Most people focus on the maintenance and water cleaning aspects which, while important, are not the only things that matter to pool owners. Pool draining, whether due to emergencies or just for maintenance, is something a lot of pool owners and managers find themselves having to do once in a while. Sadly, there are not enough materials dedicated to this effect, leaving many of them stranded.
Drain pumps are specifically designed to drain water from pools. These are not to be confused with ordinary pool pumps, which key functions include cleaning, recirculating and pumping water into pools. In this article, we will highlight 3 of the best pool drain pumps, their key features, and also touch on how to drain a pool using a pool pump.
COMPARISON OF 3 Best Pool Drain Pump ( Updated )
Name | Gallons per Hour | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Professional EZ Travel | Up to 3,700 Gallons per Hour | ||
Hot Tub and Pool Submersible | Up To 2,000 Gallons Per Hour | ||
Fibropool Electric Swimming | 600 GPH |
1. Professional EZ Travel Collection Swimming Pool Drain Pump
This sump pump is specially designed to drain your pool within the fastest time possible and with minimal fuss. It is fully submersible and has a maximum output (no pun intended) of 3, 700 Gallons of clean water per hour, and 1,800 gallons of dirty water per hour, which means it can drain a standard home pool in about 3 hours. No prizes for guessing how many minutes it takes to drain a hot tub.
In case you need to drain your pool completely, the EZ Professional Pool and Hot Tub Pump contains some folding bottom feet, designed to reach the lower water levels. And to avoid any problems that may occur when the waterline too low, this pump is fitted with an overheat prevention system that automatically shuts off as soon as the water gets below a certain level.
This pump is surprisingly small and lightweight - weighing only 17.65 pounds - despite its power and has a sleek design that is distinct from the ugly metallic looks found in ordinary pool pumps. One of the notable design features is the streamlined plastic carry handle, which makes it easy to carry around.
The body is also fully waterproof, and so is the 25-foot long electric cord that accompanies the pump. The PVC discharge hose is also 25 foot long and comes together with a custom clamp for holding it into place. All factors considered, this is arguably the best pump to drain pools and tubs in the market.
2. Hot Tub and Pool Submersible Drain Pump and 25' Water Hose
While not specifically a swimming pool drain pump, this small submersible drain pump can drain pools just as well as it can drain tubs. Notably, the Hot Tub and Pool Submersible Drain pump are a bit smaller than the other two pumps, weighing only 15 pounds. But that shouldn't worry you much as it is a very portable, good-looking and most of all, effective pool pump to drain water from your tub, porch and pool.
At maximum efficiency, this pump can drain up to 2,000 Gallons Per Hour, which is quite respectable if you own a typical home pool. The accompanying drain hose is 1 1/2 inches wide and 25 feet long and as such, can drain water faster than a regular hose pipe.
The Hot Tub and Pool Submersible Drain Pump has a hard, waterproof body to provide durability. It also has a polished black and dark blue colour scheme, which gives it a classy look. To top off the exemplary design work is a streamline-design carry handle that is not only thick, but also has a surface area large enough to hold, carry and hang sturdily and comfortably.
What more, the Hot Tub and Pool Submersible Drain Pump costs slightly over $100, which is more or less the cost of hiring a basic pool pump for a day. Of course, this also means its power and efficiency is slightly lower than you would expect, but then again, not everyone owns a resort-sized pool, and it most definitely works well on standard pools.
3. Fibropool Electric Swimming Pool Winter Cover Drain Pump
If you are looking for a swimming pool drain pump that doesn't gobble up much power but still does the job fine, then this is it. The Fibropool Electric Swimming Pool Winter Cover Drain Pump can clear up to 600 gallons of water per hour. While that may seem too little, it is worth noting that this pump costs less than $40 - a fraction of the average pool pump price.
As mentioned earlier, the pump is not only energy-efficient but also makes economic sense to people with smaller pools, jacuzzis and tubs who will find it cheaper than the average-sized pump.
Moving on, the Fibropool Electric Swimming Pool Winter Cover Drain Pump is not an exclusively submersible pump and can work with both in-ground and above-ground pools. It can also function while placed on a pool cover. To achieve this, the unit has a light chassis, to help keep the pump in place, even when it's on top of the most fragile of covers.
This pump further comes with a relatively lengthy power cord (16 foot) and a power adapter that is compatible with any 110-volt wall outlet used in a typical building. To provide the horsepower is a 75-watt motor that offers both manual and automatic shut off options.
For the actual draining purposes, there is a 16 foot PVC hose pipe that is long and big enough to comfortably drain out water from any small to medium sized pool. Above all, it weighs only 3.5 pounds and is thus very easy and comfortable to carry around.
How to Drain A pool With a Pump
Having read all the above, you are hopefully in a good position to choose the best pool pump to drain water in regards to your situation. But, do you know how to drain a pool using a pump?
Probably not, but don't worry, we'll take you through the process in a few simple steps. And we go:
Step 1: Decide and Prepare a Place to Dump The Drained Water
To prevent flooding and environmental damage caused by the pool water going where it shouldn't. It also helps you avoid fines from your local government for flouting water disposal laws.
Step 2: Connect The Hose
Naturally, drain pumps are not attached to discharge hoses when in the box. You should, therefore, read the user manual to connect the hose to the pump and also hook the clamp correctly. Since you will be submerging the pump in water, you need to make sure that it's attached solidly enough to stay intact through the process.
Step 3: Close the Return Lines
To prevent water from returning into the pool after being drained, you need to close all the return lines
Step 4: Submerge the Drain Pump on The Shallow End of the Pool
This ensures that the pump faces lower pressure and is thus able to discharge more water effectively.
Step 5: Plug in the Pump
After doing all the above preparations, plug the pump into a wall outlet and keep monitoring it to make sure it keeps working well.
RELATED READING: best swimming pool cover pump here
Conclusion – So what is the best pick?
Draining your pool is a risky task as doing it wrong, such as just a few days after heavy rain, can damage your pool. Further, using the faulty equipment could waste a lot of your time and energy, which is why we went to great lengths to find and review the above drain pumps for you. As you have read, finding the best pump to drain pool is not a difficult or expensive affair.
All you need to do when considering a pool pump is check the stated output (in GPH) and, of course, what types of pools it was made for. Over the long term, you will find that buying a quality pump is much cheaper than renting one.
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