How do I drain all the water from my Intex pool?

Use a Submersible Pump

The easiest way to drain an Intex pool is with a submersible pump. Submersible pumps are designed to pump water efficiently with minimal supervision. Here are the steps to use a pump to drain an Intex pool:

1. Purchase a submersible pump that is rated for the size of your Intex pool. Choose a pump with a flow rate of at least 2000 gallons per hour. The higher the flow rate, the faster the pool will drain.
2. Attach a garden hose to the outlet side of the pump. Make sure the hose is long enough to reach a suitable drainage area away from the pool.
3. Place the pump in the lowest section of the Intex pool, securing it so it does not shift around.
4. Plug in and turn on the pump, verifying that water is flowing out through the hose.
5. Monitor the pump periodically to ensure proper operation. An upright submersible pump should run trouble-free until the pool is fully drained.
6. When the water level falls below the pump intake, lift and reposition the pump in the deepest remaining water.
7. Once the pool is emptied, turn off and unplug the pump, disconnect the hose, and store all equipment safely until the next use.

Submersible pumps provide a fast, hands-off way to drain above-ground pools. The right pump will empty an Intex pool in less than an hour. This method eliminates the need to manually siphon water out with a hose or bucket.

Considerations When Using a Submersible Pump

– Choose the appropriate pump size and capacity for maximum efficiency. Underpowered pumps will drain the pool slowly. Oversized pumps use more electricity than necessary.

– Check that the pump is designed for continuous duty operation to handle draining an entire pool. Intermittent duty pumps are for periodic water removal and may overheat if run too long.

– Verify the pump’s lift capacity is at least 6 feet to push water uphill through the hose. Pumps with insufficient lift may become airlocked before the pool is fully drained.

– Position the pump in the deepest section for optimum pumping performance. Keep the intake submerged at all times during operation.

– Monitor the pump discharge pressure. If the hose kinks or clogs, pressure can spike and damage the pump.

– Never operate a submersible pump while anyone is in the water due to risk of electrical shock.

Alternative Pumping Options

Besides dedicated submersible pumps, other pumps that can effectively drain Intex pools include:

– Sump pumps – Designed to handle water removal in underground sump pits, these pumps have the capacity to drain pools when used properly.

– Trash pumps – Can pump very high flow rates but may require frequent repositioning as the water level decreases.

– Utility pumps – Often used for pumping out flooded basements, utility pumps drain pools slower but cost less than heavy duty pumps.

Drain by Gravity Through Bottom Drain Valve

Many Intex above-ground pools include a drain valve or plug at the base of the pool liner. By opening this valve, the pool’s water can be emptied by gravity drainage. Here is the process:

1. Locate the drain valve on the underside of the Intex pool liner near the bottom. It may be a plastic screw plug or flip up valve.
2. Close off the intake to your pool’s filter pump. This prevents water from re-entering the pool during drainage.
3. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve if possible. Otherwise, be prepared to direct water away from the pool as it drains out.
4. Open the drain by turning or flipping the valve. Expect a moderate flow of water to begin draining out due to gravity.
5. Monitor the draining process. Adjust the hose or drainage direction as needed.
6. When the pool is empty, close the drain valve and remove any attached hose.

The bottom drain technique is the simplest way to empty an Intex pool. It does not require any pumps or siphons. However, gravity drainage takes much longer than using a pump. Expect complete drainage to take 8-12 hours. Do not leave the drain unattended in case the valve or hose gets disrupted.

Tips for Draining Through Bottom Drain Valve

– Check that your Intex pool has a bottom drain valve and that it is functioning prior to installation. Not all Intex pools include this feature.

– For faster draining, elevate the side of the pool with the drain by placing blocks under the frame. This allows more downward slope for water to exit.

– Drain in sections by closing interior pool valves if your Intex pool has multiple bottom drain valves.

– Disconnect and drain hoses, pumps, filters, and other accessories attached to the Intex pool prior to draining.

– Monitor drain progress to ensure the hose does not get clogged, kinked or disconnected.

– Plug or close the drain tightly once the pool is fully drained to prevent soil erosion under the liner.

Use a Siphon Pump

A siphon pump offers a middle ground between passive gravity drainage and an electric submersible pump. Siphon pumps use the power of water pressure to pump water up and out of the pool. Here is how to drain an Intex pool with a siphon pump:

1. Obtain a heavy duty siphon pump capable of at least 75 gallons per minute flow rate. Hoselink and Simer brands work well.
2. Attach a discharge hose to the outlet side of the siphon pump.
3. Place the siphon end of the pump in the deepest section of the Intex pool.
4. Prime the pump per the manufacturer instructions until water begins flowing out the hose.
5. Let the siphon pump run until the Intex pool is emptied.
6. Monitor and reposition the pump once or twice as the water level drops.
7. Disconnect all hoses and store the siphon pump once finished.

Siphon pumps require no electricity and have no motors to maintain. However, they must be manually primed and restarted if suction is broken. Draining with a siphon pump takes longer than an electric submersible pump but faster than passive gravity drainage.

Troubleshooting Siphon Pump Issues

– If water flow out the hose stops, the siphon has been broken. Reprime the pump per the manufacturer instructions.

