Why Let Pool Pros Handle Your Pool Draining Woes

Before you start siphoning water out of your pool, make sure that you get in touch with your local authorities and pool care professionals. 

Why? 

It’s because many municipalities have their own rules about when, how, and where someone can drain their pool; and as we all know, rules must be followed.

There are certain municipalities that will need you to run pool water through the home’s sewer cleanout line so that it directly flows into a water treatment plant. 

Others might also require you to send the water from the pool draining into the storm drains lined on your street. 

Some municipalities may also have water chemical composition regulations or require water to be chlorine neutral. In this case, a chlorine neutralizer is needed before draining your swimming pool. 

When to Drain a Pool

Some municipalities also have rules on when pool draining is allowed. Schedules for pool draining are needed to prevent streets and sewers from being flooded with pool water, especially during rainy seasons.

Other timing considerations are also important. The intense summer heat can destroy a pool liner if it is not submerged in water for quite some time. 

The frozen ground brought about by winter can push an empty pool upward, also referred to as “pool pop.”

Before you consider pool draining, you need to wait for dry weather, maybe in the spring or fall, where the daytime highs won’t exceed 85 degrees and the water table is low.

There are also different approaches to pool draining, depending on whether it is an in-ground pool or an above-ground pool.

Understanding the “Pool Pop” Phenomenon

“Pool pop” is a common term used to describe a scenario where an in-ground pool is drained and the underground pressure heaves the empty pool upward.

This phenomenon may also occur when an in-ground pool is emptied after a heavy, steady rain. Since the soil and water weigh more than the empty pool, the ground literally “pops” upward, which could cause a lot of damage to the pool structure.

Incorrect pool draining may also make the pool pop, specifically draining the water not too far away from the pool. In this case, the water drained is essentially staying around the pool, creating hydrostatic pressure that may trigger the pool out of the ground.

Know Where You’re Going to Drain

Pool draining requires a game plan (if you plan on going DIY). However, working with pool care experts for pool draining is a better idea. Keep in mind that pool draining involves thousands of gallons of water that’s got to go somewhere. 

You just can’t carelessly pull the drain and expect the pool water to simply flow into the street or your neighbor’s backyard.

Having the pool water flow into your yard or garden is also not a viable option unless you would want chemically-treated water to water your plants. 

Pool pops are also something that you need to avoid and the first thing to steer away from this problem is to make sure that you don’t introduce water to the ground near your pool.

As we mentioned earlier, you need to schedule a consultation with your local water authority if you are planning on draining your swimming pool. Typically, pool draining would involve directing the water into one of your home’s sewer pipes. 

In some cities, they allow pool owners to directly drain into the street. The best thing you need to do is to reach out to your local water authority and discuss the regulations to avoid any hitches along the way.