Can I Drain A Fiberglass Pool?
Have you ever seen an empty inground pool? Completely drained? Kind of a depressing sight, right? The truth is that pools need to be drained every once and a while for a multitude of reasons. If it’s a vinyl liner or concrete pool, perhaps the pool needs a floor repair or a liner replacement, which would require the pool to be drained. But what about fiberglass pools? Considering they come as a pre-built mold… is it safe to drain them as well?
At Royal Pools G2 Landscaping, fiberglass pools are our bread and butter. We have been asked about draining fiberglass pools for years now. Yes, it is possible to drain a fiberglass pool, but it should only be done if absolutely necessary and under the supervision of pool service professionals. So, when and why might you need to drain a fiberglass pool? How should they be drained? Let’s dive in!
When Should I Drain A Fiberglass Pool?
If the question you’re asking is when can I drain my fiberglass pool, the answer is never. It cannot be stressed enough that you should not attempt to drain a fiberglass pool yourself. For your own protection as well as the protection of your pool, you must hire a reputable pool service company to do the draining for you.
Repairs are the number one reason you may need to drain your fiberglass pool. In certain cases you may need to drain the water due to an excess of a certain chemical or material in the water that cannot be lowered anyway besides draining.
Be sure to contact your fiberglass pool’s manufacturer before draining. They may advise against draining the pool at all. Remember: some manufacturers will void the pool’s warranty if the water is drained and it leads to problems.Â
How Should the Pool be Drained?
As previously stated, you should not drain a fiberglass pool yourself. Draining a fiberglass pool should only be done by certified fiberglass pool professionals who can perform the task the proper way.
The large majority of fiberglass manufacturers in the market require any draining to be done by a professional, or else your warranty may become voided.
How to drain a fiberglass pool:
- Monitor the weather very closely to ensure that it will be nice and dry on the day you plan on draining.
- Rainwater could oversaturate the ground around the pool with too much water, which could lead to the walls bulging when drained.
- Locate and remove any and all groundwater from around the pool.
- If your fiberglass pool is outfitted with a dry pit (sump it), you should have no problem removing the groundwater.
- Brace the pool.
- Using three lumber 2×4 planks placed 18-24 inches down the side walls of the pool.
- Start draining the water. Pay close attention to the pool floor and make sure the floor doesn’t start lifting.
Alternatives to Draining
To avoid unnecessary draining, consider these alternatives:
- Partial Water Replacement: Regularly replacing portions of your pool water can maintain quality without needing to drain the whole thing.
- Professional Chemical Treatment: Most water chemistry issues can be fixed by having your water professionally tested and treated by a pool store. A green or unbalanced pool may make you think that draining is the only option, but a pool store with an electronic water test will be able to give you the chemicals and necessary steps in order to get the pool clear.
Conclusion
There you have it folks. How to properly drain a fiberglass pool. This is a very tricky subject to tackle, considering the risks involved in draining fiberglass pools. The number one thing you should take from this article is to never try draining your fiberglass pool by yourself. Draining a pool may seem simple and harmless, but it is a very specific process that requires extreme care and precision, especially with fiberglass pools. Do you have more fiberglass pool questions? If so, check out the articles below. For more educational content on all things pools and landscaping, head over to our learning hub. Have a great day!
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