– Check for kinks, blockages, or sharp elevation changes in the discharge hose that can break the siphon effect.

– Ensure the intake portion stays submerged – a siphon pump cannot pull in air. Reposition as needed.

– If the pump struggles to prime, inspect the one-way check valves for possible blockages or damage.

– Siphon pumps are susceptible to losing suction as water level drops. Expect to reprime the pump multiple times.

– Very cold water temperatures can impact priming performance. Warm the pump in the sun or with hot water if needed.

Drain by Siphoning Through a Hose

For Intex pools without a bottom drain, the water can also be siphoned out manually using a submersible hose:

1. Obtain a 5/8-inch ID pool-grade flexible hose long enough to run from the pool to a drainage area.
2. Attach an adapter fitting to one end of the hose to allow it to connect to other hoses or fittings.
3. Place the entire length of hose in the Intex pool with one end positioned at the lowest point.
4. Cap off the above-water end of the hose to prevent backflow when starting the siphon.
5. Hold the capped end above the water level until suction is created and water begins to drain.
6. Once siphoning begins, monitor and reposition the hose as needed while the pool drains.
7. Detach all hoses once the pool is fully empty.

This simple siphon technique is very affordable but requires effort to initiate and maintain the siphon effect. Draining a large Intex pool can take up to a full day to complete. The process cannot be left alone due to risk of the hose coming out of the water.

Maximize Draining Speed When Siphoning

– Use the largest diameter and shortest length hose possible for fastest draining. Avoid kinks or bends that can obstruct flow.

– Attach multiple hoses together and place in the pool for greater collective suction power.

– Elevate the far end of the hose above the pool by at least 2 ft to utilize the full potential of gravity drainage.

– Periodically lift the intake end of the hose to lower areas of the pool as the water level goes down.

– Verify the discharge end has sufficient runoff and cannot siphon back into the pool.

– Use tape or clamps to firmly secure hose connections and prevent air leaks that break the siphon.

Pump Water into Adjacent Grass or Yard

Rather than emptying an Intex pool completely, another option is to pump the water out into an adjacent grassy area or yard drainage swale:

1. Obtain an electric, battery-powered, or manual pump capable of effectively transferring pool water.
2. Run a discharge line from the pump outlet to a nearby area of grass, plants or other drainage.
3. Temporarily close off any bottom drains and disable the circulation system.
4. Place the pump intake hose directly into the pool water.
5. Turn on the pump to start transferring water onto the discharge area.
6. Periodically reposition the pump’s intake as the water level lowers.
7. Run the pump until the desired amount of water has been removed.

Pumping out excess water for irrigation purposes helps conserve and reuse the water. This technique will not completely empty the pool but does lower the level several inches to perform maintenance or repairs. Monitor the discharge area to ensure it does not become overly saturated.

Tips for Pumping Pool Water to Yard

– Inspect local codes and regulations about discharging pool water, especially chemically treated water.

– Move the pump intake frequently to avoid cavitation and pulling debris from the pool bottom.

– Do not pump water onto impervious surfaces or unstable soil prone to erosion.

– Adjust and secure discharge hoses to control water flow to the desired areas.

– Allow excess water to be fully absorbed rather than running off of the property.

– Turn off pump immediately if any issue occurs to prevent unintended flooding or damage.

Manually Scoop Water Out

For quick small-scale water removal from an Intex pool, an ordinary bucket or plastic scoop can be used:

1. Obtain one or more buckets or scoops based on the amount of water to be removed.
2. Start bailing out water from the Intex pool using swinging arm motions.
3. Pour the scooped water away from the pool where it can drain away safely.
4. For large Intex pools, have two people scooping water simultaneously at either end.
5. Use a pump or siphon method first if needing to remove more than a few inches of water.

Manual bailing with a scoop or bucket is time consuming and labor intensive. However, it allows precise control over draining small, specific amounts of water. This technique is also useful for removing the last bit of remaining water from a pool after draining.

Tips for Manual Scooping of Water

– Use a long handled pool skimmer rather than a short handled bucket for easier water removal.

– Allow scooped water to sit for a minute to let chemicals dissipate before pouring into grass or garden areas.

– Hang buckets from a portable hook over the pool edge so they can drain before lifting to pour out water.

– Place a foam noodle under the scoop handle to prevent scraping or puncturing the Intex pool liner.

– Take breaks to avoid overexertion. Bailing water is taxing on back, arm and shoulder muscles.

– Work as a team for larger Intex pools, coordinating scooping and emptying duties.

Compare Draining Methods

Method	Speed	Effort	Needed Equipment
Submersible pump	Fastest	Minimal	Pump + hose
Bottom drain	Slow	Minimal	Hose
Siphon pump	Moderate	Moderate	Pump + hose
Siphoning hose	Slow	Moderate	Hose
Scoop/bucket	Very slow	Maximum	Scoop/bucket

Conclusion

Draining an Intex above-ground pool allows for periodic maintenance and winterization. While submersible pumps offer the fastest drain performance, other techniques like gravity drains, siphons, irrigation lines, or manual scooping can also effectively remove water. Choose the right approach based on pool size, drainage access, budget, and desired drain speed. With some preparation and effort, an Intex pool can be emptied using one or more of these methods.