If you have a swimming pool in your backyard, draining it is likely one of the challenges. It can be a frustrating, time consuming and costly undertaking, but it something that needs to be done to keep the pool healthy and usable. Luckily, there is a simple way of removing the water that is both cheap and effective – siphoning the water out using a hose. In this article, we explain how to drain a pool with a garden hose using the following simple steps.
Pro Tip: Siphoning will only work if the discharge end of the garden hose is lower than the pool’s level. This method is only effective for above-ground pools or if your pool is up a hill and the drain point is somewhere downhill
How to Siphon Water off a Pool
- Start by ensuring the drainage area can handle the expected water volume without damage or overflowing.
- Use a pool skimmer to remove any debris on the pool (assuming you don’t have an automatic skimmer for this)
- Insert one end of your 3/4-inch garden hose into the pool. Slowly feed the hose into the pool until all but the last foot is filled with water and fully submerged.
- While holding the other end of the hose with your hand, lower it beneath the water surface. Seal the open end of the hose with a hose cap while it is still submerged, and then lift the end of the hose from the water and direct it to the drainage area.
- Put the hose on the ground or near the drain or cleanout. Remove the hose cap to start the siphon. To prevent backflow contamination when siphoning into drain or sewer cleanout, you should maintain an air gap between the drain or cleanout and the end of the hose.
- Drain the water to the preferred level.
- Raise the drain end higher than the water level or remove the hose from the pool to stop the siphoning.
Knowing how to drain a pool without a pump saves you a lot of money in terms of electricity bills. However, you should also check with the local authorities for procedures if you are intending to empty your pool or substantially reduce the water volume. In some areas, it’s illegal to drain where the water will flow into a storm drain.
Check this too: Best Above Ground Pool Heater
Draining a surface pool with a hose is simple as long as the elevation of the drainage area is lower than the water level you want in the pool. Hopefully, with the above steps, you will be able to siphon water with a hose without any difficulties.