How do I drain my pool ?

[SELUMI]

Hi all, I have a lot of dead algae caked up about an inch thick throughout the bottom of my pool. I need to drain my pool to pressure wash my pool. There is a drain at the bottom of my pool. How do I drain my entire pool through that drain? Do I need the pump on to drain it ? I am afraid that once the water level drops under the skimmer level, the pump will burn out. Got any recommendations and tips as to how to safely drain the pool?

 

[PoolStored]

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Bperry]

Hi all, I have a lot of dead algae caked up about an inch thick throughout the bottom of my pool. I need to drain my pool to pressure wash my pool. There is a drain at the bottom of my pool. How do I drain my entire pool through that drain? Do I need the pump on to drain it ? I am afraid that once the water level drops under the skimmer level, the pump will burn out. Got any recommendations and tips as to how to safely drain the pool?

Is the pool plaster, vinyl liner, fiberglass?

 

[jsygrls]

Gunite/plaster pools can also pop out of the ground if local water levels are high[1][2]. Also, plaster can fail if let to dry out in the hot sun.

As you may know, Here in Florida where we are living the water table is extremely high. You do not want to drain it if you don't take proper precautions. My example is ; when my pool was drained for resurfacing my contractors had a 1 million dollar insurance policy with Brown&Brown for pool popping and other structural damages.

Are you sure you can't solve this algae with PROPER TESTING and CHLORINE and filtration?

 

[1poolman1]

Hi all, I have a lot of dead algae caked up about an inch thick throughout the bottom of my pool. I need to drain my pool to pressure wash my pool. There is a drain at the bottom of my pool. How do I drain my entire pool through that drain? Do I need the pump on to drain it ? I am afraid that once the water level drops under the skimmer level, the pump will burn out. Got any recommendations and tips as to how to safely drain the pool?

Pool can be drained with a submersible pump, not through the "main drain" which is not like a sink or tub drain. Be sure the filter system is off until the pool is re-filled.
If this is a plaster pool, DO NOT use a pressure washer. Unless one is incredibly careful the "cream" coat, the part that makes the plaster smooth, will be removed and you will be walking on sandpaper until the pool is re-plastered. If the pool is older, you can't be that careful.

 

[johnnydot]

Hi all, I have a lot of dead algae caked up about an inch thick throughout the bottom of my pool. I need to drain my pool to pressure wash my pool. There is a drain at the bottom of my pool. How do I drain my entire pool through that drain? Do I need the pump on to drain it ? I am afraid that once the water level drops under the skimmer level, the pump will burn out. Got any recommendations and tips as to how to safely drain the pool?

get yourself a cheap submersible sump pump from either homedepot or harbor freight. This way you can pump it out without fouling your pool pump or filter.

 

[SELUMI]

My pool is underground but I am not sure what materials it is.

 

[mknauss]

Plaster.
Be very careful draining. It can pop out of the ground.
Do not use a pressure washer.