There are times when you may have to drain your pool - for maintenance or to replace the water after several years of use. Over time, the TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) level in your pool water build up to the point where it's difficult to maintain chemistry. If your pool's TDS becomes too high, you will began to see mineral stains on the pool's walls and floor. Eventually, your pool's surface material might begin to deteriorate if you don't reduce the TDS. Since it can be extremely difficult to lower the TDS level, draining the pool and starting over with clean water is often the best solution. This guide shows you the process for draining your pool. A word of caution. If you are in an area with a high water, you run the risk of having your pool heave out of the ground, especially after several days of heavy rain. If this is the case, you might consider only draining half of the water and refilling it the same day.
MKK Posted: 10/13/2021
I have an inground pool with a liner. it was built in 1987. We have replaced the liner four times. This last liner has been the worst. The first two lasted a long time. The last two not. We need to get a new one but the price has become so high it will be hard for us to afford. We would like to remove it and prepare the shell of the pool to be used without a liner. Is this possible? When I was growing up we had a pool larger even than ours and it did not have a liner. We just painted it and cleaned it every spring. And it never needed covering in the winter. I would still cover it but I am tired of replacing liners that have to be replaced so quickly.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 10/14/2021
Yes, you can turn a liner pool into a fiberglass type. However, I have never done it myself, so you need to consult with a local pool contractor about that.Reply
marykaye kehl Posted: 10/17/2021
Thank you for your quick reply. I appreciate the information.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 10/18/2021
You're welcome. If you find out more information from a local contractor, feel free to give us an update. We don't need to know the costs exactly, just what information you find out about the process.Reply
Help! Posted: 9/6/2020
I can’t find exactly what I need to do to drain about 1-2 feet of water in my pool, we have an older pool with a water feature and spa. It has the main drain valve connected with the water feature and three valves for controlling the fountains. I haven’t found any examples of this set up to help me out.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 9/9/2020
Do you have a sand, DE, or cartridge filter? If the filter has a valve, there is usually a waste setting for purging water.Reply
BARBARA S SIMS Posted: 6/11/2020
HOw do you drain all of the water from an inground pool. It has waste on the dial. We have a ditch next to our home. We have drained before for a new liner but I don't remember how.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 10/23/2020
Yes, the waste setting should be used to drain your pool. If your plumbing has diverter valves that will allow you to, I would set your pump to only draw from the main drain before you begin. This will prevent your skimmer from gulping in air when the waterline dips below its face.Reply
Angelica Posted: 7/29/2019
Hello, We are new pool owners. Our pool was built in 2014 and it has Hayward brand filter/pump. We are trying to learn all we can and maintain our own pool. So far we have been doing ok. We need to drain some pool water as our Cyanuric Acid level is high (200). Our equipment has a hose nozzle attachment where we can drain water. We have used this before to drain the level only a little bit when we had a heavy rain. So I want to be sure I understand correctly since we are going to try and drain at least a foot or more at a time. When we drain our pool we turn the system on (filter). When the water level is halfway down the skimmer we should turn or skimmer off (we have a knob to do this). Since our system when it's turned on is in filter mode then we don't need to adjust anything else correct? Thanks for your help!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 7/29/2019
It sounds like you have a multiport valve. If that is the case, I suggest using the waste setting for easier draining. Also, you will want to pull water from the main drain only because you are draining a foot of water, so you should close your skimmer port.Reply
LG Posted: 5/8/2019
20,000 gallon in ground pool , 5 year old plaster, after 2 years, started getting scale buildup on the plaster like sandpaper, then black algae on that. If I drain, then acid wash the pool, will the scale come back?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Matt S. Posted: 5/8/2019
Hello LG - scale is a regular occurrence, especially in saltwater pools. If you treat your water with a de-scaling agent, the issue shouldn't pop up again.Reply
Inyopools Posted: 10/22/2017
Joanna – Once your pump loses suction, you might have to use something like a wet shop vac to get all of the water off the bottom of the pool.Reply
Joanna Posted: 10/19/2017
I need help I don't how to get the water out that's left in the pool its 22ft 52inch I used a hose it didn't get all the water outReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/28/2017
Harveyhelp - If you pump is partially submerged or surrounded by water, I would not try to run it. If you have any elevation, try putting one end of a garden hose in the pool and stringing the hose away from the pool. Fill the hose with water by blocking the free end. If the free end is below the pool end sufficiently, gravity will pull water out of the pool when you unblock the free end. If this works, it will drain faster with two or three hoses in the water. Good luck to you all !!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/28/2017
Mhunter321 - Most in-ground pools without Multiport Valves have a faucet inserted in the piping to release water to a hose. See Step 3 of "How To Add a Pool Waste Line". If your system does not have one, I would add a waste line into your piping to dump water. A near term solution would be to rent a pump to suck water out of the pool.Reply
Harveyhelp Posted: 8/26/2017
Help! I'm in Houston and my in ground pool is overflowing and almost at my back door! What can we do?Reply
Mhunter321 Posted: 8/25/2017
Trying to drain my pool a lil but to avoid flooding with a pentair cartridge filter and having trouble doing itReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/26/2017
Cyrataurean - We recently put out a blog on "How to Clean a Green Pool". It is a proven to work procedure based on heavy shock treatments and persistence. It will work for you.Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/26/2017
valarie - It sounds like you have purged most of the old water out of your pool lines and equipment. What's left is not going to affect the quality of the new pool water much at all. I'd go ahead and fill the pool and let the chemical take care of the relatively small residue of old water.Reply
