You may find yourself needing to drain your pool water for various reasons. However, contrary to what you may have heard, it is possible to drain a pool without using a pump. Admittedly, alternative draining methods may require an extra bit of time and effort, but it's much better than spunking a couple of hundred bucks on a new pump.
Here are three ways you can drain your pool water without a pump
1. Siphoning
This is the cheapest method to drain a pool and works for both above-ground and in-ground pools. All you need is a hosepipe (the thicker, the better) and of course a place to drain the water. The first thing to do is place one end of the hose deep inside the pool until it almost touches the pool floor. Then, put the other end in a pit, or a tank, or wherever you want the water to drain. You may use two or more hoses to get the water to drain faster.
As you will see, the water won't come out automatically when you place the pipe inside the pool. You need to "pull" it out by sucking the end of the hose that's not in the water until you feel some water coming out. The good thing is, once it starts flowing, it won't stop until the water left in the pool is too little, and air enters that particular end of the hose.
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2. Using a Trash Pump
Trash pumps typically work like pool pumps, with the only exceptions being that they are mainly used to clean pool water and remove debris from the pool. Further, they are more portable compared to ordinary pool pumps, albeit more expensive. So, we recommend renting one from your local pool store - most stores hire their trash pumps at very affordable rates. Moreover, you may choose to hire for the entire day, or for a specific task at hand.
Anyways, trash pumps come with suction mechanisms and a discharge hose, so all you have to do is connect them together, then connect to the pool, and you're good to go. Depending on how big your pool is, draining it using a trash pump can take anywhere between 1-2 hours, which is not much since the process is mostly automated, and you can go on with your work as the water drains.
3. The Good Ol' Bucket
Buckets and basins are some of the tools pool owners have been using for decades to remove water from their pools. This is, however, only convenient if you have a smaller pool. You will need a tank or a pit on the poolside to drain the water. To get the job done, you are required to either get inside the pool or bend over it (quite tiring), scoop the pool water and pour it into your drainage area.
Ideally, you should call a few of your friends over to help you out with the task, or ask your family for help. After all, doing the job in the company of a few friends makes the entire process enjoyable and less strenuous.
Things to Know About Draining A Pool
Pool draining is not only an exhausting and time-consuming process, but it's also quite risky. One of the common problems that occur during the process is pool popping - where the ground below the pool pushes it up and out of the ground.
This is because, without the weight of the pool water pressing the ground beneath it, the pool becomes vulnerable to the earth's strong upward forces. For this reason, we advise against draining your pool (during or after the rainy season), and only consult a professional before you go ahead with the draining.
Also, make sure to dispose of the pool water correctly, and far away from the pool, especially if it's an inground pool. Ideally, direct it downhill or if the pool area is not sloppy, direct the outlet hose to between 50 to 100 yards (or more) from the pool. You don't want to have too much water seeping into the ground around your pool when it is empty as it could cause a pool pop.
Lastly, avoid keeping your pool empty for long, as it could also lead to a pop. If you're doing minor repairs, you may want to drain the water to just below the point(s) you're working on instead of draining all of it. Further, after the draining process, make sure you refill the pool as fast as possible - multiple hoses are recommended - to counter the ground forces.
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Bottom line:
Getting rid of unwanted pool water doesn't have to be a costly affair. By employing the above tips, you will be able to drain pool water without a pool pump or other expensive techniques.
Sounds good, right?
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All photo credits: Simplepooltips.com
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