Does hose siphoning work on in-ground pool?

[NicoleIvy2004]

I am in flat Florida with an in-ground pool. I recently had a big leak fixed and realize now that if we have a lot of rain, it could overflow.

I read that you can siphon from a pool by putting the hose in the pool, turn on the hose so it fills with water, pinch end at spigot and remove to place to allow it to drain.

But they say somewhere lower. Lower? Lower than the *water level surface* or lower than the depth the hose is at? How would that possibly work? I have a storm drain I could probably reach, but short of shoving the hose all the way down the storm drain, I don't see how I'd ever get it lower than the depth of the pool.

I have old equipment with no fancy drain options.

 

[Donldson]

A siphon is done by gravity, it can pull water up by creating a vacuum but it will always drain from the high point to the low point. If you do not have a place that is lower than the lowest water level you'd like to attain then you cannot use a siphon to drain, it will just flow back in to your pool.

To drain you will need to rent or buy a submersible pump.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Nikki,

Are you trying to drain all the water in your pool, or just some of it???

I know for sure that siphoning works to drain a couple of feet of water, and not on purpose..

I added water to a rent house pool with a garden hose. The end of the hose was about 2 to 3 feet under water. When the pool was full, I turned the water off, and disconnected the hose, from the hose bib, and without thinking, I laid it on the ground. Mr. Siphon then stopped by and drained over 2 feet of water out of the pool...

Pretty dumb of me...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Newdude]

Few inground pools have enough drop close by for it to work. Nearly all above ground pools on the other hand have enough drop.

 

[jerbu]

But they say somewhere lower. Lower? Lower than the *water level surface* or lower than the depth the hose is at?

Lower then the "water level surface" It doesnt matter how low the hose is in the pool. If you want to just lower the level say 4 inches, fix the hose such that it is 4" from the surface, then the siphon will stop at that point because air will get in. The other end of the hose must be below that 4" point in this example.

 

[sande005]

As noted, it is from the surface of the pool. But check with your area - many places forbid dumping pool water into storm drains. They don't want the Cl or salt disrupting whatever natural area the storm drain drains in to. A few even prohibit dumping it on open land and letting it soak in. And there is the issue with it running onto your neighbors property. In those restricted areas, you are supposed to put it into a sanitary sewer - like a floor drain or other in your house, or one outside installed just for that. Your choice as to whether to risk being reported to the water police (likely a concerned neighbor who makes the call...).

 

[NicoleIvy2004]

Thanks so much for the replies! Yes, I just want to be prepared if a big storm/hurricane comes, so I'd be just taking out a few inches. I suppose I could always just test it out one day and see if I can get it to siphon using the tips provided. If not, then I'll know I should get a submersible pump.

When using a submersible pump, do you recommend just hooking the garden hose up to it or buying a slightly larger hose? I've seen these hoses that look like they basically flatten/collapse when not full, but unsure how the inside would ever dry and not be full of mildew.

As for restrictions on dumping pool water into storm drains, I looked on the county website and saw nothing about that. Also, recently when my pool renovation was done, I watched them empty the pool basically into the road (and then naturally into storm drains). I wouldn't be doing this often or for terribly long. It's just preparation for any big rain events.

 

[NicoleIvy2004]

Nikki,

Are you trying to drain all the water in your pool, or just some of it???

I know for sure that siphoning works to drain a couple of feet of water, and not on purpose..

I added water to a rent house pool with a garden hose. The end of the hose was about 2 to 3 feet under water. When the pool was full, I turned the water off, and disconnected the hose, from the hose bib, and without thinking, I laid it on the ground. Mr. Siphon then stopped by and drained over 2 feet of water out of the pool...

Pretty dumb of me...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Oh no, so sorry to hear that! We all make mistakes sometimes. Proves we're human...

 

[Newdude]

When using a submersible pump, do you recommend just hooking the garden hose up to it or buying a slightly larger hose? I've seen these hoses that look like they basically flatten/collapse when not full, but unsure how the inside would ever dry and not be full of mildew.

Up to you how you want to do it. Tom Petty said it best that waiting is the hardest part and the smaller garden hose can drive you nuts.

Plus you always have one laying around anyway in case you want a slower exit like when trying to match the fill water volume for a no drain exchange. With all your rain in FL though, your levels will likely never climb to where you need to lower them by exchanging water. Instead, you'll want to shave off 3 inches during or ahead of a storm and speed is nice there.

I've been using a flat fire hose type one for 4 years now, always put it away wet and it never gave me an issue with mold or such. I raise the end I'm rolling up to get the bulk of the water out, but it's in no way dry when I toss it on the shelf.

 

[NicoleIvy2004]

Great to know, @Newdude ! Thank you! I feel better knowing I'll be prepared now that my pool doesn't leak and naturally keep it from overflowing.

 

[sande005]

Many here do not recommend...but since I have to drain 1 1/2 to 2 ft off the pool in prep for winter closing every fall, I have a 3 way valve plumbed in before the filter, and use a 100' flat discharge hose. Then use the pool pump to send the water to where I want. I have a shorter discharge pipe (10') for smaller quantities. Just used it yesterday after a big storm to lower the pool 3". Swap to the hose for the big lowering.
I set the valves so water is only pulled from the deep drain. And when the levels in the skimmers get to a danger level of sucking air, besides the valves, I also plug the skimmers.
The hard part is if the skimmers do suck air - that is bad for the pump, and with the water low, it is a major challenge to get the pump to prime again. Getting the water below the outlets in the pool is about the point where it all gets hard for the pump - so not something I would consider doing if I had to make a bigger water change.