It seems obvious that you have to fill the pool when you first have it installed. But why would you need to drain the water from your pool and refill it later? Believe it or not, it’s a necessary part of maintenance.

Let’s take a look at why you need to drain and refill your pool, then how long it should take.

Why should you drain your pool?

Draining a swimming pool can actually be dangerous and damaging in some situations. That varies partially depending on the type of pool you have and the conditions in the ground. A water table that is higher than the bottom of your pool can push against the structure. If your pool is empty, there’s no pressure to balance against that, so it can cause terrible damage.

Ideally you should check with a pool professional if you think your pool should be drained. But some reasons you might want to drain your pool include:

  • Major necessary repairs
  • Resurfacing
  • Environmental or climate conditions
  • Hard water with high amounts of solids—like calcium—dissolved in your water

You will not need to drain your pool just to give it a good cleaning. Tools and chemicals exist that can fight imbalances and algae so you don’t need to risk damaging your pool or spending extra on your water bill.

Keeping tabs on your swimming pools health is an important part of owning one. Regularly scheduled maintenance is vital to keeping it operating correctly as long as possible.

How long does it take to fill a pool?

When we measure the time it takes to fill a pool, we usually talk about the time between turning your hose on and turning it off. As you might expect, that can vary with the size of your pool and your water pressure.

The average garden hose can pump water at approximately 9 gallons a minute. If you have a 15,000 gallon swimming pool, it will be full of water in just under 28 hours.

If you do need to talk to a pool professional, we’re here for you! Contact us to have a conversation.