth...or at least half of the depth depending on the amount you needed to drain - and then some so that you can hold it down on the perimeter of the deck, otherwise it would slide into the pool.
I'm not sure I could find a tarp that large.

[Phillbo]

I don't think the barrier has to extend out of the pool, only form a layer bewteen the out flow and in flow .. keeping the 2 at the same flow rate is tricky I bet. most pumps move a LOT more water than the hose can put back in .


Why not just enjoy the pool for the rest of the summer and then drain it while it's not being used ?

what part of Scottsdale?

[ScottsdaleSwim]

Because you can't completely drain a vinyl pool. It can ruin the liner, float the whole pool or worse. I've heard mostly horror stories about draining a vinyl pool.

How would you keep the tarp on top of the existing pool water and keep the water dispersed evenly enough so that the tarp doesn't slip into the water and mix the new water with the existing water if you don't have it secured around the pool?

That would be like floating saran wrap (unsecured) on top of a bowl- half filled with water and not expecting it to slide under.

I'm having a hard time explaining it...does that make sense?

[tenax]

4 winters now, i have drained my water down about 22 inches from the top edge (which puts it about 2 inches below my jets) vinyl pool vinyl stairs.no problems whatsoever and the pool store's recommendation..

from the standpoint of how much water would be then left in my 15,000 gallon pool? well, at the shallow end, about 26 inches.i have to figure i've drained at about 40% if it to get below the jets. and yes, we do get winter here in my part of alberta canada. (about 45 minutes north of the montana border)