Cyrataurean Posted: 6/25/2017
I am in desperate need to drain my pool. It has been green for the past 6 months, at least. I have tried every and anything I can to clean it. I am to the point of literally draining it and start over. I have spent hundreds of dollars on chemicals and nothing has helped. Can I please get some advise, thank you.Reply
valarie Posted: 6/22/2017
Hello,I need help. I have an in-ground pool. Last year I drained it because I couldn't get it to balance properly.After sinking in over a 1000.00 in chemicals I decided it was best to drain it. What I didn't do when when I drained it was to close off the skimmers or the main drain. So over the winter it accumulated rain water leaves etc. I cleaned it out about a month ago and decided to paint the granite. it turned out nicely. my problem is, I know that there is still old stagnate water in the pipes. I used my shop vac to suck all that I could out be fear that there is still more in it. I don't want to refill the pool and start it up and the nasty water comes back into the pool. and make the water green or nasty all over again. My pool also has a heater which I'm thinking that there may be water in that also. I know I need to get all the water out but don't know how or where to start. Oh and I know there is water in the sand filter. I don't see any cut offs except for the skimmers and the main drain. My other fear is that it has been raining constantly for the past 2 weeks and the pool is empty and Im afraid that it may pop out the ground. tomorrow it suppose to b nice and no rain and would really like to get the pool started up again. My grands have been waiting for me to finish. I need help
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/19/2017
h2o - I would empty the remaining water with a shop vac.Reply
h2o Posted: 6/18/2017
ive emptied most my pool but the last bit won't empty by the drain...just draws air.can someone help please
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InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/14/2017
Amanda - I'd leave the pump off until you refill the pool.Reply
Amanda Posted: 6/14/2017
I am only draining my pool halfway. Do I return to filter mode from waste after I am done?? Skimmer will remain off. Thanks!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/13/2017
Eddie - Take out the skimmer basket and block off the lower pipe with one of these "Rubber Expansion Plugs".Reply
Eddie Posted: 6/12/2017
I need help with Step Step 5, < CLOSING THE TOP SUCTION LINES >. My pool does not have a set of dedicated diverter valves. Is there a feasible way to cover the Skimmer to block sucking the air into the system when the water level drop under the "surface" of the skimmer? Tks!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 3/6/2017
Jojo - Unless you have a separate bottom drain that is independent of your main drain that goes to your filter, you really don't have an option. Most pools don't. When you do drain through the filter system, you have to avoid getting air into the system. You will have to have diverter valves to shut off the skimmer and the suction port, if you have one), so air isn't sucked into the pump causing it to lose prime. The lower levels of the pool water will have to come out through the main drain.Reply
Jojo Posted: 3/3/2017
I need some help. I am having my pool resurfaced. I have spoken to several pool companies they all said that they would drain the pool through my filter system away from the house, with the exception of one company. They drain the water out through the bottom drain into the ground below the pool. This does not sound right to me, putting 12,000 gal. Of water under my pool. Help ! Can it be done this way?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 12/19/2016
Chip - Make sure the slimmer valve is closed and if you have a suction port make sure that valve is closed too. Then add water through the pump's strainer basket to fill the pipes, close the basket and the pump should prime.Reply
Chip Posted: 12/15/2016
I need to empty our in ground pool for first time and forgot to close off skimmer valve on pipes when water got below skimmers and now pool won't empty, have I got air trapped in pipes? how can i fix that? Please!!Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 9/19/2016
draining pool - Shut off any input ports that are above the current water line - these may include the skimmer and the suction cleaner port - so that you will not be sucking air into your system. Only pull water in from the main drain on the bottom of the pool. Fill the main drain line through the pump basket for five minutes. Close the system up and start your pump.Reply
Anonymous Posted: 9/18/2016
I ran into this problem first time in 21 yrs when draining pool for winter how can I get it resolved I drained to just half way on jets and had to stop it then a few days later wanted to drain more however lost prime and suggestions what to do I tried putting back to filter pressure increase some but then failed grrReply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 6/6/2016
TRR - "high waters" means high water table like most of Florida. If you live in Florida and are expecting a bad storm with heavy rain, I would wait for the rain to stop and the water to drain down before emptying my pool. Then I would try to get it filled again before the next rain.Reply
TRR Posted: 6/4/2016
My pool has the original water in it and it's gotten harder to maintain. I really cannot tell if i have equipment troubles or its just a build up of TDS. Having said that, this was the first winter I tried to cover the pool for winter. It was a fail. My pool looks like a cess pool. So rather than invest the time& money to get it back to blue, I think it would be a good time to drain & start over. Above you mention "high waters", what do ypu mean? If I drain it, I'll probably piwer wash & give it a good scrubbing and i can almost guarantee this will not happen in 1 day. How long is it safe to leave it empty? A week?Reply
InyoPools Product Specialist Dennis R. Posted: 8/15/2015
Mateo - Step two of this guide will have to be rewritten. We tried to cover cartridge filter with DE/Sand filters and they will have to be addressed separately. For cartridge filters, the return diverter valves will remain open allowing water to flow from the filter back to the pool. When you open the waste line, you will be tapping off water from the returning water. Therefore, water will be going to both the returns and the waste line. For DE and Sand filters with Multiport Valves (MPV), you will be rotating the MPV handle to "Waste" mode which diverts all water to the waste line. Any water that was going to the returns is shut off at the MPV. In neither case, do you have to adjust the diverter valves to the returns. Sorry for the confusion. Hope this helps.Reply
Mateo Posted: 8/15/2015
Am I understanding correctly that I need to close my return lines?The explanation under step 2 confused me a little.
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