how can I drain my inground pool and leave it EMPTY with out causing damange to the pool itself?

Question

I have been told that I cant drain it and leave it empty, but I cant afford a $700.00 power bill because of a pool I have that never gets used and is always GREEN??? There has to be something that I can do to leave this MONEY PIT EMPTY??

Answer 1

I agree with Laurence, 8 hours a day is all you should need it to run. Also for maintenance, if all the levels are correct, PH, Alkalinity and Chlorine then its just a matter of shocking it once a week, a few dollars, I buy a big tub (about a ten gallon bucket) of granular chlorine, no liquid chlorine (much better) where we live. I've got an additional booster pump for the cleaner, both run for eight hours a day in the middle of the day when its warmest and our bill is no where near $700. I also agree that you should have the power company come out and check things with you. Reduce the pump run time to eight hours a day and check your A/C usage. If you haven't got a digital programmable thermostat for the A/C, you aught to get one ASAP, best $40 you'll spend. I'd hate to know you got rid of the pool unnecessarily, but if nobody is using it and you're not planning on moving, then I understand, there's no reason to have it. I hope this was helpful to you :-)

Answer 2

In a high water table area, a pool shell will occasionally come out of the ground. But I've only heard of it once in recent years. An empty pool can also crack in summer heat.

The pool pump motor does not use that much electricity. Fridges and A/Cs are the biggest energy hogs, then lots of light bulbs. See if your local utility will do an energy audit for you.

Th epump needs to be on only about 8 hours in summer if properly sized. A cover will cut evaporation by about 90%.

If the pool is always green, it needs a chemical balance to the correct Ph, and more chlorine. Take a water sample to a pool supply store, where they will test it and advise what you need. It also probably needs the filter cleaned. I clean mine 3 times a year, sometimes 4.

Answer 3

How long are you running your filter ? Try cutting that in half for a start. If it always green you are not doing something correctly, take some water to the pool store and ask what you should put in it. I don't know where you live but if it freezes, the ground could expand and push the pool out of the ground and I'm not sure insurance covers that. If you're set on draining it, your best bet is to back-fill with dirt and plant some grass.

Answer 4

You said it, pools are money pits. The reason for not leaving an in-ground sit empty is to keep it from "floating" If your not going to use it but don't want to fill it in the best way is to drain it half way, add some chlorine to keep the algae in check then put a floating cover on top of it.

Answer 5

If you pool has correct PH, but Chlorine is not effective in controlling algae, it's possible you too much phosphates or nitrates dissolved in your water. They act as food for algae. The phosphates come from lawn fertilizers,and are present in laundry detergents and can get in your water from improperly rinsed bathing suits and towels. Leaf fall can also contribute. The nitrates also come from leaf fall and bird droppings. There are products you can buy at the pool store to reduce both. Also, if your water is too old (depends on your location, how much dirt and green waste falls in your pool etc), it may have a high level of dissolved solids and will also be unresponsive to chlorine treatment. Pool stores don't always like to tell you this stuff because they love selling you chlorine and shock.

Answer 6

all the solutions with reference to the completed pool taking drugs or out of the floor are actual i've got considered them. the handyman article grew to become into reliable. besides the undeniable fact that being a pool proprietor for fifteen years i do no longer believe each and every of the aggressive chemical including, like 'marvel as quickly as in line with week, algecides... etc. stability your pool and get to comprehend it greater suitable. in case you have a D/E diaotomasious earth clear out gadget you're in success. low fee and basic to bathe. returned flushing is a comedian tale. examine the label on the clear out tank. tells you the thank you to take the hoop off and in simple terms raise the filters out and hose them off in a close-by you may honestly freshen up, it''l be messy the 1st few cases till you get used to it. i put in drain pipe with a screw off cap over to a close-by that should not be laid low with the d/e. so now i do no longer might desire to boost the filters out. counting on use of the pool is the style you opt while to marvel ...etc. my pool is 26k gallons i exploit 3 floating chlorine dispensers 2 are tied to the factors and one (feels like a duck) in simple terms floats around, i hardly might desire to marvel and nonetheless have a nil algie project playstation . rinsing your self in the previous going interior the water saves on clear out cleansing and via getting your hair already moist prevents it from soaking up the chlorine, you already know eco-friendly hair from too plenty swimming, in simple terms get it moist first...satisfied summer season

Answer 7

What you can do is have it filled with dirt and abandon it. If not one is using it, then fill it in. I have had relatives to do this when they were selling their house. No one wanted the pool, with the extra cost, and maintenance.

Answer 8

if you drain it the liner can come off....bc the water pressure holds it to the sides